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(01/12/01 5:44am)
The women's swim team is traveling Saturday to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (1-7) at 1 p.m. It will be their first meet on the road this season, and head coach Dorsey Tierney said she welcomes the challenge. \n"I think it will be a good test of their stamina and their ability to compete in enemy territory," said Tierney, whose Hoosiers are undefeated in dual competitions.\nFreshman freestyler Sarah Fiden is no stranger to the Buckeyes. A native of Kettering, Ohio, Fiden considered swimming for her home school before signing with IU. After getting to know some OSU swimmers, Fiden said she is aware of the strengths the Buckeyes possess.\n"Going against a conference opponent, you have to be up for anything," Fiden said.\nFiden said she feels more comfortable now that she is in her second semester with the team. She said all the hard work and training will pay off in the upcoming meet and the Big Ten championships in February. \nOne of the Hoosiers' leading distance racers, Fiden will be swimming the 200 freestyle and 400 individual medley in Columbus. Saturday marks the second of four straight weekends of competition, so Tierney said she wants to give her distance swimmers some breaks.\n"Fortunately, we have the depth to mix up our lineup at times," Tierney said.\nThat lineup includes sophomore Megan Geers, who is looking to better her breaststroke times.\n"This year, she's pretty much on a roll," Tierney said. "She has the best attitude of anybody on the team on a daily basis."\nGeers is also a native of Ohio and said she is looking forward to going home. But her mission is to uphold the Hoosiers confidence and a perfect record.\n"I think that our team is ready to handle anything that anyone throws at us," Geers said.\nGeers, the Hoosiers' top breaststroker, said she is having fun this year.\n"I'm real excited to see how fast I can be this semester," Geers said.\nTierney looks to the weekend with slight apprehension. IU's intense winter training has different effects on everyone and might fatigue some younger swimmers, she said.\n"This week is always interesting," Tierney said. "I think we'll see a little bit of a mixed bag this weekend."\nEven so, Tierney said she is confident in her team."I'm feeling very good about where we are right now," she said.
(01/10/01 7:40am)
After competing in the Sydney Summer Olympics in September, junior diver Sara Reiling said she is glad to be back home.\n"I want to find all my friends," she said. "I missed them."\nAlthough Reiling has been redshirted this season because of an injury and her late return to the program, she is still training for the future. Reiling said she hopes to be ready to compete in the Senior Nationals in April. Summer competition looms as a last resort.\n"I'm just trying to keep an open mind," she said. "I had surgery (on my wrist) in November, so hopefully I'll get back in shape from that."\nReiling and diving coach Jeff Huber don't seem concerned by her absence this season. In fact, Huber prefers Reiling's resting.\n"I wanted her to take as much time off as she liked, because she wants to train for the next Olympic Games," he said.\nBeing a coach at the Olympics himself, Huber is a strong advocate of training and participating in the Games. Huber said he believes Sara's experience will only help her at the collegiate level.\n"The Olympics had an extremely positive effect (on her)," he said. "(It's) such a great experience. Looking back now, there were nothing but good things."\nReiling counts international recognition as one of the most important perks of worldwide competition. Reiling said the fact that an unknown, first-time Olympian, rose from 25th place to 13th is enough to make coaches' heads turn.\n"I think that said a lot about me," she said.\nReiling said the politics involved in individual sports like diving prevent overpowering success unless meets and competition receive outstanding media coverage. \nAs she entered junior high, the Olympian had no idea she would accomplish what she has today. Diving seemed out of the question. At 12 years old, Reiling fractured her back, halting her promising gymnastics career. Her doctor encouraged her to find a new sport, so she tried diving -- something with which she had already been experimenting. She then began competition on a club team level. Nearly eight years later, Reiling saw herself on a giant screen as she prepared to dive in Sydney, with millions watching.\nReiling said she is happy to be back in classes after sitting out the fall semester.\n"It was hard being around here while everyone else was in school, and I wasn't," she said. "I missed being around everyone -- the normal college life. I enjoy the student life."\nHuber said he looks forward to her presence and said the other divers will as well.\n"The team respects and supports Sara," he said. "And Sara is good friends with everyone on the team. I think the team and Sara will have a positive effect on each other"
(11/20/00 5:14am)
The men's and women's swimming and diving teams each took first place in the Indiana Invitational this weekend at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatics Center. The women scored 1,141 points while the men earned 1,037. Ahead of runner-up Notre Dame by almost 400 points, the women's team placed at least second in nearly every race. \nBoth teams faced Evansville, Illinois, Southern Illinois, Miami, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Indian River Community College.\nAmong those who swam season-best times Friday were the men and women's 200-meter free relays, freshman Sarah Fiden and senior Joe Trent in the 500-meter freestyle, sophomore Tina Gretlund in the 200-meter individual medley and senior Jenn Cristy in the 50-meter free.\nSeveral season best times were achieved Saturday, including those by Gretlund, freshman Matt Leach and Trent in the 400-meter IM, Gretlund and sophomore Kevin Euans in the 100-meter butterfly, Cristy in the 200-meter free and senior Will Bernhardt in the 100-meter backstroke. Junior Susan Woessner swam an NCAA consideration time in the 100-meter back.\nCristy's time of 50.88 in the 100-meter free impressed herself and coach Dorsey Tierney.\n"That's the best racing Jenn's done since the Big Tens last year," Tierney said. "That includes more confidence and a refuse-to-lose attitude. I'm starting to see some of the old fire in her."\nCristy said her preliminary swim had left her uncertain of how she would finish Saturday evening.\n"I didn't think I was going to have that good a swim in the 200 (free)," Cristy said. "But I'm very happy."\nSunday featured the diving competition, but only four Hoosiers competed because of injury and lack of readiness. Senior Erin Quinn is recovering from back and elbow injuries, and freshman Cassandra Cardinell did not compete because of injury.\nDiving coach Jeff Huber said the absence of Quinn and Cardinell hurt the team slightly. Sophomore Lori Matthys came in fifth with 317 points in the platform event, and sophomore Jessica Williams placed third with 363 points.\n"Lori had a lot better starts on her dives," Huber said. "Jessica did the best optionals I've seen. Her voluntaries are a little off, but we just haven't been training a lot up there."\nDespite the small numbers, Huber was satisfied with his team's performance. \n"We did a pretty good job, we're going to take a break," he said. "They're beat up. I think everybody's glad to be done early (Sunday) and go home."\nCristy sang the national anthem before Sunday's swimming finals. She went on to earn season-best times in the 100-meter free and 400-meter free relay while Gretlund earned a NCAA consideration time of 2:02.93 in the 200-meter fly.\n"The sophomore class is just so much more consistent, which is largely a key to our success so far," Tierney said. "They give us depth and a little bit more fire because they have some wacky personalities."\nTierney said she is pleased with the consistency the team has had and with Cristy's turn-around weekend.\n"Her 100 free (Sunday) was probably her best unshaved time ever, which if you had asked me two weeks ago if she could do that, I would have said, 'No way,'" she said.
(11/15/00 5:20am)
Freshman Sarah Fiden is everything the women's swimming team could want in a squad member. Her coach and teammates agree Fiden's warm heart and hard work combine to make a competitive swimmer.\nCoach Dorsey Tierney said she believes that if Fiden continues to train extensively, she will have a bright future.\n"I think she can be the best distance swimmer to come out of IU and one of the best of the Big Ten," she said.\nFiden began swimming at the age of 6, when her older brother joined a team at the local YMCA in their home state of Ohio. Fiden said she continued to follow her brother's example and practiced diligently. They both swam for the YMCA club team through high school. Fiden's brother went on to swim for Ohio State for a year, until he returned home to swim for a community college. Fiden did not receive her place in the spotlight until recently.\n"I've been in his shadow," she said, "and now I've finally made my own name."\nAfter junior Susan Woessner had been competing at IU for two years, she suggested to the coaching staff that they take a look at a former YMCA teammate of hers who had made constant improvements while they were together on the team.\n"I told Dorsey and (assistant coach) Greg (Earhart) that there was this great girl on my team that would fit well at IU," Woessner said, "and they took it from there."\nWhile on the club team, Fiden was the mile champion at the YMCA nationals.\nWoessner said Fiden's past accomplishments and love of competition make her confident when she watches her race.\n"When she is in the water, I know that she is going to put her all into it, no matter what," she said.\nTierney said Fiden adjusted more quickly than most freshmen do to college athletics and that she has a distance swimmer's determination.\n"(Sarah) has the stereotypical distance mentality," Tierney said. "(It's like) 'tell me what I need to do and I'm ready to go.'"\nFiden's positive attitude makes Woessner enjoy being a part of her friend's team and athletic conquests.\n "She just really loves swimming and training and racing," Woessner said, "so it's fun to watch her be successful."\n Fiden said she hopes to take that success to the Big Ten and even NCAA championship this year. She says she will see where she goes from there. As far as long-term goals, she is looking to the 2004 Olympics. Tierney sees it as a definite possibility considering the convenient timing of Fiden's collegiate career.\n"She's just an all-around solid individual," she said. "She has a good heart, she's a great teammate and a great student. What more can you ask of a student athlete?"\nFiden is not anxious for the Olympics. While a Hoosier, she is using her time wisely and enjoying herself.\n"I'm having a great time"
(11/07/00 4:26am)
Although her team won the swim meet Saturday in Bloomington, Dorsey Tierney didn't stick her tongue out at her opponent and older brother Jimmy Tierney, who coaches the Northwestern team. \nInstead, Dorsey and Jimmy met half-way across the deck and chatted endlessly, congratulating each other and discussing strategies.\nThe Hoosiers defeated the nationally ranked Wildcats 168.5-131.5 at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center.\nLast year, Jimmy's team defeated Dorsey's Hoosiers in the coaches' first dual meet against each other. Under Jimmy, Northwestern has developed into a top 15 program that hasn't finished worse than fourth place in the Big Ten Championships.\nSaturday was round two of the Tierney struggle. \nJimmy said the conversation after IU's upset consisted mostly of well-wishing, but he said big-brotherly words of wisdom were also prevalent.\n"He gave me some advice," Dorsey said. "I listened."\nAfter IU's win, does she think she should give him some advice from now on?\n"Christmas will be interesting," she said with a smirk.\nBorn in Louisville, Ky., the Tierney children grew up around the pool deck. Their mother was a pool manager and swimming instructor at the time.\nDorsey said she didn't start swimming by choice.\n"I just tagged along and went with (mom) and my brothers and sisters," she said.\nDorsey began her swimming career at age 8. At 13, she joined the Lakeside Swim Club, a competitive club in Louisville, and swam for three years with her brother as a coach.\n"Dorsey, of course, was the great swimmer from that club team," Jimmy said.\nAfter high school, Dorsey went to the University of Texas, where she broke the NCAA record in the 200 breaststroke and competed in two Pan-American Games. At the Games, she earned her first gold medal and was ranked third in the world in the 200-meters breaststroke.\nWhile Dorsey swam for Texas, Jimmy was involved with Northwestern's swimming program, first as an assistant, and in 1993, as head coach. Previously, he earned a master's degree in sports management from Southern Illinois University.\nAfter a brief assistant coaching position at Texas, Dorsey moved to Massachusetts to pursue a master's degree in sports management -- just like her brother did.\nDorsey got her first head coaching position with the Egyptian National Team during the Mediterranean Games. Under her guidance, one of the team's swimmers earned three gold medals.\nWith that experience, Dorsey took the head coaching position with the Hoosiers.\nDorsey's second year at IU was a season of broken records. Sixteen of the current 20 records are held by swimmers from the 2000 squad. That team earned almost 100 more points than the 1999 squad for the biggest point increase by any Big Ten school in a year.\nThe Hoosiers are ranked in the top 25 in a pre-season poll, a first in Dorsey's career at IU, and her swimmers said they know she is the driving force behind them.\nSenior Jenn Cristy said Dorsey was the sole reason that her best stroke, the 100-meters freestyle, developed out of almost nothing. During her last three years at IU, Cristy has improved immensely on her times.\nIU swimming has a rich history of Olympic participation, and Cristy tried to qualify for the 2000 Games. She came up short of qualifying in all of her races at the Olympic Trials.\n"I should've gone farther," she said. "But I think I lost focus. As far as even getting to the trials, that was all Dorsey."\nWhile Dorsey has motivated Cristy, Jimmy has always made a special effort to be there for his sister.\n"He would talk with me before meets," she said. "And he was always the first to congratulate me afterward."\nThe days leading to Saturday's confrontation between the siblings weren't as tense as expected for a sibling rivalry. \nInstead of snarling over dinner, brother and sister spent time catching up.\n"This was good for us because it's hard to see each other when we're so busy," Jimmy said. "We just tried to relax and have fun"
(11/06/00 6:27am)
The Hoosier women's swimming and diving team continued its undefeated season with two more wins this weekend against Kentucky and Northwestern in dual meets. Its record is now at 4-0.\nIU defeated Kentucky in a 149-94 victory that resulted from what senior Jenn Cristy called a total team effort.\nCristy swam a season high time of 51.12 seconds in the 100 free after an upset in the 50- meter freestyle.\n"I used to get really down when I started the meet slow," she said, "but I came back for the 100, which shows a lot of maturity on my part, I think."\nJunior Susan Woessner placed first in the 200-backstroke while freshman Sarah Fiden overcame a lost cap in the 1,000-meter freestyle to finish third. Fiden placed first in the 500-meter freestyle, and sophomore Megan Geers finished first in the 200-meter breaststroke. Junior Erin Quinn took first in both the 1- and 3-meter dives to give diving coach Jeff Huber another win.\nIn Saturday's meet, Northwestern head coach Jimmy Tierney faced little sister Dorsey Tierney in the closest meet the Hoosiers have seen this season.\nDorsey said she felt she could breath a sigh of relief after the 168.5-131.5 win over her brother.\n"He had a really great team," she said, "but I would love to beat him when it counts, at a Big Ten meet."\nTierney's brother said he was not surprised with IU's team.\n"It was about what I expected," he said. "I knew we would be undermanned, and they keep getting better and better. Dorsey and Jeff (Huber, diving coach) are a powerful team."\nDorsey listed a number of improvements that need to be made after watching the meet. One of these was Cristy, who Tierney said is "still not at 100 percent."\n"It's nice that she doesn't have to support the team as much anymore, though," she said. "She now has a great supporting cast."\nCristy finished second in her first two individual events but came back to win the 100-meter freestyle.\nFirst place finishers against the Wildcats included sophomore Tina Gretlund in the 200-meterfly, sophomore Jennifer Sonneborn in the 1- and 3-meter dives, and both relays were taken by IU. Junior Susan Woessner swam past Tashianna Bohm for a first place finish in the 100-meter backstroke, beating her by over a minute and a half, well over the 0.3 seconds she was beaten by last year at Northwestern. \nFiden led for 10 laps in the 1,000-meter freestyle before falling to Wildcat freshman Erica Rose. Fiden said it is necessary to get beyond such obstacles.\n"It's kinda' hard," she said. "You just have to get past that though and focus on the next event."\nFiden led the Hoosiers to triple finishes in the 500-meter freestyle with sophomore Jenny Bechem in second, and junior Erin Rice in third place. Fiden was excited about the accomplishment.\n"I think that was the best thing," she said. "We train together so it's a success for all of us."\nMen's swimming and diving\nThe men's swimming and diving team faced the Kentucky Wildcats Friday in a dual meet at the Counsilman/Billingsley Aquatic Center. The Hoosiers lost their third consecutive meet this season 150-92.\nHead coach Kris Kirchner said consistent speed is lacking on the team.\n"We may not win another meet until we decide we want to swim fast all the time," he said.\nSenior Will Bernhardt's 200-meter backstroke, junior Heath Montgomery's 200-meter Individual Medley and senior Tom Davidson's 1-meter dive produced the only three wins against the Wildcats.
(10/30/00 6:05am)
Saturday's game against Ohio State proved to be not only the season's biggest game for the men's rugby team but also its biggest disappointment. The Hoosiers scored only twice during the game and gave up twice as many tries in a game that left them just out of reach of the national final four tournament. The Hoosiers lost 28-15.\nBefore the game started, rallying cries could be heard from IU's huddle in midfield. One player shouted, reminding his teammates the win was for "Sopa," their coach Sarasopa Enari, who was unable to attend the game.\nThe first half began with IU scoring first with a kick from senior Ryan Nystrom, but Ohio State followed suit.\nSenior co-captain Trent Hahn said the Buckeyes' size hindered the Hoosiers' control of the ball.\n"They were bigger," he said, "and we just couldn't get possession of the ball."\nPossession changed several times between the teams, with the ball staying mostly in IU's half of the field.\nOnly twice during the first half did anyone score on a try, and both attempts were made by the Buckeyes. Fitness coach Trevor Brown, filling in for Enari, said Ohio State's start was skillful, but he regretted their scores later in the game.\n"Their first try was earned," Brown said. "But we gave them the last three with our lack of moving the ball and controlling it."\nThe second half looked promising for the Hoosiers as junior Brian Englum scored on their first try. Before this attempt, IU seemed to have lost its intensity for a moment. Brown said his team looked down throughout the middle of the game.\n"At times we played with a lot of intensity," Brown said. "From the end of the first half to the beginning of the second half, we just looked like we didn't want to be out there."\nOhio State answered the Hoosiers' goal with another try and kick that brought the score to 28-10. Sophomore Josh Schwab then scored for the Hoosiers and lifted the score to 28-15, the final score of the game.\nBrown was heard from the post-game huddle telling his players not to blame the game on the referee but to be proud of their fight against Ohio State, the "better team."\nNystrom couldn't say the Hoosiers did only one thing wrong to lose the game.\n"OSU was a better team," he said. "We fought hard, they fought harder. It was an all-around effort. Sometimes you play better teams, and sometimes better teams win."\nIU's loss should have meant there would be no trip to the final four, but Brown told his players there is a chance this year; the top three finishers in the Mid-West Tourney would be admitted into the round. If this happens, next week's game in Indianapolis could place the Hoosiers in the final four.\nHahn said he was disappointed after the game but said he was looking forward to nationals.\n"It was the biggest game I've played since I've been at IU," Hahn said. "And hopefully (U.S.A. Nationals) will take three (teams)"
(10/27/00 6:12am)
The men's rugby team is ready for Ohio State University.\nAt 1 p.m. Saturday, the Hoosiers will face off with their long-time rival to determine who will go on to play for the Midwest Tournament title. A first or second finish in the tourney guarantees IU a position in the National Tournament in the spring.\nSophomore Dave Jensen said the team's goal is beating the Buckeyes and make it to the national tournament's Final Four.\n"The conditioning is done," Jensen said. "This last week was for preparing to play OSU and to go on to win Nationals."\nThis week in practice, the team strove to eliminate weaknesses, which were exposed throughout the last few games. Following their last game, coach Sarasopa Enari indicated defense seemed to be the missing link that would deem the Hoosiers invincible against Ohio State.\nSenior co-captain Ryan Gabey emphasized the need for improvement on the team's defense.\n"We've been mainly working on defense," he said. "It is the big key for this weekend."\nSenior backliner Marcus Hurley said the defense has been trying to unite and work as a whole.\n"Our backline has really been working on countering kicks to prevent possession of the ball," Hurley said. "This is the first year we've really been working together effectively."\nEnari won't be there to see his team play. Called to his native Somoa upon the sudden death of his brother, he will have to miss the game the team has been working for all year.\nJensen offered a team mission, on behalf of all the players, for Enari.\n"We're playing (Ohio State) for him," he said. "We've got to step up and win it for him."\nHurley agreed with his teammate and expressed his feelings for his coach.\n"Sopa means so much to this team," Hurly said. "(The win) would prove to him that everything he's done this season would not be for nothing."\nThe trademark of Ohio State rugby, a statue of a gnome, will surely be present to antagonize IU, Hurley said. But he added it does not scare him.\n"I'm really excited about this game," Hurley said. "It's big. Practices have been really fun and everybody's been getting up for the game."\nJensen encouraged fans to attend the match, promising that it will not be a blowout, as past games have tended to be with IU rugby.\n"This game is going to be a lot more aggressive," Jensen said, "a lot more hardcore rugby"
(10/23/00 5:38am)
The men's and women's swimming teams were hosts to the Evansville Aces Saturday in their season openers. The Hoosiers proved their power as both teams placed in the top three of almost every race.\nAfter making improvements since last week's intra-squad scrimmage, IU demonstrated how its hard work and dedication were put to use. Men's head coach Kris Kirchner said the adjustments his team made were important to him.\n"That's very important to me as a coach that, as I train and provide guidance that I see the results," Kirchner said.\nThe men's team finished in first place in 12 of the 16 events against the Aces. Freshman Mike Payne placed first in the 50-yard freestyle as well as placing in three other races. Payne was proud of his accomplishments.\n"My times were really fast, and I'm excited about that," he said. \nPayne said he felt the team did a great job in their season opener.\nFacing Evansville for the first time, the women's team snagged first place finishes in 12 of 16 events. The meet featured more competition between the Hoosiers themselves than with their opponents. \nWomen's coach Dorsey Tierney said her team works in practice to prepare for the competition and for their success.\n"I think it shows when these (girls) push each other every day in workout," Tierney said.\nTierney said that her team will have to continue to work hard in order for them all to be individually successful.\nSenior Jennifer Cristy placed first in the 100 and 200 yard freestyle. But she sat out from her IU record-holding event, the 50 yard freestyle, because of an injury. \nThe diving teams dominated in the meet as well. \nDiving coach Jeff Huber was very impressed with senior Erin Quinn, who was red-shirted last year for medical reasons. Quinn finished second in the 1- and 3-meter springboard competitions.\n"I think Erin did a super job for just being back," Huber said. "I forgot how good a diver she is." \nFreshman Marc Carlton placed first in the 1- and 3-meter springboard competitions, while sophomores Jennifer Sonneborn and Mamie Goodson won the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions, respectively. \n"Goodson has really shown a lot of improvement in her hard work and (Sonneborn) looks a lot better. I think we look really good early in the season," he said.\nJunior Susan Woessner, who competed in the Olympic trials, earned first place finishes in the 100 yard backstroke and 50 yard freestyle. She helped her team place first in the 200 yard medley relay.
(10/17/00 5:31am)
Saturday marked the first round of the Midwest Tournament for the men's rugby team. The Hoosiers had to win Saturday -- and two more games -- to make it to the national final four.\nWin they did, and it was by no small margin. \nIU defeated Ohio University 61-8 in a game that was almost entirely on the Hoosiers' half of the field.\n"We kept possession of the ball 90 percent of the time," senior Trent Hahn said. "We played really well."\nIn the first half, IU scored 32 points to Ohio's three. Freshman Dave Jensen started the Hoosiers off with their first five points, and sophomore Adam Stankewicz led with 15 points. Senior co-captain Ryan Gabey said he felt the Hoosiers' physical preparation played a major role in the high scoring game.\n"The best thing was our fitness," Gabey said. "It was much better (than Ohio's), and our stamina was great."\nAfter IU scored 61 points, Ohio found its way to the other end of the field, making an interception. Running nearly 75 yards, the Bobcats made their only attempt to score during Saturday's game. \nBecause Ohio State University defeated Illinois 82-0 in the Buckeyes' bracket Saturday, Ohio State will play IU in the semi-final round of the Midwest Tournament at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 in Bloomington. \nSenior co-captain Ryan Nystrom stressed the importance of beating Ohio State.\n"Our defense has to step up because that's what separates you," he said.\nCoach Sarasopa Enari said he is also concerned about what his team should expect from Ohio State in two weeks.\n"We're going to have to be able to execute well and to be bold in our decision-making," Enari said. "The game (with Ohio State) will be a physical and mental game, and it will come down to who works best under pressure. We have beat them the last four times we have faced them so there is no doubt they want to beat us on our territory."\nJunior Adam Stockholm said he was excited about the opportunity to play the Buckeyes at IU.\n"OSU is our archrival and the biggest game of the year," he said. "We'd like to have as much support as possible"
(09/25/00 6:17am)
The rugby team is on a mission. \nAfter narrowly missing a run at the final four of the national rugby championships last year, the team is working to avenge the loss.\nThe rugby team, a club sport at IU, has been in the nation's Top 10 for the last three years and was the only club team in the top-five last year. Its seniors are working on making a second final four trip.\nJunior Dave Snyder commented on the disappointment from last year's final game and of the hope this year.\n"We missed the final four by one point last year, and we're all just trying to get over that hump," he said.\nRugby has grown from a recreation to a competitive nationally recognized force. With the addition of coach Sarasopa Enari seven years ago, the IU club team has, as senior Trent Hahn said, "really blown up."\nJunior Adam Stockholm said Enari's intense training program is typical of IU's rugby tradition.\n"Our coach gets us totally prepared. That's the way it's always been with IU rugby," Stockholm said.\nSnyder also offered praise of the coach, lauding his support and knowledge of the game.\n"He's definitely the leader of the team," he said. "Sopa is there for all the mental aspects of the game. Nobody would be as good as they are without Sopa. He's taught us a lot of stuff. It's unbelievable how prepared he is (concerning other teams). He's a genius of the game." \nThe rugby team has few home games. Its season opened with a 38-0 victory against Purdue. \nTo make the nationals, the team must win or place second in the Midwest Tournament. This fall, IU will host one of the brackets of the tournament for the first time. Hahn said he is optimistic about the attention rugby will get.\n"We've never hosted any of that, and I think it will attract more fans," he said.\nThe team's status is determined by the fall season. If it wins the Union Tourney, placing first or second in the Midwest Tournament becomes the next prerequisite for the spring trip to nationals, which is everyone's goal.\nSenior co-captain Ryan Nystrom remembers the excitement of the final four at his freshman year trip to nationals.\n"As a freshman, we made it to the final four and that was really exciting," Nystrom said. "That's my main focus, to get back to the final four"