INDIANAPOLIS — In the spring of 2013, the girls’ rugby team at Arsenal Technical High School was abandoned by its coaching staff and had its season cut short, leaving the group of young Tech Titans uncertain about the future of the program.
Just three short years later, the team that was once adrift went undefeated during its 2016 regular season and became a staple in the rugby and sports community in Indiana.Tech Girls’ Rugby Team
In a growing sport known for its physical nature and fast-paced action, the Tech girls’ rugby team has flourished over the last few seasons through the tireless dedication of its coach, players, staff and parental support.
Team Captain Destiny Sims began playing as a freshman and has been part of the team’s major transition.
“It felt very great to see my team accomplish something that we probably thought wasn’t possible,” said Sims. “I felt like we worked hard to get to where we got, and by us working as a team we will be able to make it even further than what we did last season.”
Head Coach Susan Werbe came on board as the team’s coach after gaining a love and appreciation for the sport during her years playing in high school and at Indiana University. Immediately, Werbe could sense the players needed someone to make a sincere investment in them as a team, and as individuals.
Werbe quickly embraced the group, teaching them the ins and outs of the sport while providing a shoulder for each of them to lean on through personal trials. During Werbe’s first year at the helm, the team won its first playoff game ever. Most recently, the team made it all the way to the 2016 State Championship, encountering its first loss of the year.
Fundraising is a critical piece of the puzzle in helping the Tech program become successful.
With club sports come costs that can present a challenge for inner-city schools, preventing most of them from joining the leagues. In fact, Tech’s team is the only one in its league from an inner-city public school. To overcome the financial hurdle, Werbe’s team organizes fundraisers throughout the year to help cover fees and equipment costs that are necessary to participate. These fundraisers include bucket nights, where the girls go to other school events and speak to guests about their program to garner interest while collecting donations. They also host skills camps for young athletes to attend and learn the fundamentals of the sport.
Heading into the 2017 spring season, Sims is one of Werbe’s eight senior players who were freshman on the team during her first year as coach — a group she affectionately calls her “Originals.”
