wednesday, august 27, 2003
sports
the university daily kansan
3B
Members of the KU women's Rugby club play in a 2000 match. This fall, the club is gearing up for match play against other Big 12 schools.The team is also going to California and Texas for tournaments.
Women's rugby tackles new year
By Jason Elmquist
correspondents@kansan.com
kansan correspondent
After more than a decade in action the women's rugby team at the University of Kansas is still kicking.
Last year, women's rugby celebrated the 10 year "reunion" of its first season. Under the leadership of president Lui Love, vice president Jenny Peck and player coach Sarah Ratzl萨, this full contact sport will kick off another season this fall.
"As a player it is a hard, intimidating and aggressive sport," said Love. "I started to play rugby as a way to make relationships and to get into shape."
The team's season started a week before school with practices, in preparation for eight or nine individual games with the Jayhawks competing against other Big 12 teams. The team also participates in tournaments in Texas, California and two or three tournaments during the fall semester.
The team's practices and home games are located at Westwick Rugby Complex off Kansas Highway 10. A map to the complex along with a game schedule can be found on the Web site www.jayhawkrugby.com which is under construction.
The sport receives much of its funding through a service the team runs called 'Rent-A-Rugger.' Members of the community pay $10 an hour to rent out members of the rugby team to perform services such as baby-sitting, raking leaves or mowing lawns. The University then matches that amount and gives the team funding.
Women golfers look forward to new year in Big 12
"All KU women's sports are geared to enhance the health and welfare of women," said Love.
Anyone interested in more information about the women's rugby team can contact Peck at 760-3400, Love at 218-5773 or e-mail them at kuwomenrugby@hotmail.com.
Mike Bauer
mbauer@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Edited by Dave Nobles
Despite placing 11th in the Big 12 Championships last season, the University of Kansas women's golf team is confident this season will be different.
The team started practice Friday. Aug. 22, and continued practice through the weekend.
Women's golf coach Megan
"I'm really excited about the positive attitude this team has," said Jill Womble, Pleasanton, Calif., freshman.
noon. Assistant coach Roy Edwards said both freshmen and returning players had practiced well so far.
Menzell said the team played fine, despite temperatures that reached the 90s on Friday afternoon.
Jennifer Bawanan, Modesto.
The returning players include Chelsey Pryor, Washington, Penn., sophomore, who was a top finisher in the Big 12 and Jennifer Bawanan, Modesto, Calif., senior, who was named to the National Golf Coaches Association All-Scholar Golf Team for the second year in a row.
Calif., senior, said she thought everyone was ready for the season.
"I'm really excited about the positive attitude this team has."
Bawanan said all the freshmen were good and the returning players were filling strong leadership roles on the new team.
Edmond, Okla.; Amanda Costner, Claremore, Okla.; and Kelly Birdsell, Mesa, Ariz.
Jill Womble
Pleasanton, Calif., freshman
team.
The women's golf team has six freshmen joining the team this year, including Womble; Shelby White, Dodge City; Loren Renz, St. Louis, Mo.; Sarah Kierl.
Tiffany Woods, Escondido, Calif., sophomore returns, along with Kendall Schwerman, Houston, Texas, sophomore; Meredith Winkelmann, St. Louis, Mo., sophomore; and Maggi Elgethun, Sioux Falls, S.D., junior.
Edwards said the players started playing qualifying rounds today.
The team's first tournament will be Sept. 7, at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colo.
- Edited by Michael Owells
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence