Men's rugby seeks perfect season

By Brian Betz

As the Santa Clara University rugby team enters its second weekend of play, there are high expectations for a team that is one of the youngest and most talented in years past.

"I think we have the talent and leadership to win our division and go undefeated," said senior co-captain Dan Delgadillo.

The Santa Clara University Touring Side (SCUTS) play Division II in the Northern California region. Their regular season spring schedule, which they kicked off two weeks ago with a 24-17 win over UC-Santa Cruz, includes a total of eight league games.

"We have two pivotal and tough games against Santa Rosa and Humboldt that we are hungry to win this year," said sophomore outside center Greg Mohrman.

The squad is coming off of a 2002 season in which they lost just two of their nine matches, one of which was to Humboldt. The other was a 12-point loss to Stanford, who went on to win the Division II national title. Since then the Cardinals have moved up to Division I, leaving Santa Clara primed to repeat some of the success that Stanford experienced last year. A big reason for such potential lies in the experience and speed in their back line.

"They are extremely strong and extremely fast," said Delgadillo. "And I feel they are the best in the league."

Such a touted back line now faces the task of repeating their success, as they are all returning starters from last year's team.

"That shouldn't change," said sophomore wing Pat McCarthy, referring to whether or not they'll repeat last year's output. "Having played together for an entire year, we should only dominate even more."

For McCarthy and two other starters, Mohrman and scrum half Kevin Baer, their experience goes back before the collegiate level. Baer received the highest high school honor possible as a Junior Eagle. All three grew up in the Denver area competing with and against one another. Mohrman and McCarthy were teammates together at Regis High School, while Baer attended nearby rival, East High School.

"I think it is a huge advantage for us that we have played together before coming to college," said Mohrman. "Last year we instantly clicked on the field, and that has only increased since."

Not only has the team reaped the benefits of last year's incoming players, but they have seen much of the same this year as well. Freshmen Erol Kalafat and Jarhett Blonren have become key additions to a forward pack that lost five of last year's eight starters. While Blonren was a standout at Jesuit High in Sacramento, Kalafat stepped in with only the experience of having played high school football.

"Every year you hope that you get a few good additions and Jared and Erol are two great ones," said McCarthy. "Jared tackles hard, and while Erol is new to the game, he is a great athlete who has picked it up quickly with his background in football."

One of the biggest reasons why the team has such high hopes is its senior leadership. Delgadillo, Goodman-Smith and all-around back Billy Clayton are a major driving force behind why the team is more determined than in previous seasons.

Added McCarthy, "We enjoy practicing more together this year because of them. They've been with the program for four years, and this is the culmination. They want to go out winning a Division II championship."

As for achieving what Stanford has done, Division I might not be in the cards for a few years, if ever. Aside from a substantial need for more funding, the team would not be able to compete as of yet.

"In a few years, that might be a reality but we have too small of a squad right now," said Goodman-Smith. "Teams in D I have at least 60 guys, and we're barely able to field 30. We need to establish ourselves first by winning."

This Saturday, the SCUTS take their 1-0 record to San Francisco, as another early step in their path to a division title. The top two teams in the division get to move on to the playoffs, en route to seeking a national title. But for now, the team is not about to let anyone get in the way of winning the league title.

"We're intense about striving for an undefeated season," said Mohrman. "We refuse to have any losses or ties on our record by the season's end."

If that happens, everyone should be out to see it.