Six Tech Ruggers Represent Rio Grande Union

by Dave Wheelock, NMT Coach

SOCORRO, N.M., Oct. 31, 2002 - Five members of New Mexico Tech's rugby team have earned all-star honors and are in action over the weekend of Nov. 2 - 3 in the Western U.S. All-star championship tournament in Lawrence, Kansas.

The Rio Grande Rugby Football Union, the administrative body of the sport in New Mexico, has sent a representative side (team) featuring the best players from its four collegiate teams to compete with seven other all-star teams from throughout the western U.S. Rugby Union. Other local unions sending teams are defending champions Texas, which will have two teams in the tournament by merit of last year's title; Eastern Rockies (Colorado); Heart of America; Great Plains; Ozark; and Missouri.

The NMT all-stars are:
Mark Kelly - junior flank forward, environmental engineering
Mike Bauer - junior wing, computer science
Nick Ledesma - junior, computer science
Rob Harrison - sophomore, chemical engineering
Patrick Simons - sophomore, mechanical engineering

Rio Grande, bolstered by 18 players from division leader University of New Mexico, faces defending champs Texas I in their first match Saturday, Nov. 2, at Westwick Rugby Complex in Lawrence.