Life West Women’s Rugby Team Muster
The Women’s Rugby Team held a team camp over the weekend of 5/15-5/16 with special guest, former USA Eagles National Team Captain and 2017 Rugby World Cup All Star Team member, Coach Tiffany Faaee.
Similar to all sports at Life West, the nationally recognized rugby program has been on hiatus due to the pandemic. So the resumption of athletics programs on campus has been a welcome return for many athletes. None more so than 11th quarter student, Sara Parsons, who along with Coach Faaee, was the only other USA player named in the 2017 World XV Dream Team.
Parsons mentioned that “the purpose of the weekend camp was to reconnect with one another as a team and lay the foundation for future success.” A number of players could not attend due to other commitments, however, that did not stop Life West alum and USA Eagles player, Dr. Nicole Strasko venturing down from Santa Rosa where she practices at Healthy Families Chiropractic.
The team get together has been eagerly anticipated by all players and the weekend coincided with the completion of the new Courtyard space adjacent to the Health Clinic. After a vigorous training in the morning, followed by team activities in the afternoon, all players and coaching staff were able to relax in the newly developed space to close out day one.
An early morning 5:30am, start saw the team assemble at Mission Peak Trail Head in Fremont, CA to hike to the top of Mission Peak. An epic start to day two was interrupted after the team reached the top, when Athletics Director, Adriaan Ferris unceremoniously slipped descending the peak. Much to the laughter of the players and embarrassment to himself, Coach Ferris required the assistance of students Emma Harbage and Adriana Tonga to help him down of the trail.