Babson's run to the CRC small college championship was fairly astonishing.
Consider that the Beavers got through pool play without giving up a point. They won the final over Springfield 17-0, and the only points they gave up were in the semi, 21-5 over Coastal Carolina. The run capped off a period of four months in which they went 26-1 in 7s games, scoring over 800 points and allowing just 160.
They won the Cianci 7s in Providence, the Frosbite tournament open division, the Puerto Rico Founders Cup, and the Nor'Easter 7s.
During this run the Beavers also beat Dartmouth, Fairfield University, UConn, Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands.
"From my perspective, we are special because we do everything for each other," said Head Coach Carrick Pell. "We stress being grateful. Prior to every training and match, we circle, breathe, and I ask them to focus on what they are grateful for and is ask them to remember that every moment we have together is special and we can never get it back. The players believe in our family."
It important, added Pell, that the B side has its own identity, its own value. They carry their own nickname, the Maulers, and they played in five tournaments on their own.
The Culture
"Our culture is the big thing," added Pell.
"Babson should be the model for collegiate club rugby in America," said Babson Rugby co-founder Rick Santos, who has a son playing at Harvard and another at Cal, as well as his son, Reed, being captain at Babson. "The Babson rugby program is: self funded—alumni supported—well-coached, and is playing high level rugby with true student athletes. Moreover, Babson rugby players boast one the highest GPA’ of any athletic sports team on campus; have nearly a 100% graduation rate and Babson players go on to leadership positions in many disciplines, namely business and entrepreneurship, post-graduation."
This year Babson Rugby beat four Ivy League rugby teams in either 15s or 7s and
"My experience so far at Babson College has been nothing short of extraordinary, thanks to the exceptional culture and dedicated community that has been carefully cultivated over the years," added captain Reed Santos. "The success of Babson's rugby programs can be attributed to various factors that seamlessly blend together, creating an unparalleled environment for students to thrive both on and off the field.
"The development of talent is the cornerstone of Babson rugby success. Through player-led extra sessions outside of practice, our athletes are empowered to focus on their skills and continuously grow as individuals and team members. These sessions demonstrate the commitment of our players to excel beyond expectations."
Santos said Pell has been a vital component as coach. He is constantly available to the players and has instill a sense of passion and determination within the players. Combined with the support of the alumni, the players were set free to concentrate on their performances.
