Pitt rugby club looking to duplicate success of the fall season

Rugby is often a sport that doesn’t get a lot of recognition among the college ranks…. Rugby is often a sport that doesn’t get a lot of recognition among the college ranks. However, the Pitt men’s rugby club deserves respect.

Pitt has been rebuilding a solid reputation and has been successful. Dan Talbert, the team’s head coach since 1996, credits many of these achievements since the fall 1999 season to seniors James Szatala and Jeff “Wheels” Shellenberger.

“We’re getting better and better,” Talbert said. “[Szatala and Shellenberger] were chief architects in the turnaround of this team.”

Pitt rugby is looking to extend its success from the fall into its spring season. With a recent strong recruitment drive, the team looks to be highly competitive for its upcoming season and for years to come.

The team plays in the Allegheny Rugby Union, which is Division II, and includes California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, Franciscan University, Grove City College, Robert Morris University, Slippery Rock University, Pitt at Johnstown and West Virginia University.

Pitt rugby plays in both the spring and fall. Its fall schedule is comprised of league matches and the Midwest playoffs, while the spring season consists of tournament play and exhibitions.

The team is divided into three sides, A, B and C. The A-side is the prime team and consists of the starters for Pitt rugby.

The fall season gave the A squad an extraordinary feat as Pitt became the 2002 Allegheny Rugby Union Champions. This victory, over defending conference champions Clarion, was the club’s first championship title. In league play, A-side is 14-4 since 1999.

“I’m very proud of what they accomplished this season,” Talbert said. “The kids have worked their tails off this season.”

The B-side, which consists of developing players, has compiled an 18-0-1 record since spring 2000. Last fall, B-side was 6-0, not losing a game in two whole seasons.

“The players put together a very impressive streak,” Talbert said. “It gave a whole lot of meaning to the B-game.”

Pitt rugby has gained so much popularity that it has been able to field a third team, C-side. So far, after two seasons, C-side is 4-0-2.

Shellenberger has 76 total points and an impressive 23 for 28 in conversions. Sophomore Brad DiCola follows in scoring with 30 points and president Jeff Martin scored 25 points.

Senior Troy Albright, junior Scott “Maniac” Derrig and sophomore Matt “Slop” Myers all scored in double digits while four players were tied with five points apiece.

“It was a great season for every player on the team,” Talbert said.

Even though the rugby club has talent, they are always in search of potential team members.

“No experience is necessary,” Talbert said. “In fact, five of our top six scorers have less than two years of experience and 80 percent of the team never even picked up a rugby ball before they walked up to their first practice on the Cathedral lawn.”

Talbert welcomes anyone who is interested and encourages fans and potential players to visit the team’s website at www.pitt.edu/~football.