With a team that features 23 new faces this season, women’s rugby is happy to have a savvy five-year veteran to guide the crew in Sarah Tiedeken.
She plans to graduate in 2010 with a degree in architecture, and in doing so, cap the final chapter in her career on the field with the Dirty Ducks.
And like so many others have, Tiedeken only picked up rugby after enrolling at
the University.
“I remember picking up every club sports pamphlet at IntroDUCKtion my freshman year.” Tiedeken said. “The rugby coordinator was working the table and told me to give it a try.”
The rest, as they say, was history.
Tiedeken has embraced a leadership role in an effort to guide her ranked squad into the hunt for a national championship. After four years of primarily playing in the back, Tiedeken has taken over fly-half. The fly-half essentially quarterbacks a 15-player effort to score, while assuming a similar leadership role when the squad is on defense as well.
Senior Megan Adams elaborated on Tiedeken’s impact as a leader.
“Sarah doesn’t tell you what to do, she just leads by example,” Adams said.
The young Dirty Ducks squad hasn’t taken Adams’ observation lightly. One glance at the team in practice suggests a widespread adoption of Tiedeken’s mentality towards the game of rugby. The team goes entire practices without a negative phrase uttered by the players. Quite a feat, considering the hits dished out and received with regularity.
An extended tenure with Oregon rugby reflects an impressive resolve to improve, as well as a genuine love of the game for Tiedeken. The senior readily acknowledges that the game has gifted her with a more well-rounded college experience. Rugby was not what she initially expected to play at Oregon, but the Wyoming native has embraced the sport and feels the game pushing her down different avenues off the pitch.
Tiedeken admits sheepishly, “I’ve become this weird fitness guru on the rugby team, which I never was before.”
The Student Recreation Center recognizes Tiedeken’s commitment to conditioning and currently employs her as a personal trainer.
Consistent training and physical fitness are staples of the game. Athletes in a rugby match may run as many as eight miles over the duration of an 80-minute contest. Factor in hits, abrupt changes of direction and inflexible substitution rules in rugby, and a commitment to training becomes unavoidable.
Fittingly, Tiedeken facilitates the young team’s transition towards an intense, physically demanding regimen. Tiedeken designed the summer workout schedule for the Dirty Ducks and generally runs the group’s conditioning.
Tiedeken isn’t just one-dimensional in her leadership either. Adams is quick to point out that the senior plays many roles.
“Sarah reminds us that there is no reason to play the game without a smile on (our) faces” Adams said.
Tiedeken has demonstrated leadership on and off the field, which makes her an eligible candidate in many segments of the job market. Architecture, rugby and personal training are all magnets which pull her in separate directions.
So which pulls the hardest?
“I really like architecture,” Tiedeken said. “But I could see myself playing rugby on a club for many years to come.”
As for this year’s Dirty Ducks, Tiedeken likes what she sees. Raw athleticism and solid conditioning across the board make this season one in which the Dirty Ducks should contend. As the team heads to Palo Alto, Calif., this weekend, Tiedeken keeps rugby’s highs and lows in perspective.
“(The people) are what make me stay.” Tiedeken said. “The dedication of coaches and players leads to a camaraderie and culture which really make rugby what it is.”
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