Day in the Life: Varsity Athlete at Alfred University

Name: Cori Recktenwald

Year in School: Sophomore

Major: English

Years Playing Rugby: 4

Position in Rugby: Hooker and flanker

 Why did you choose your school?

Alfred’s small size, proximity to home, and generous financial aid offer (as well as its rugby team) were the main reasons I chose to come here. The small size of the university was an especially important factor for me; all the professors here are interested in getting to know their students as individuals and helping them succeed, which is a perfect fit for my learning style.

What was your process of being recruited?

The club team I was part of in high school joined the EGRL the year I joined, and I found out about Alfred through an EGRL college recruitment event, which put them on my radar. My senior year, when I started looking to commit to a school, I did more research into Alfred and reached out to the coach. I talked with her a bit, and she helped me plan visits to Alfred so I could see the campus and gave me a tour of the athletic facilities, which also gave me a chance to meet some of my teammates. After visiting a few times, I decided Alfred was a good fit for me and applied.

What are your favorite parts about being a member of the rugby program?

My teammates and coaches. Our team culture is both cooperative and competitive; we’re always working to support each other and push each other to be the best we can be. Our coaches play a huge role in fostering and developing this culture, and they take an interest in each player to help us build on our unique skill sets. The team also spends a lot of time together outside of practices, organizing events like birthday parties, game nights, and rugby watch parties.

What are your favorite parts about being a student at your school?

My professors, especially those in the English division. I find that their passion for what they teach is infectious. They’re all very interesting, welcoming people as well, and I’ve already learned so much from them.

How do you balance schoolwork and rugby?

For me, maintaining a balance between school and rugby is fairly easy. Our games are always on weekends, and our practices are either in the mornings or the evenings, so they don’t generally overlap with classes or the time I use to get my schoolwork done. Our coaches also understand that we are at Alfred to be students first. The time commitment for rugby at Alfred reflects this, as do our coaches’ other efforts to ensure that everyone on the team remains in good academic standing.

What does a typical day and/or week look like for you?

My class times vary depending on the day, but classes at Alfred tend to run for an hour or two each, any time from 8:20 am to about 4:00 or 5:00 pm, though certain courses may run in the evening. I usually have rugby practice 4 days a week (last semester, practices were in the evenings; this semester, they’ll be in the mornings before classes), and each practice is about 2 hours. I also lift with the team twice a week, and typically play games on Sundays. In the gaps between my classes and practices, I work on assignments, serve as a writing consultant, or spend time in my room or with friends.

What’s the biggest challenge about playing rugby at your school?

Our biggest challenge is the number of players. This season, we won every game we were evenly matched in, but we had to forfeit many matches because we were short on players. We’re always trying to recruit more players on campus, but we struggle to get enough because the women’s team doesn’t attract many students who aren’t already busy with another sport.

Besides rugby, what else are you involved in on campus?

I work at Alfred’s Writing Center as a writing consultant, serve as a peer leader in first-year classes during the fall, and attend English division events. This past semester, I even helped plan an event for the English division.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with a high school player who is interested in your school?

We’d love to have them on the team! Everyone who plays at Alfred loves rugby, and we all want nothing more than to play – especially with new teammates. Alfred is an excellent school for engineering and art, especially in materials engineering and ceramics, but it also offers strong programs across a variety of other subjects.

School Website: https://www.alfred.edu/ Women's Team Website: https://gosaxons.com/sports/womens-rugby

Men's Team Website: https://gosaxons.com/sports/mens-rugby Director of Rugby Nicole Bernsen bernsen@alfred.edu