The Oswego State Black Widows women’s rugby team are off to a 1-1 start this season after having an undefeated regular season last year. After allowing only one tri last year and being ranked 12th in the nation out of 130 teams from the National Small College Rugby Organization, the Black Widows petitioned to move up to Div. II for the opportunity to face tougher competition.
“Last year was just a lot of win, win, win,” senior captain Kerri McGovern said. “This year has definitely been more of a challenge skillwise. The way we played last year and the communication on the field makes this year a big transition for us as a team.”
The Black Widows did not get off to the start that they wanted when they lost to SUNY Cortland 42-17 in their season opener, but the team was able to turn the loss into a positive form of motivation.
“We definitely got cocky off of last year,” senior captain Tylea McCarthy-Walker said. “We needed to get slapped by a team to get back focus and not be the team that just got bumped up a division then get bumped right back down.”
Losing was not something the Black Widows were accustomed to last year and getting blown out by their first opponent was definitely a wake up call to the entire team. With only eight out of 15 starters from last year returning to the team, many players have had to adjust to new roles.
“They have really been stepping up,” senior Kayla Mazurkiewicz said. “They all are trying really hard at practice and realized what they have to do in order to beat these teams.”
One player who adjusted best to her new role last year was McCarthy-Walker who not only was named to the Upstate NY All Star 7s team, but she was also one of 12 girls to be invited to play for the national team in the Collegiate Rugby Championship and was named an NSCRO All-American.
“I was ecstatic because I didn’t start taking rugby serious until last year,” McCarthy-Walker said. “I go to practice every day and train for all these opportunities. I knew what I had to do to progress in this sport, but I still have a lot of room to grow.”
Not only is McCarthy-Walker a leader for the Black Widows team, but many of her teammates consider her a player and coach for all that she does with helping her team in practice.
“She is very humble about everything she does,” Mazurkiewicz said. “Without her we wouldn’t know the new rules, drills and techniques. I look up to her as a coach even though she is another player on the team. There is no negative thing about her and she always finds positivity in everything.”
This has helped a lot of the new members of the team who have had to endure much bigger roles than last year since the team is so much smaller than they were a year before.
“Compared to other teams we are definitely a lot smaller in terms of our size,” McGovern said. “But everyone on the team has a good attitude. We always try to keep a positive mindset staying calm and collected on the field.”
Even though some new Black Widows have never played rugby before, they all are committed to learning the sport to help their team as much as possible. Including freshman Brianna Walker who is not the biggest player on the team, but is willing to tackle anyone on the field no matter how big they are.
“She is probably 90 pounds soaking wet with two bricks in her pocket,” said McCarthy-Walker. “She likes to target the biggest girl on the team so they don’t go after her again.”
All the hard work and motivation from the entire team led to a 39-0 victory where rookie MacKenzie Maxam used her track skills to score her first career tri.
“Mackenzie got the ball and had this beautiful run,” McCarthy-Walker said. “A girl tried to tackle her, but fell then Mackenzie rolled away and just beelined down the field.”
Another person who has greatly helped this team is faculty advisor Toby Malone who has been playing rugby since he was six years old, while growing up in Australia. When he first came to Oswego and found out that the women’s team was in need of a faculty advisor, he jumped at the chance.
“When I first came to Oswego, I heard there were a couple of rugby teams on campus,” Malone said. “I asked one of the guys at The Point where the games were, so I go watch a game. He told me they were looking for a faculty advisor and I was happy to help.”
Since the women’s team does not officially have a coach, Malone’s presence has definitely made a huge improvement to the team.
“Toby Malone is an amazing advisor,” Mazurkiewicz said. “He has been there everyday [at practice] helping us implement new drills. He has been the main pusher towards us becoming better.”
Malone’s passion for rugby has really rubbed off on all of the Black Widows, and his joy and love for rugby keeps him involved with the sport today.
“Working with the women’s team is honestly the best thing at Oswego that I do,” Malone said. “They are a bunch of women who do this because they love the game and I love passing on my love for the game that I have played my entire life.”
Even though this can be seen as a rebuilding year for the Black Widows, the entire team feels confident in being able to go back to the playoffs and compete for a national title again this year.
“We have to definitely work on our offense and defensively we are coming together as a team,” McCarthy-Walker said. “It all comes down to everyone consistently coming to practice and just trying to get better. We are rebuilding, but we definitely have a chance.”
Photo provided by Shayne Benskie
