The Oswego State Wizards, Oswego State’s club rugby team is two years removed from a state championship. Following the championship, they moved to a higher division last year and felt it instantly, getting blown out in their first game. 

While this could have derailed the season, the Wizards improved after each practice. Eventually, they would go on the road to SUNY Albany, who was undefeated at the time. There, Oswego State got their signature win of the 2018 season. That is the resilience that embodies the Oswego State rugby team. They will take a punch to the mouth and keep going as a team. Their 2018 record crept towards .500, a benchmark they want to reach in 2019. 

To reach .500 and prove their status in the higher division requires a grind from each and every player. They needed to get in the gym and train this summer. Training is tough for the team, as they do not have varsity status. As a result, they are not guaranteed gym time or practice time. If an Oswego State Div. III team needs the location and time, the Wizards lose their spot for the day. That is the reality of club sports. Despite this struggle, the team finds time to hone their skills.

“We have already seen so much growth over the offseason, it has been really exciting,” head coach and staff advisor Toby Malone said. “Over this offseason, they have been really working on fundamental skills, really working at the strategy and technique. They are all really fit, one of the fittest teams in the league, so we are going to run most teams off the field.” 

With that work, the team has the confidence to do damage in the higher division this year. Rugby is a physical sport, that may result in injuries. It is a next man up mindset though, which it was for much of 2018. As the new season starts, the team returns several prominent players from injury. They were quickly implemented back in this preseason. The players who gained experience in their absence last season are confident in their abilities to pick up from last season. The Wizards played well against RIT in their preseason scrimmage. 

Captain and lock, John Killkenny recognized a need for communication for their contest against Syracuse University on Saturday, Sept. 14.

“We definitely need to communicate more on offense and tackling, spread the field more,” Killkenny said. Make our hits. Come up with intensity off that defensive line and make some hits.” 

Captain and lock, Dan Gazzola, pointed out the speed of Syracuse University, as the Wizards must be able to combat that.

“We need to spread the field better and we need to protect the ball,” Gazzola said. “Syracuse [has] a lot of ‘jackals’ on that team who like to steal the ball and poach it. We need to come in support run and be ready for a fight.” 

Gazzola was not a rugby player in grade school, as were few on this Oswego State team.

“I always played football my whole life, got sick and tired of never getting to touch the ball,” Gazzola said. “I was in the weight room one time and I see this flyer of this huge, beefy guy scoring a ‘tri’ … I saw that and [it said] ‘are you tired of blocking, tired of not getting the credit?’ So, I figured I’d come out, join the team, and I’ve loved it ever since.” 

At the end of the day, teams always want to win. Despite tougher competition, Malone expects some winning from his team. 

 “It’d be nice to aim to go .500 or better this coming year,” Malone said. “I mean really the progress is already there … We are where we belong to be, playing stronger teams.”  

Photo provided by Emma Leavy