ATHLETICS REVIEW Rugby is something of a flagship sport for Life University (Life U), and the Life U Women’s Rugby team has experienced a banner year for its 2023-2024 season. Most notably for this dedicated group of Life U Running Eagles was their gritty victory over rival Lindenwood University to capture the D1 Elite National Championship on April 14, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. It was a historic upset that ended Lindenwood’s streak of supremacy against Life U in the D1 Elite championship game. The two powerhouses have gone head-to-head since the 2017- 2018 season, with Life U playing their hearts out every time and with many close calls. Yet, for the first time in program history, the perfect mixture of hard work and strategy culminated in a euphoric win as Life U was crowned D1 Elite National Champions. The match was a nailbiter, ending with Lindenwood leading Life U 22–19 at halftime. A pattern emerged of Lindenwood barreling out with successful tries at the start of a half; then, Life U would fight back with terrific offense, closing the gap before finally overtaking Lindenwood with the match-winning kick by Nina Mason. The final score came to 44–41. Fellow superstar Emma “A.J.” Haughey was named Championship MVP, but truly the win was a team effort of which all the ladies should be immensely proud. There was a whirlwind of emotions and elation surrounding the victory. Freshman like Liberty Benitez might not have had as much time to absorb the importance of the rivalry, so it must have been a bit of a happy shock. She, along with over 10 other freshmen had benefited from the encouragement and guidance from their upperclassman teammates, growing into a force that could “learn a lot more and a lot quicker to be able to be prepared for the big games and the wins that followed”. Similarly, Madelyn Jennings, a graduate student just a year into her M.S. in Sport Health Science program, expressed immense excitement and gratitude reflecting on the day. “I knew that Lindenwood was our rival, and you can always feel that energy when people would talk about it. It was like, oh, this is a big matchup. I’m even getting chills now just thinking about it because it was a crazy game to be in,” Jennings said. Head Coach Ryszard Chadwick shared some elated thoughts regarding the momentous occasion and the pride he felt in his team’s efforts. “This was a great showcase for women’s rugby. What a performance from both teams. We have worked hard all year building a new standard for this program, and it showed in the grit and resilience. To go so far behind, so quickly, and to come back in the first half the way we did was impressive,” Coach Chadwick said. “However, it was not as impressive as the second half where we showed real composure and a really thoughtful process. We stuck to the game plan and it, in the end, got us the outcome we wanted. A full team performance and an outstanding performance from Nina Mason in all aspects of the game. And finally, a big thanks to all who traveled and supported us today and all season, it means everything to the players.” Yet, there is truly no rest for the weary, as the 15s season wound down with only 10 days to transition into the 7s seasons. For those unaware, traditional matches are two 40-minute halves with 15 players on the pitch per team (hence, 15s), while the rough-and-tumble, fast-paced nature of 7s rugby is played in two halves of just seven minutes in length, requiring even more aggressive offense to get points on the board. Entering the College Rugby Association of America’s (CRAA) Premier 7s Championships as the No. 1 seed unfortunately did not provide enough of an advantage for the 14 selected players that traveled to Houston to defend last year’s 7s Championship title, as the “hangover” from their 15s championship win was still fresh, as Chadwick characterized it. He also mentioned a significant injury list that probably caught up with the team a bit as well after the lengthy run in 15s. The Running Eagles gave a valiant showing but ultimately were unable to clinch a semifinal spot after a close match with Davenport. But the team is still in high spirits overall, as “this should not overshadow the monumental achievement and the journey they embarked upon this year. Every week has been a learning experience, cementing a foundation of resilience and commitment. We’re proud of the growth we’ve made and are looking forward to continuing to build on them looking ahead at the 2024–25 season,” Chadwick said. Life University’s Women’s Rugby Team Celebrates a Memorable Year of Play 48 Alumni.life.edu | 2024
