Two weeks ago, with less than a half to play against rival Missouri, the immediate future of the SLU Rugby team looked bleak. Mizzou, brimming with confidence even before their scrum with SLU, had booked hotel rooms for a trip to the Western Union Championships this weekend at the University of Northern Colorado. However, the Bills roared back against the Tigers and are setting their sights on the Rocky Mountains, and hopefully, a few more wins.
Senior Co-Captain Eric Dettmann, a four-year veteran of the squad, chalks this year's success up to team chemistry and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
"We have a solid team. This year we've had a mixture of a talented senior class, but we've had a bunch of talented juniors and sophomores who know their roles and have stepped up when needed," Dettmann said. Junior Matt Arackal notched a hat trick, while sophomore Jim Eftink also tallied a try in the come-from-behind victory against MU.
Senior 8-man Nick Hinman is optimistic about the trip to the Western Union Championships, where the Billikens will face off against Angelo (Texas) State University in the first round.
"We're going with a positive attitude. We're the underdog; we're going to play our game. There's no pressure," Hinman said.
Dettmann believes that what got the Billikens to the championships in the first place will help determine future success.
"If we're able to play our game – error free, if we don't turn the ball over, we have a good shot of winning," Dettmann said.
If the Bills advance, they play the winner of the John Brown University (Ark.)-Regis University matchup. Texas Tech, Baylor, Pittsburgh (Kan.) State, and the host University of Northern Colorado fill out the rest of the field.
The team will arrive on Friday after a 17-hour trek for a walk-through and "get used to the altitude," said Dettmann. The Bills will play at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the prospects of another game that evening and possibly two more on Sunday.
If the Billikens can capture the championship, then it's off to Santa Cruz, California, and the Elite 8.
"It's been a blast," Dettmann remarked, reminiscing on the season. A trip to the West Coast would add to the already enormous triumph of this year's club.
The Billikens will return to SLU and host two more events this spring. April 16 marks the annual alumni game on the new intramural fields, and the Panthers of UW-Milwaukee come to town on April 22 for a Spring Fever Fight with the Bills. Co-Captain Dettmann encourages students and alums to come out for both games, and potential SLU Rugby players should feel free to contact Coach Justin Wittnon or Coach Dan Wier at [email protected].
