Women's Rugby club team captures Division III national championship
Bryant's own Rosanna Harter '10 named Most Valuable Player of the title tilt.
Bryant added yet another piece of hardware to the trophy case as Women's Rugby captured the Division III National Small College Rugby Organization national championship. The title is the first in the history of Bryant women's rugby.
Rosanna Harter '10 (Southbridge, MA) was named Most Valuable Player of the championship match.
"Being named MVP was an amazing honor," says Harter, a marketing concentrator. "I could not have done this without my teammates' support and constant encouragement. For the past two-and-a-half years, we have become closer as we all worked towards the same goal – to ultimately become champions."
Ashley Crawford '09 (Lynnfield, MA), president of the organization, says they exceeded all of their expectations during the historic season.
"Our team worked so hard to make it to the nationals," says Crawford, also a marketing concentrator. "We were happy just to make it that far. Winning the national championship and having an undefeated season was beyond anything that we could have ever dreamed of."
Kudos to the coach
Crawford and Harter both attributed much of the team's success to their coach, Eric Catalozzi, who took the helm the spring of 2007.
"He has taught us so much over the last two years and has dedicated his time and expertise to making us the best we can be," says Crawford. "He believed in us and pushed us to get the best out of ourselves."
"He instilled in us that we could be champions," adds Harter.
Over the last two seasons, team members developed a special bond with each other. "We are best friends on and off the field," says Crawford. "Having that camaraderie helped us adapt to each other's strengths and weaknesses. We were all happy to see each other succeed because we understood it was about the team, not the individual."
Further illustrating the team's close ties, Coach Catalozzi offered his expertise as a carpenter to a local nonprofit organization that one of his players, Christina Knips '12 (Wappingers Falls, NY), worked with during the fall semester. As part of an honors "Business 101" project, Knips, along with other students in the class, worked with Capital Region Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to create a business plan for a computer repair facility that will employ Rhode Island veterans. Catalozzi is active in the armed services and will return to Iraq in the spring.
Good practice for the future
Harter says beyond being active and involved in the Bryant community, her participation with the rugby club team helped her learn the skills she needs to be an event planner.
"Athletics helped me acquire the discipline, as well as the teamwork and leadership skills I need, to succeed in my future career," she says.
Crawford feels her experience competing on the field will translate well to her next phase in life. "It is the drive and desire I developed as an athlete that will put me ahead of my competition," she says. "Athletics has played a large part in teaching me how to succeed both on and off the field."
Rosanna Harter '10 (Southbridge, MA) was named Most Valuable Player of the championship match.
"Being named MVP was an amazing honor," says Harter, a marketing concentrator. "I could not have done this without my teammates' support and constant encouragement. For the past two-and-a-half years, we have become closer as we all worked towards the same goal – to ultimately become champions."
Ashley Crawford '09 (Lynnfield, MA), president of the organization, says they exceeded all of their expectations during the historic season.
"Our team worked so hard to make it to the nationals," says Crawford, also a marketing concentrator. "We were happy just to make it that far. Winning the national championship and having an undefeated season was beyond anything that we could have ever dreamed of."
Kudos to the coach
Crawford and Harter both attributed much of the team's success to their coach, Eric Catalozzi, who took the helm the spring of 2007.
"He has taught us so much over the last two years and has dedicated his time and expertise to making us the best we can be," says Crawford. "He believed in us and pushed us to get the best out of ourselves."
"He instilled in us that we could be champions," adds Harter.
Over the last two seasons, team members developed a special bond with each other. "We are best friends on and off the field," says Crawford. "Having that camaraderie helped us adapt to each other's strengths and weaknesses. We were all happy to see each other succeed because we understood it was about the team, not the individual."
Further illustrating the team's close ties, Coach Catalozzi offered his expertise as a carpenter to a local nonprofit organization that one of his players, Christina Knips '12 (Wappingers Falls, NY), worked with during the fall semester. As part of an honors "Business 101" project, Knips, along with other students in the class, worked with Capital Region Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to create a business plan for a computer repair facility that will employ Rhode Island veterans. Catalozzi is active in the armed services and will return to Iraq in the spring.
Good practice for the future
Harter says beyond being active and involved in the Bryant community, her participation with the rugby club team helped her learn the skills she needs to be an event planner.
"Athletics helped me acquire the discipline, as well as the teamwork and leadership skills I need, to succeed in my future career," she says.
Crawford feels her experience competing on the field will translate well to her next phase in life. "It is the drive and desire I developed as an athlete that will put me ahead of my competition," she says. "Athletics has played a large part in teaching me how to succeed both on and off the field."
