It’s a first at Marist High School. This spring marks the beginning of a new girls’ rugby team.
Marist became coed school in 2002, integrating girls into their all boy’s school. Since then, they have made active changes every year in giving girls the same opportunities as the boys. One of these changes has been the role of sports teams. For years Marist has had a girl’s volleyball team, soccer, lacrosse, etc. The formation of this team is a result of the growing demand for more athletic opportunities for young girls at Marist.
No experience was needed to try out and there were also no cuts. Due to this being a new sport there is only a varsity team. These reasons led many girls to try out who had never played before.
“I wanted to try out for rugby because I wanted to try something new during my last year of high school,” says senior Casey Koren. “I hope to gain new friendships and more knowledge of the game.”
The girls have been going through intense training to prepare for their upcoming games. They have been learning their positions on the field and also their teammates off the field.
“There are so many technical skills or strategies in rugby that seem for the first time complicated, but breaking them down into relatable moments and behaviors help the athlete transition into something they’ve done previously but reframed in the context of rugby,” says Coach Lani Larson.
”Practices can definitely be tough but it is helping me grow as a person by appreciating how hard this game is and how hard people work for it,” says Koren.
The girls practice twice a week, where they learn the in’s and out’s of rugby.
“My overall goal mirrors my training approach which was to create a fun, competitive environment which the girls could learn and grow,” says Larson. “This sport is incredibly challenging physically and ultimately mentally, so at practice we create opportunities to ‘win’ in ways that are specific to each athlete.”
Marist has also been supportive, giving the girls practice time at the new Larry Tucker SportsPlex in Palos.
“I thought it was cool when I found out we added a girls rugby team. It’s not my sport but I’m happy for other girls who enjoy it,” says senior student Emma Harold.
The girls hope to continue to grow their strengths and skills in rugby. They have been learning tackle maneuvers and throwing techniques.
“We learn all different types of skill sets that help us during a game,” says Koren. “I love to do any drills with a partner because it makes it more fun and you can know a teammate better.”
The team hopes that after this season ends, the rugby team will progressively get better every year.
“Ultimately we are establishing the foundation of a special culture around this sport that hopefully will be passed down year after year and build on itself for continued growth and development,” says Larson.
