Penn State Women Announce Recruiting Weekend
The Penn State Women’s Rugby team will be hosting a recruiting day on October 22nd for High School Seniors that are interested in attending Penn State and playing at the most successful women’s collegiate rugby program in the country.
Despite the success of the program freshman that have played rugby in High School have been key to the team’s recent success. Four freshmen started the 2011 National Championship game despite a squad with over 20 seniors.
“When I talk to high school players about Penn State they invariably ask if they will get to play,” said Penn State Head Coach, Peter Steinberg. “We get games for every player on the squad and with the continued development of the high school game I expect to have more and more freshman that make an impact in their first year.” Steinberg, who is also the USA National Team coach, has coached at Penn State for over 15 years and won 6 National Titles and the team has been to 8 National Title games.
Penn State Rugby has an elevated status on campus and is designated as a team sport that includes extra support. There are 2 full-time rugby administrators, varsity athlete health insurance as well as access to the full medical and strength and conditioning resources of the athletic department. These resources at an athletic department like Penn State places the program on an equal footing with the varsity programs in the country.
“When I was looking at colleges as a high school senior, I had a number of good options in my home state of Colorado,” said Sadie Anderson, Penn State’s captain and the current USA Fly-half. “However it was obvious to me that Penn State was the program that would help me fulfill my potential. Since I came from the Fort Collins High School program I have represented the USA at both 7s and 15s.” Penn State is well known for developing elite players, and had 4 players with the USA Eagles at the Nations Cup in the summer.
“Even though I came here to play rugby” Anderson continued, “it is actually the team that has made my experience special. We have over 60 players on the squad but we have a feeling of one big family and that helps make a big school like Penn State feel manageable. I know that my Penn State teammates will be my friends for the rest of my life.”
The Penn State Recruiting day will start with an opportunity for the recruits to meet the team at the team run through and dinner on Friday night. The recruits and their parents will be able to meet the coaching staff on Saturday morning where they will learn about the Penn State Rugby program and will also learn about the admissions process. Penn State will then take on rival Navy at 1pm where the recruits can see 2 of the best programs in the country face off.
Recruits that are interested in attending the recruiting day should register at:
https://rugby.psu.edu/prospects/
