BGSU Women’s Rugby Club

Who are they?

The BGSU Women’s rugby team is the female counterpart to the Men’s club. Sheena Niehaus has been with the team for two years and holds the positions of Fundraiser Chair and Match Secretary off the field. The Women’s team has been on Bowling Green’s campus for a long time.

According to Niehaus, the team is active in the fall and winter seasons.

The team’s Web site says that they practice outside during the spring semester when the weather gets warm. Also, they play in a number of tournaments.

“We practice Tuesdays through Fridays,” Niehaus said. She also said that on Mondays the team works out together at the recreation center on campus. They also play games on Saturdays.

What do they do?

The BGSU Women’s rugby team competes against other women’s rugby teams from all over the Midwest. According to the team Web site some of these teams include: Ohio State, Michigan State, Eastern Illinois and the University of Michigan.

The team also frequently competes in a number of tournaments. One of these takes place in Tennessee.

Why should you care?

The team allows its players to compete with other college teams and travel.

According to Niehaus, the women won their division of the Ohio Classic tournament, which brings men’s and women’s college teams as well as high school teams to Columbus, Ohio every year to compete against one another.

What’s it like?

Niehaus describes her first year as a great experience.

“I met a lot of new people and it was a perfect way to get involved at BG,” Niehaus said. “It also helped me meet great girls who have become some of my best friends.”

Niehaus describes her teammates as her “family away from home.”

How to contact them:

Sheena Niehaus [email protected]

BGSU Men’s Rugby

Who are they?

Roger Mazzarella is the head coach of Bowling Green’s Men’s Rugby team. Mazzarella will be going into his 40th year as a player or coach this coming September. The team itself is also coming up on its 40th year on the University’s campus. The field is located on the corner of Poe and North College.

Mazzarella discovered the sport on his way to a freshman football tryout while attending classes at BGSU.

“An Englishman told to drop my football equipment and run in and give the sport a try,” Mazzarella said.

What do they do?

“The rugby season runs from August 25 until November 3 and from March 15 until April 28,” Mazzarella said.

According to Mazzarella, the team competes very closely to a varsity level while they are in season. Mazzarella said that his top two squads went undefeated last spring.

“Our record last spring was 28 – 2 and that was a typical

record for a season,” Mazzarella said.

According to Mazzarella, the scores and records from all the squads go towards the collective team’s total.

Why should you care?

“In the past 20 years we have been to the National Championship seven times with our highest finish coming in at third,” Mazzarella said.

The team has been the Mid America Conference champions for 26 years straight, according to Mazzarella. Mazzarella also said that the team usually finishes around 16 or higher in the national rankings.

“We have four players that made the Midwest all stars and one that is currently up for consideration for the USA team,” Mazzarella said.

What’s it like?

According to Mazzarella, what sets the rugby team apart from other clubs and sports is that anyone can play, despite what sport they may have played previously.

“We guarantee that every club member will play every weekend by fielding 4 – 5 squads throughout the season,” Mazzarella said.

According to Mazzarella, when he started playing he was hooked immediately.

How to contact them:

Contact Roger Mazzarella: 419-353-1290, [email protected]

United Karate

Who are they?

Greg Woods is the summer session head instructor for United Karate. He has been involved with the program for over 20 years. United Karate has been on the University’s campus for about 30 years, according to Woods.

What do they do?

According to Woods, the group is active all year, except for breaks during the time classes are in session. Woods said that the group trains the art of Karate.

The group uses St. Thomas More University Parish gym and Anderson Arena throughout the year. According to Woods, the group also does self-defense demonstrations in some of the freshman dorms and does classes for local kids in the Eppler Complex.

“We hold an annual spring tournament at Anderson Arena, typically in April,” Woods said.

Why should you care?

“We have trained well over 100 black belts,” Woods said.

What’s it like?

Woods describes his first year with the group as an exciting and fun way to meet new people. According to Woods, he got involved with them through the University’s Continuing Education program.

How to contact them:

Greg Woods: [email protected]