This is the first season both the Central men’s and women’s rugby programs were recognized as varsity athletic programs through the university. Both programs proved they belong there.

Led by head coach Tony Pacheco, the men’s team finished with 17 wins and 2 losses in sevens play. The Wildcats had many shut out victories including a 56-0 defeat of Oregon State University on Sep. 27 and a 41-0 victory on Oct. 11 over Washington State University before derailing the Cougar 15’s squad by a score of 129-0 on Nov. 16.

The first season as a varsity sport brought great success to the men’s team, but Pacheco keeps his mindset the same, always looking to improve and move forward.

“We play with the mindset that we always need to get better and we can always do things a little bit better,” Pacheco said. “At the end of the season, we are not satisfied, but we are successful and there’s always room for improvement.”

Pacheco’s favorite moment from the season was hosting the Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference sevens tournament at Central during homecoming weekend. Pacheco said it was a great opportunity to have the team perform in front of a bigger crowd for the team’s first time playing sevens.

The Wildcats claimed the NCRC sevens tournament title outright.

Josh Bower, a senior winger for the Wildcats, didn’t think too far ahead in their success after large victories.

“There is still so much to work on, we played so well in the first half and then fell apart in the second half because we knew that we could beat them with our skill,” Bower said. “There’s still a lot of rugby we need to learn.”

The change was handled professionally and with great success for the Wildcats. The new field of play did not completely shake the mindset of the program, but challenged it to a new level of expectations.

“The transition period had a new set of standards and are just different, they are not better or worse, just different,” Pacheco said.

As the season progressed, the Wildcats made a strict effort to meet their goals.

“Our level of performance has definitely been up and the mentality we are bringing to every practice is consistent with the goals we have set,” Korbin Lindell, a junior prop for the men’s squad said.

The team saw many different aspects of their game improve throughout the season. Coach Pacheco believed the greatest success was linked to the new level of play.

“Acclimating into a new environment in varsity athletics is our biggest improvement,” Pacheco said.

Bower emphasized the importance of having a selfless team, which has contributed to their success this season.

“We are getting to the point where we don’t care who scores as long as someone scores,” Bower said. “For myself, I want our team to get to the mindset of ‘it doesn’t matter if I score.’ I just want to be selfless, and I can start to see it more in training and through the last two games of the season.”

Lindell agreed that the team chemistry developed significantly over the season.

“Team chemistry was definitely uplifted,” Lindell said. “The comradery and the attitude we have together is unlike anything else and it’s getting stronger everyday.”

The men’s program is looking forward to the upcoming fifteen season and believes they will build off of the success from the sevens season.

Head coach Mel Denham led the women’s team to a finish of seven wins and two losses. The women had outcomes similar to the men’s team, defeating the University of Washington and Oregon State University.