First half brings high expectations

St. Cloud State’s Club Rugby team, the Fighting Carp, ended their season last weekend at the Midwest Sweet 16.

Rugby, a highly competitive contact sport that originated in Britain, is quickly rising in favor among student athletes across the United States. The play is a combination of soccer and American football. It is a sport that requires not only a strong athletic base, but a strong mentality, too.

St. Cloud State has proudly boasted an extremely competitive, successful men’s rugby team over the years.

This season, the Fighting Carp finished first in their division at the end of the regular season.

At the start of the postseason, St. Cloud traveled to Eagan, Minn. to compete in the Minnesota Final Four. From there, they pummeled their first opponent, Minnesota State University Mankato, a whopping 71- 0. After, they played their biggest rivals, St. Johns to see who would be Minnesota Champions. The very close game ended 14-8 in favor of St. Johns.

Both St. Cloud and St. Johns then traveled onto the Midwest Sweet 16 in Eagan. The tournament was looking bright after a victory over Northern Michigan. However, the season unfortunately ended for the Carp after losing to St. Johns University in their second game of the tournament 31-22.

St. Cloud State will not know how they finished in the Sweet 16 until St. Johns competes at the Midwest Finals November 14th in Elkhart, Ind. It is possible the Carp will finish fifth, six, seventh or eighth.

Despite being knocked out of the playoffs, junior player Ben Brendler is proud of how the season ended.

“We had a very good season with a lot of success in the early matches- we just could not put it away. This is the furthest we have made it in the playoffs since I started playing for St. Cloud. It was the first year we actually made it past the Final Four into the Sweet 16. I have played a lot of high level rugby, and this is definitely the best team I have ever been a part of,” he said.

The expectations for the spring season are high.

“We have a lot of good prospects coming up, and are not losing too many players. We have a high talent level and strong camaraderie. As long as we play at our optimum level, there will be no stopping us,” Brendler said. “This season, we had trouble capitalizing on our opportunities. There are usually four or five things that happen during the game that can change the outcome, whether it is a breakaway run, a good kick or making that tackle at the most beneficial time. It is up to our team to take advantage of those moments, and make them work in our favor. We sometimes had trouble accomplishing that task, and it made all the difference.”

For those who wish to become more involved with the sport, there is a spot for everyone, whether big, small, fast or slow.

Rookie player, Ben Dickhaus, who was originally a swimmer, has found a new passion in rugby.

“I saw the rugby table at Mainstreet, and thought the sport looked interesting. I knew I wanted to do something different from swimming, and I thought rugby would be fun. After the first few practices, I fell in love with the sport. The adrenaline rush that the fast paced running, hitting and tackling provides cannot be found anywhere else,” Dickhaus said.

Brendler agrees.

“Rugby takes a much better athlete than any other sport. From the athleticism to the dedication, nothing compares. Let’s face it, the sport is just addicting. Once you start playing, it is impossible to stop,” Brendler said. 

If anyone is interested in playing for the Fighting Carp next season, contact Al Drake at dral0601@stcloudstate.edu.

For any women who wish to play, there is also a Women’s Club team available. Contact Kaylee Kruger at krka0503@stcloudstate.edu for more information.