In 2013, I began my journey on the Alliance Rugby u-15 squad under Coach Doug Neubauer. Having had a mere 1 year’s experience in athletics and possessing no knowledge about the sport, I went in guns blazing--starting in my first tournament after going to only two practices. While panicked thoughts screamed through my anxiety-ridden mind, I made tackle after tackle. Using instinct paired with what little football experience I had, I stripped the ball and launched a pass back to my teammate--the only time I touched the ball in my first game. I knew from that first game that I was in the right place, changing my life forever.
Conflictingly, after beginning my love-affair with Rugby, I slowly began to doubt my first sport (American Football) and later denounced it. After my …show more content…
With newly established confidence and a stronger fitness, I outperformed my own expectations--starting in all 3 games, making devastating runs, crunching tackles, scoring my first ever try, and most significant of all: playing every minute of all 3 games. Having been to only two practices with Eagle Mountain, my new coach trusted me enough to leave me on the field and I flourished. Over a year later, I have formed unbreakable bonds with my first real set of teammates--becoming not only a strong unit, but a