Rugby’s California dreams come true

Photo by Kaitlin Trujillo
Tadeo Canon Masjoan, junior eight man, receives the ball after the scrum and moves it closer to the Rams’ try zone.

Ram Rugby made history March 25-26 by becoming the first team from ASU to win the Cowboy Cup semifinals at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas.

The Rams defeated the UD Hoggies on their home turf to win the tournament and advance to the quarterfinals in Claremont, California.

“I’ve never been part of a team that’s made history before and it’s just so surreal,” Kevin Reid, junior wing, said. “We’ve wanted this all year.”

The Rams’ first game of the tournament was against the Regis Rangers of Colorado.

Beau Waskom, senior fly half, started the Rams off strong with a try and Troy Knudsen, senior outside centre, made the conversion kick.

Waskom, Knudsen and Derrick Clifton, senior wing, completed two tries each during the match.

Tadeo Canon Masjoan, junior eight man, Brian Signorelli, junior flanker, and Tyshir Newsome, junior lock, also made tries for the team.

The final score of the game was 63-15.

“It was a relief,” Masjoan said. “We’ve wanted it for too long. We all wanted it so bad. Hard work paid off.”

The win was especially sweet for the Rams because of last season. They were eliminated in the first round.

“What it boiled down to is we had more heart than they did,” Waskom said. “We really wanted it.”

Knudsen, President of Ram Rugby, was awarded “Man of the Match” for his role in their victory.

The Ram’s next challenge was UD, the host of the tournament.

The stands were filled with Hoggies fans, but that didn’t stop the Ram Fam from cheering for their boys start to finish.

“Last year it felt like it was just us supporting each other,” Reid said. “To see all these people, our families and our friends, come out and support us means a lot. “

The Hoggies proved to be close competition for the Rams with the score teetering between both teams, leaving the Rams down 20-19 at the half.

The Rams, however, came alive in the second half, scoring three tries in a row.

Austin Vandiver, senior scrum half, boosted the team morale by running over 80 meters to successfully land in the try zone.

Vandiver was awarded the “Heart and Soul” award after the match.

The Rams defeated the Hoggies, 40-34.

“We pride ourselves on the heart that we have and to come out here with my brothers and make history as the best team that’s ever played for ASU is a blessing,” Reid said.

The Rams will now begin preparing for the quarterfinals.

“We’re going to keep on doing what we do: play ASU rugby,” Reid said.

The team remains undefeated 20-0 on the season.

“We didn’t come to take part,” Masjoan said. “We came to take over.”