Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 2/8/06 Section: Full Contact

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San Juanita Moreno has found her true calling.

The Western senior has found her sport and made a name for herself in national rugby circles after playing for just one-and-a-half years. Moreno was recently named to the USA Rugby U23 side, the Eagles, after an intensive tryout camp.

"In the early summer I tried out for a Northwest All-Star team, and in June I got selected to the Northwest Grizzlies," Moreno explained.

The Northwest select side competed in a tournament in Blaine, Minn., against other regional all-star teams and placed second, helping give Moreno positive exposure to the national coaching staff.

"[The tournament] is set up so national coaches can see you play," Moreno said. "I was invited to attend a U23 developmental camp in July. Thirty-five girls went to Pennsylvania for a week-long camp held by the national coaches."

Moreno was among the 22 women selected to the Eagles roster. Most of the athletes on the team currently play collegiate rugby.

This speech-communications major's first duties with the squad come this weekend. The team will hold a practice on Friday, Feb. 10, in California, two on Saturday and a scrimmage on Sunday.

Moreno, a 2001 graduate of Heppner High School in Eastern Oregon, has always been a competitive athlete and spent three years on Western's softball roster. She also played basketball in high school. However, when the school decided to start a women's rugby team last year, Moreno was eager to join.

"Rugby just sounded more fun," Moreno explained. "I think the contact is fun and that makes the difference. I've been waiting for an opportunity to be aggressive my whole life."

Some athletes so new to the sport might be intimidated by their lack of experience, but not Moreno. Most of the women on the Eagles side have played rugby for at least four years-some even six or eight-but Moreno feels her inexperience is actually an advantage.

"It helps being new," Moreno explained. "It takes a lot of pressure off me. I take constructive criticism because, in my mind, I have nothing to lose. [There are] no expectations for me. I get nervous because the girls are really good, but when it comes down to all the little things I don't know, it's not important. The [national team] coaches knew I was a rookie, and it gives me a lot of confidence knowing that I'm the underdog."

Moreno is quick to give credit to the Western rugby team for her rapid growth and ascension in the sport.

"I'm so lucky to be at Western, to have so many good athletes [on the team]," Moreno said. "It helps that every day I have a lot of good girls pushing me at practice, helping me to get better."

"I really do credit the rugby team here at Western to my success," Moreno continued. "In the first year of having a team [last year], the team did so well, it gave me more credibility. There are so many girls skill-wise right behind me. We have a full side that's so good. I wouldn't have matured as much as a player without them.

The team's coach, Chris Ruffalo, has also been influential in Moreno's development.

I've learned a lot from our coach," Moreno said. "She has played at the national level, and is a very good player and coach. She's helped me so much."

Moreno is excited about the honor of being named to a national team, but the Western squad is still her main concern.

"Western is definitely my priority," Moreno said. "As much as I'm anticipating how fun [the national team] will be, it does not replace the team camaraderie we have at Western. I keep thinking about Western, our rugby here. I'm excited, because in one weekend [in California] at that level of play, I will learn so much and be able to apply it to Western rugby."

Moreno plays two positions, fly half for Western and inside center for the Eagles. Both positions are back positions, in charge of the back line.

"Backs are like the playmakers," Moreno explained. "They run the ball. The forwards do a lot of the grunt work, tackling and rucking."

Rugby is similar to football in many ways, but unlike in football, the play doesn't stop after a tackle is made. Rucking is each team's attempt to get the ball after a tackle.

After the Western rugby season is over, Moreno will have more national team duties this summer, including playing in various tours. The first will be in Canada, leading up to rugby's world Cup, the sport's biggest event.

Meanwhile, Moreno is using her time now to hone her skills and prepare, including mentally.

"I really fell in love with the mental part of the game," Moreno explained. "I'm always asking coach for videos, always talking about [rugby]. I just became infatuated with it."

Her position with the Eagles could eventually lead to a spot on the national team, which plays in the Olympics and World Cup, but Moreno isn't concerned with that right now. She's living in the moment, enjoying her opportunities as they come.

"Playing is like nothing else," Moreno explained. "It's a rush-and-a half. It's overwhelming how much I fell in love with this sport."

Finally, Moreno has discovered her passion and a game to call her own.

"I guess I just found my sport, what I was good at," Moreno said.

 

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