Friday, February 12, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 11
Rugby team playing,partying at Louisiana tournaments
By Matt Tait
By Matt Tait
Kansan sportswriter
Members of the KU Rugby Football Club agreed that the road trips were what make playing rugby so much fun. However, once a year there is one trip that many players can't wait for
For the past three years, the men's rugby team has traveled to New Orleans for the season opening tournament. This year they are going again. For the players, this tournament is scheduled during the most exciting time of year in New Orleans: Mardi Gras.
"I've got my beads and I'm ready to go," captain Brian Holmes said.
Two vans left yesterday evening with about 50 players on board.
The men's team and the women's team are scheduled to compete in tournaments, which are located in different places.
The men will play in nearby Baton Rouge, La., while the women will play in New Orleans. Afterward, team members will get together for the weekend partying.
Rugby
Holmes said the teams wanted to play well tomorrow and then party like crazy.
The club has been in existence for 30 years and is one of the larger club sports at the University of Kansas.
"We usually play two to five games a Saturday and set up tents and cook food and just have a good time," said club president John Wiley.
Holmes said that the spring season consists of 10 matches and runs from March to May. Games are played on weekends, usually on Saturdays, and are a day-long event.
Unlike most modern day sports, Wiley said rugby was a community-based sport. It offered a good chance to get to know teammates and even make friends with the opponent.
"You have rivals, but really the whole essence of rubuh is every
thing that goes on is so physical you don't have time to fight," Wiley said. "Instead of holding a grudge, you meet the guys you've been trying to kill and have some fun."
Despite its appearance, team members said that rugby was not as rough as it looked.
"It only looks rough because we don't wear pads." Wiley said.
The sport, which has existed for more than a century, is a combination of several modern day sports. The tackling of football combined with the passing of basketball and soccer, along with the toughness of wrestling, allows a variety of players to get involved.
Fifteen players are on the field at once, and, depending who has the ball, they are on offense and defense at all times.
The game is played on a field with dimensions similar to a football field. Positions are broken down into forwards and backs and the team members play two 40-minute halves without substitutions.
Members of the Kansas and New Mexico rugby teams leap for the ball. File photo
The scoring is similar to football but with a little different lingo. Five points are scored for a try, in which a player runs across the opponent's tryle. The tryle is the equivalent to the goal line in football. After each try, a conversion kick worth two points is attempted. This essentially makes each score worth seven points.
Various other penalties and rules exist, but the main object of the game is to get the ball at any cost.
Holmes said that the club partially was financed by the University but that most of the money was paid by the players.
The club recruits players and always is looking for more members.
For Jessica Friberg, Topeka junior, rugby offered a change of pace from the mainstream sports.
Holmes said rugby wasn't just a sport, it was a lifestyle.
"The sport is bigger than the game and is a nice combination of friendship along with the physical aspect of playing along with good competition," he said.
Track teams end seasons at home
Men, women hope to use finale as catalyst for championships
By Mike Miller
In their final tune-up before the Big 12 Conference championships, the men's and women's track teams will compete at home tonight in the Kansas Pre-Conference Invitational Meet at Anschutz Sports Pavilion. The meet will be a launching pad into next week. Cameron went to Kansas State.
Kansan sportswriter
The meet will begin with field events. That's where All-American sophomore Scott Russell is looking to recover from a second-place finish last weekend in the 35-pound weight throw. He set a new Kansas and Big 12 record at the Northern Iowa Invitational earlier this season.
"I knew there would be a week when I'd go down," Russell said. "But I just have to keep trying to improve."
The pole vault competition will provide competitive
match-ups in both the men's and women's divisions.
On the men's side, junior Garrett Attig, senior Colby Miller and sophomore Greg Steele have given the Jayhawks depth and reliability. Consistently among the top five finishers throughout the season, both Attig and Miller finished in the top 10 last week at the Husker Invitational, one of the largest meets of the season.
For the women, Andrea Branson and Shannon Age both rank in the nation's top 20. Tonight's meet pits them against K-State's Erin Anderson, currently ranked No.1.
"I need to work on my technique more, but I'm looking forward to seeing Anderson on Friday," Branson said.
The indoor season lasts two months.
Although this is the end of the indoor season, the outdoor track season is just one month away.
"Indoor comes and goes so quick, you really don't notice how tired you might be," sophomore Charlie Gruber said.
Field events are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., while track events will begin at about 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Men ready for last home swim, with or without long-distance star
By Emily Hughey Kansan sportswriter
Last week the Kansas swim team's senior women said goodbye to Robinson Natatorium in their last collegiate home meet against Iowa State. Now it's the men's turn to say goodbye.
Senior swimmers Mike Blundell, Trent Hartl and Brant People will lead the men's team in its battle against Iowa Saturday in the seniors' last home meet at Robinson.
But the swimmers may be competing without world-ranked distance swimmer TVler Painter.
"He's one of my favorite guys, but he's just not the relevant
thing right now," Kempf said
Coach Gary Kempf suspended Painter for breaking a team policy, but he said that he would not comment about which policy was broken. Although Painter is training with the team, his competitive future is undetermined. Kempf said he did not know whether Painter would compete tomorrow and refused further comment.
Painter was unavailable for comment.
Despite the possible absence of Painter, a major point scorer, the men feel confident that they are prepared for tomorrow's challenge.
After falling to Iowa State 143.5-99.5 without Painter last Saturday, the men's team is looking for redemption. And Kempf, who said he was disappointed in the men's performance last Saturday, said they were on track to swim fast.
"Tyler is a distance swimmer," Blundell said. "With him, we're one of the top distance programs in the country. Without him, we still have a really strong distance program."
"The good thing about this men's team is that they're resilient." Kempf said. "They believe in their ability, and they know that I believe in their ability."
Last week, Kempf cited poor mental preparation as the reason the men's team did not pull through. However, he said he
thought the swimmers' mentalities had improved.
As they approach their last home meet, the men are more focused on swimming fast than on reminiscing. Nevertheless, the meet is something to which they look forward.
"I'm really excited," Blundell said. "It's hard to believe it's my last meet. It was crazy watching the girls last week."
Blundell, Hartl and Peoples all said they would miss the friendships they've made on the team.
"I won't miss the morning workouts, though." Blundell said. Kempf said he would miss the seniors' presence on the team.
"They've been absolutely fantastic for our program," Kemp said. "It's the toughest thing to do as a coach to say goodbye to kids who've given you their heart and soul. But I'm not saying goodbye to them yet."
The men will face Iowa at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Robinson Natatorium. Their next meet, the Conference Championships, will be March 4-6 in Austin, Texas.
"My KU Basketball tickets were awesome...
Until I made the team! "
Two KU basketball tickets for sale.
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