Central Washington University looks to be in solid shape as the wildcats look ahead to the NCRC season, the Varsity Cup, and maybe something else.

The newly-varsity program is seeing a little bit of a change in how they do things, said Head Coach Tony Pacheco, and the changes are a little surprising. CWU has been, for years, one of the colleges that has taken 7s most seriously. And yet, Pacheco said the Wildcats will cut back a little on the 7s this fall.

The Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference’s fall schedule is exclusively 7s until very late in the year. But it’s also a given that CWU is the strongest 7s team in the region. And with the USA Rugby College 7s Championships not to be played until late May, Pacheco has decided not to look at the fall 7s season as the be-all and end-all.

Instead, he wants to fold in new recruits and be more specific on the team’s goals: winning the NCRC, winning the Varsity Cup, and winning the national 7s championships.

“We will run our first team in the NCRC, but we will also be looking for additional challenges,” said Pacheco. “We will look to play the Seattle Saracens, as well.”

Like a lot of teams, Central Washington is still figuring out how best to plan their season. Even with an NCRC 7s final and the Battle in the Bay in San Francisco on the docket, Pacheco clearly sees the spring as the time to peak.

This will give him time to work with some talented young players, including Trent Barnes, younger brother of All American Tanner. Nick Siemens and Dom Lindstrom are two all-star-level players coming in.

But the player fans might really want to keep an eye on is sophomore Vili Toluta’u. Kutztown All American Mike Lawrenson, who is now playing professionally in New Zealand, said Toluta’u was one of the most impressive athletes he saw at the All American assembly.

“Vili is one of the best players I have played with,” said Lawrenson. “And he’s a very humble, quiet guy. He’s got a great future.”

Toluta’u was a USA U20 this year, and then a collegiate All American. Coming back to CWU this year, the loose forward could explode onto the scene this year.

Meanwhile, Central Washington University Athletics named the awarding of varsity status for both men's and women's rugby one of the top ten moments of CWU Athletics for 2012-2013. Let's see if CWU can produce another explosion and another memorable moment this season.