By Emily Mulcahey
Contributing Writer
A crowd of over 200 people, screaming for their favorite players, drinking and having a blast watching the excitement of the sport transpire in front of them.
At St. Bonaventure University, most would infer that I am talking about a basketball game. No, this is the sight that can be seen and heard from a distance, coming from the rugby pitch during a St. Bonaventure Men’s Rugby Club match.
At many schools, club sports are unpopular; but here at Bonas, the Men’s Rugby Club is just the opposite.
Why do so many Bonnies, both current and alumni, head down to the pitch every Saturday to cheer on their friends and perhaps people they do not even know? Because it is undeniable that our Men’s Rugby Club is a force to be reckoned with.
New captain AJ Vitanza is confident that they are ready for another great season.
“I am excited to lead the team and be just as successful as we were in the past” Vitanza said.
The air of confidence from one of the team’s new senior captains can be backed by the team’s statistics. Last fall season, the men’s team’s record was 7-1-1, tying for first place in its conference with Stony Brook.
The St. Bonaventure Men’s Rugby team was moved up a division into Rugby East, the region’s best Division 1-A conference. The team is confident about their membership in the new conference.
“I’m actually more excited than I am nervous,” Vitanza remarked. “Everyone put in a lot of work over the summer. Of course, we do want to save our bodies for some of these really important games, but as captains, we’ve amped up intensity and fitness.”
Fellow senior teammate Justice Koonce commented that with games this semester against top teams such as Army and Dartmouth, it is crucial for the Bonnies to be in the best shape of their lives.
“I think we’re looking good, Saturday will be the test,” Koonce said. “A lot of the guys are stepping up this year.”
When asked about his new captains, Koonce spoke highly of their character.
“As a whole, they’re great leaders on and off the field, and I’m happy to play with them,” Koonce said.
Vitanza believes his team is prepared to play Syracuse in their first scrimmage this weekend.
“The guys—they’re ready,” he said. “It’s going to be a test game, to see how we can do in this conference that we are so honored to have been let into.”
The match will take place at 12 p.m. at Syracuse University. As the players themselves have stated, it’s time to put this team to the “test.”
