Warsaw senior Hannah Garcia was named to USA Rugby’s Women’s High School All-American team this summer. It was the second time she had played at the state and national levels, according to her coach, Trevor Cracknell. “In the spring we play our competitive season, and the fall we play a ‘fun’ season. At the end of the spring season, players both boys and girls can go and try out for the full Indiana state team. Typically the coaches urge their best players to try out, to get coaching from different people. “So Hannah tried out and was picked to play for the Indiana team in Pittsburgh in what’s called a regional national all-star tournament,” Cracknell said. “That tournament is sanctioned by USA Rugby, and at those tournaments they have national selectors. Those selectors select certain names to the national team coaches, who invited players to the Stars and Stripes Camp. Between 60 and 70 girls will be at the camp, and from that they’ll select a smaller squad of about 20-25 girls for the All-American squad. She didn’t make the team the first year she tried out, but did the second year. While the Warsaw rugby teams haven’t been around long relative to the history of the school, they are building a rich tradition of their own. The club programs began in 2003, with the girls winning the state championship in 2005, and making it to the state finals in 2013 and 2014. The boys won a state title in 2014. The program now includes middle school teams for both genders. Garcia became acquainted with the sport through two players she met in a sophomore Child Development class. “They always talked about how much fun it was,” she said. “Then one day I saw them come to school with a really cool jersey, and I was like ‘oh my gosh. I want to wear a jersey like that.’ I asked them when the spring season started, and I started coming to practice that January. While Garcia came to the sport with a skill set she’s developed through hard work, she says it’s her teammates that makes rugby special to her. “At first you feel alone, but once you get to know everyone, you get to feel like a family. “It really is a family. They make practice fun, they make the games fun, and the support they give you is amazing. If you mess up they’re like ‘oh, it’s fine, we all do this.’ If I didn’t have that support, I probably wouldn’t continue to play. “Everyone is really close, they’re like sisters to me. Honestly, the team is family. If someone gets bullied in school, we’re all there to help them, or if someone gets hurt on the field, we’re right there to make sure they’re OK on and off the field.” Student-athletes interested in the spring season can contact Cracknell at warsawcoach@yahoo.com or 574-527-0983.
