Saying Goodbye to Our Real Adult Friends

Nov 10, 2017

6 min read

Your favorite ruggers are saying goodbye to our four wonderful seniors this year as they move on from college shenanigans to the real adult world (scary). Our senior citizens, Jessica Roach, Natalie Crockett, Jorey Bischof, and Emma Wilhelmus, have contributed to the club for so many years and experienced all the strange recruits and an inappropriate amount of ugly Christmas sweater parties. In this article, we wanted to highlight their proudest moments while being involved with UCWRFC and allow them to express how much they'll miss us (this is a long read, so prepare yourself):

Senior Bios

Name: Nat Crockett (a.k.a. Frat Boi Chad) Age: 23

Major: Sports Administration Position(s): Back (Inside Center)

Name: Jorey Bischof Age: 22 Major: Neuropsychology Position(s): Forward (Flanker)

Name: Jess Roach Age: 23 Major: Graphic Communication Design Position(s): Forward (Hooker/Prop)

Name: Emma Wilhelmus

Major: Architectural Engineering

Age: 23

Position(s): Forward (Prop/Lock)

Q: What are your plans for the future?

Nat Crockett: I plan to go to CIA Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York after I finish this year.

Emma Wilhelmus: Work as a mechanical engineer for a full service design consulting firm in Cincinnati, OH.

Jorey Bischof: Going to graduate school (hopefully somewhere out west) to study Occupational Therapy.

Jess Roach: Graduating ASAP.

Q: How many years have you played for UCWRFC?

Bischof: Technically, this is my 5th year.

Roach: 4 years.

Crockett: 3 years.

Wilhelmus: 3 years.

Q: What moment is most memorable?

Roach: The game a few years back that at least three people puked on the pitch.

Crockett: Going to Savannah, Georgia for a spring rugby tournament.

Wilhelmus: Eating an entire bucket of fried chicken on the way to Cleveland for a sevens tournament with two teammates. Felt horrible the next day on my warmup lap. #worthit

Bischof: I think the most memorable for me was the first time we won the conference championships. The team began in 2012 and it was amazing that we were able to improve so much so quickly.

Q: How have you impacted UCWRFC?

Roach: By helping teach rookies the sport for all these years.

Crockett: I think I brought strength to the back line and grew as a teammate, too, by finally understanding the game.

Wilhelmus: I was Recruitment Officer my 2nd year, and I helped expand the team from 18 people to 30. I also created the first website and remade the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the team.

Bischof: I'd like to think I've had a significant impact on the team. I've been on the exec board since my sophomore year so I've been a part of the decisions we've made about the team. As captain I think I've been able to help shape this team into a welcoming and encouraging environment for everyone. I don't want anyone to dread coming to practice or play a game because they're worried they'll get yelled at.

Pictured above: Jorey Bischof during the conference game against EKU.

Q: How has UCWRFC impacted you?

Wilhelmus: I have met some of my best friends from playing and have gotten the opportunity to meet so many amazing and strong women across the country. I was able to learn a new sport that taught me the true meaning of family and have gained so many new family members from rugby.

Pictured: Nat Crockett, right, with her girlfriend after winning the 2017 Conference Championships.

Bischof: UCWRFC has had a major impact on me! Honestly all of the friends I've made in college have been because of rugby. I also never used to be someone that wanted to be super involved in things. I wasn't very interested in clubs in high school, and even for the ones I was in, I never wanted a leadership position. But I have absolutely loved playing for this team. I love seeing how much we've I ran for vice president my freshman year and

position, and I've been president for the past two years. I care a lot about this team and I wanted to do everything I could to make it even better.

Roach: Giving me a support system in my teammates and coaches.

Crockett: UCWRFC gave me a large group of goofy friends and helped me meet my beautiful girlfriend. Pictured above: Nat Crockett, right, with her girlfriend after winning the 2017 Conference Championships.

Q: What would you tell girls who are thinking about playing rugby?

Crockett: Just do it. You won't regret it.

Wilhelmus: DO IT. It will change your life.

Roach: Do it and maybe don’t tell your parents right away.

Bischof: I would tell anyone thinking about playing rugby that it's the greatest sport I've ever played. The women's version of so many sports get toned down based on some sexist idea that women are too weak for contact, or that we're not supposed to be aggressive. Rugby is the one sport that doesn't care about that. Male or female, you're expected to hit every tackle, every ruck, every scrum as hard as you can and that's the way it should be. It's also one of the only sports where no matter what size you are, you can find a position. No one is too small or too big as long as they're willing to give everything they've got on the field.

Q: What would you tell the other girls on the team who are not graduating?

Crockett: Stick with it because once you graduate, adulthood begins and you won't have time to do the same shenanigans that you once loved in college.

Wilhelmus: I love you all and keep kicking ass and taking names. And thank you for the best senior season I could have ever hoped for.

Bischof: I would tell them that I've had an amazing time playing with them and that I'm excited to see where they take the team in the future. I would also tell them to always stay focused on improvement and to remember that the team should be a family.

Roach: Keep working hard no matter our standing or the other teams we play. Also, avoid injuries please.

Q: What would you like to see UCWRFC do after you’re gone?

Bischof: I want to see UCWRFC win a national championship and eventually move up to D1. I would love for the team to some day be a varsity sport at UC.

Crockett: Become a varsity sport or become D1 for club

Wilhelmus: Keep growing and impacting the lives of so many women and making us stronger for or respective futures. Also, keep getting better and better and win a national championship.

Roach: Growing in size and moving up a division.

Pictured above: Jessica Roach, center, with the underclassman of UCWRFC celebrating a win at the infamous Cook Out.

Q: Who on the team had a positive impact on our season and why?

Crockett: I think that every rookie had a major impact on our season. I could not pick just one. They all brought amazing talent and skills to the team.

Wilhelmus: Every single player has had an impact on the team. Rugby is all about the team and the family, and we lucked out with some really amazing rookies and vets.

Roach: Jorey for being such a great, positive leader.

Bischof: Honestly I think the veteran players as a whole have had the biggest impact of the team. They were very welcoming to the rookies and patient with them while they were learning the sport. I still see vets at practice pull people aside to help them out with something if they're struggling.

Q: What did you like most about this year's team?

Crockett: There was no drama, everyone got along, and well, we won our

conference (again).

Wilhelmus: How close we all became

off the field as well as on the field. And obviously our continued success on the field. Also the rookie and vet program where i got a co-vet and a child aka rookie.

Roach: That everyone seems to get along more than ever before. That really shows on the field if you have respect for teammates.

Bischof: I'd be lying if I didn't say that one of my favorite things this year has been how well we're playing. Everyone this year just seems to mesh so well together.

People keep their cool on the field and we don't let mistakes weigh us down so much.

Pictured above: Emma Wilhelmus, left, with her rookie and co-vet.

Q: How would you evaluate this year's senior leadership?

Crockett: I believe that our leadership has improved a lot within the last three years I have been here.

Bischof: I think our senior leadership has been great. There's only a few of us but I think everyone tries to play their best game and set a good example for the rest of the team.

Wilhelmus: We all tried to pass on what we know and give the newer girls more playing time so we can pass the torch to them.

Roach: 10/10 killing it.

Q: What will be the attitudes of next year's seniors?

Natalie Crockett: Helpful, being more present to all the events and scheduled meetings/practices, and expecting more from the team.

Wilhelmus: That UCWRFC is the best family to be apart of and to continue to grow and succeed both on and off the field.

Roach: Hopefully to keep growing in skills and as a team Bischof: I think next year's seniors will want to finish their last season at as high of a point as possible. They'll want to make sure the team grows even more and that the team makes a name for itself.

Help our seniors live out the rest of their final fall season by donating to our travel and expenses that we will be putting towards the rest of the national tournament! Please click on the SPONSOR US tab to find out how your business can sponsor the team or how you can make a donation towards our program!