While Preparing for Nationals, Rugby Team Takes Time Out to Give Back
In early April, Principia’s rugby team, the Thunder Chickens, qualified for the USA Rugby 7s DII National Championship, where they’ll compete for the sixth year in a row! The tournament takes place this year in Tucson, Arizona, over Memorial Day Weekend. As thrilled as the team was to qualify for Nationals, they immediately turned their attention to serving others. Just a week later, team members went to nearby Alton to mentor children at the Boys & Girls Club, teaching them life skills through sports.
“Principia athletes love to give back to their community and make a difference in people's lives,” says Pete Paciorek, the College’s director of athletics. “This is evident by the amount of time they spend each year volunteering and supporting local organizations. The Boys & Girls Club and our Athletics Department have built a particularly strong bond. It is inspiring to witness the care and dedication shown by director Al Womack Jr. and his staff. They are committed to developing strong leaders in our local community. Our teams greatly value the opportunity to volunteer on a weekly basis, sharing their love of sport and the many character lessons it provides with the young students at the club."
Rugby players aren’t Principia’s only nationally competitive athletes spending time at the Boys & Girls Club. Sophomore sprinter Corey Carter, who won this year’s NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field National Championship in the men’s 200-meter, recently volunteered at the Club in Alton. “Corey brought his medal, which the children thoroughly enjoyed,” Paciorek notes. Being at the Club had special meaning to Corey. “I grew up attending a Boys & Girls Club in Ohio,” he says. “I remember looking up to the guys who spent time with me, and I realize the impact they had.”
“Corey and the Thunder Chickens recognize that training hard for Nationals is not the only thing that matters,” Paciorek comments. “Helping those in need and giving time to make an impact in someone else's life are just as important as competing or racing hard when it comes to real life.”
In addition to volunteering at the Alton Boys & Girls Club, Principia teams participate in a week of giving each fall before sports camp begins. Returning to campus early, “they volunteer at various organizations—the Oasis Women's Shelter, Beverly Farm, a community garden, Meals on Wheels, and Peace Haven, a Christian Science care facility, among others,” Paciorek notes.