COLLEGE RUGBY SPRINKLED WITH GUAM TALENT

By Patrick Lujan

Is there a sport with more college representation coming from Guam other than rugby? The answer is no, and the numbers speak for themselves as you have at least three dozen ruggers chugging through the nation’s rugby fields.

Here is the impressive list and their colleges. (Note: The NCAA does not recognize men’s rugby as a sponsored sport, but does recognize women’s rugby as an Emerging Sport)

THE LIST

American International College: Shiela Sarmiento

Belmont Abbey College: Grayson Denton

Brown University: Makayla Atoigue (2023 national champions)

Cal Poly: Tomu Sawada

Grand Canyon University: Joanne Alvarez

Iowa Central CC: Tanner Costa

Kingspoint Merchant Marine Academy: Aiden Rosario

Lindenwood University: Alden Bordallo, Caleb Murphy, Ian Castro, Mia Topasna, Branwen Saville

Mount St. Mary’s: Saige Calvo, Trey Blas Fields, Christian Manglona, Anita Manglona

Norwich University: Hyan Mesa

Oregon State: Donovan Paulino, Zariah Mafnas

Penn State: Kwinn Rios

Sacred Heart: Auri Merfalen, Maria Paulino

St. Mary’s College: Garrison Arriola, Aubrey Blas, Tori Rapadas, Ryleen Castro

Southern Nazarene University: Cassidy Guerrero, Kyle Manibusan

Wheeling University: Lola Rosario, Serenity Sulla

Are we missing anyone?

BUT HOW?

Rugby has come a long way from its introduction to the island in the early 1990s when brothers Ross and Alan Morrison brought the sport from New Zealand/Australia.

Today, it rivals football in popularity and exceeds it in participation. There’s no question Guam is known for hard work, determination and toughness; essential recipes to rugby success.

So just how did this sport explode to where our high schoolers go off to play in college more than any other? It’s a mixture of ingredients: player development, college recruitment, advanced coaching and the sheer fit for the sport.

Here’s what some of our island rugby leaders have to say.

Paul Claros (former national player, multiple H.S. coaching titles, 19 years coaching)

Growing interest in the sport: We offer rugby as young as sixth grade, so by the time they graduate from high school they have 7-years experience. Therefore, giving them a head start for skill accusation, rugby intellect and overall development.

College recruitment: Many colleges actively recruit rugby players, offering scholarships and support. Coaches are doing a better job getting kids in pathway programs.

Fitness and athleticism: Rugby requires a high level of fitness, strength, and teamwork, basically Guam kids are built to play rugby.

Camaraderie and community: Rugby fosters strong team bonds and a sense of community, appealing to our island culture.

Tony Costa (H.S. coach, GRC Barbarians Rugby development manager)

Although Guam has many talented athletes, it has a significant number of college rugby players because rugby scholarships are more accessible and obtainable than those for other sports. College rugby players out number athletes from different sports on scholarships.

Guam Rugby Club has fostered programs to help develop rugby skills and rugby IQ through local and international training and tournaments. Exposure at this level attracts college coaches. The athletes ultimately develop a genuine passion for the sport of rugby. Other coaches and I try to support and encourage the athletes, showing them that college rugby is a pathway to higher education and that scholarships can help fund their college education.

Seeing my former athletes succeed proves rugby can open college doors. Rugby offers a chance to leave Guam, compete at the D1 level, and earn a degree while pursuing a sport they love. I’ve urged families to explore rugby scholarships, which have significantly eased financial challenges. Guam is filled with talent, and rugby feels ingrained in our culture—almost as though it was meant to be here. Our athletes have what it takes to compete at D1 and beyond. Just look at trailblazers like Zach Pangelinan, Jacob Flores, Stephen Sablan, and Ally Ada. They’ve paved the way in Guam rugby.

Athletes need support and guidance through the college landscape, and I have tried to create a support system for them—meeting with countless college coaches, promoting the athletes, matching them with the right schools, and helping develop rugby resumes over the years. A strong support network has empowered these athletes to achieve great things through rugby, as evidenced by the number of Guam athletes playing rugby in college.

Leonard Calvo (former national player, ‘Godfather of Guam Rugby)

The middle school and HS programs put together by Guam Rugby (Development officer Paul Claros) are the main reasons why Guam is able to put players in college programs.
There are obviously good athletes and coaches who dedicate to coach them and parents who support them. But without the base and competitions that are available to them, it would not be possible.

Our kids, if they played MS flag rugby, can have seven years of experience and skill building by the time they get to college.

It is fortunate that Guam Rugby has progressed as far as it has and produced the college athletes they have with the limited facilities and resources Guam has. Imagine the potential if it was fully supported.

Terry Debold (FD Athletic Director)

That’s a really complex answer: inspiration, coaches with advanced knowledge of college and international play, definitely high school administrators providing guidance, general growth of the sport throughout the U.S. our geographic location provides great exposure to world class competition, the Guam Rugby Union (not to be mistaken with GRC) helped get rugby into middle and high school interscholastics on Guam long before most of the US. And on and on….

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Yes, indeed. All of those key ingredients have resulted into a buffet of Guam athletes blazing through the rugby pitches of America.