WHITEWATER - Todd Davis and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are making a name for themselves in the collegiate rugby scene.
Davis, a 2013 Juda High School alumnus and UW-Whitewater senior, has been a vital cog in the Warhawks' journey to winning a second straight USA Rugby men's collegiate Division II national championship during the fall season. Davis and the Warhawks are looking to repeat as USA Rugby Sevens collegiate Division II national champions this spring. If the Warhawks win the rugby sevens championship, it will mark the fourth national title team on which Davis has played.
Whitewater will play in a national rugby sevens Upper Midwest qualifying tournament Saturday in College Grove. The Warhawks are one of seven teams seeking a title and a berth in the national tournament June 2-3 at Affinity Park in Glendale, Colorado. Whitewater is coming off a championship in the Stevens Point rugby tournament April 28.
"Honestly, I'm ready," Davis said. "It makes me feel excited. I'm excited to get on the pitch and show them what we've got and why we (were) national champions last year. I'm one of the people who want to go out there and show what I'm made of because I don't look like an athlete. There are a lot of people who doubt me. People don't think I'm as quick or as strong as I am."
Davis plays a lock position, which is like a forward, Davis said, with the primary job in the second row to win the ball at the lineout and kick offs. Davis said the locks are usually the bigger and stronger players who push in the scrums.
"They are the bangers," he said.
After their set duties, locks are expected to be strong ball carriers and support players in attack. Defensively, locks are relied on to make a lot of tackles.
Davis started playing rugby three years ago when a fellow resident in his dorm from Australia encouraged him to play.
"I went in head first," he said. "I came from a football background, and it was a lot different. When I first joined, I didn't realize what I was getting myself into. The first few games I played I was hesitant and confused. There are still some rules I'm not sure on. I'm always learning every season."
Davis noticed several differences between rugby and football when he started. One of the biggest ones was after a tackle - in rugby that doesn't mean the play is over.
"In football you are taught to run through the person with your head up and go in guns a-blazing," he said. "In rugby it's more of a controlled takedown like wrestling so you don't injure yourself."
As a former tight end for the Brodhead-Juda football team, Davis had to break his habits of how he carried the ball. He was accustomed to carrying the football cradled into his chest with both tips of the ball covered.
"In rugby you carry the ball more vertical so you can make a pass when you need to," he said.
To Davis, former high school soccer players have an advantage when it comes to learning rugby and making a quick transition.
"Our coach always says soccer players make good rugby players because of their field awareness," Davis said. "They are always aware of where the ball is on the field and know where to go and what to do with the ball."
Alec Treuthardt, an Argyle graduate, was a familiar face Davis could talk to about the rules and the game when he first started playing for the Warhawks. In addition to Davis and Alec Treuthardt, Argyle graduates Cam Treuthardt and Will Hermann also are on the rugby team.
"I played against him in basketball, and we had that Six Rivers connection," Davis said of Alec Treuthardt. "I knew the name and the face. Having that connection helped me."
His career hasn't come without adversity and injury. Davis suffered a concussion in the fall 15-on-15 rugby season and missed one month. He returned in the postseason and played in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and the national tournament.
"I was grateful I still had the opportunity to play," he said. "We have a big club team with a lot of talent. It was definitely hard watching my teammates from the sideline."
Davis' days as a collegiate rugby player at Whitewater are dwindling. The corporate health communications major with a minor in family health and disability studies will graduate in May. He will move on to Western Illinois University where he plans to get his master's degree in college student personnel and work as an assistant complex director at the university.
"I want to be a college housing director," he said. "I want to make sure students have a safe and community environment."
He noted he won't close the door completely on the sport he's come to love after finishing his undergraduate studies.
"I'm planning on playing in a club rugby league," he said.
Davis, a 2013 Juda High School alumnus and UW-Whitewater senior, has been a vital cog in the Warhawks' journey to winning a second straight USA Rugby men's collegiate Division II national championship during the fall season. Davis and the Warhawks are looking to repeat as USA Rugby Sevens collegiate Division II national champions this spring. If the Warhawks win the rugby sevens championship, it will mark the fourth national title team on which Davis has played.
Whitewater will play in a national rugby sevens Upper Midwest qualifying tournament Saturday in College Grove. The Warhawks are one of seven teams seeking a title and a berth in the national tournament June 2-3 at Affinity Park in Glendale, Colorado. Whitewater is coming off a championship in the Stevens Point rugby tournament April 28.
"Honestly, I'm ready," Davis said. "It makes me feel excited. I'm excited to get on the pitch and show them what we've got and why we (were) national champions last year. I'm one of the people who want to go out there and show what I'm made of because I don't look like an athlete. There are a lot of people who doubt me. People don't think I'm as quick or as strong as I am."
Davis plays a lock position, which is like a forward, Davis said, with the primary job in the second row to win the ball at the lineout and kick offs. Davis said the locks are usually the bigger and stronger players who push in the scrums.
"They are the bangers," he said.
After their set duties, locks are expected to be strong ball carriers and support players in attack. Defensively, locks are relied on to make a lot of tackles.
Davis started playing rugby three years ago when a fellow resident in his dorm from Australia encouraged him to play.
"I went in head first," he said. "I came from a football background, and it was a lot different. When I first joined, I didn't realize what I was getting myself into. The first few games I played I was hesitant and confused. There are still some rules I'm not sure on. I'm always learning every season."
Davis noticed several differences between rugby and football when he started. One of the biggest ones was after a tackle - in rugby that doesn't mean the play is over.
"In football you are taught to run through the person with your head up and go in guns a-blazing," he said. "In rugby it's more of a controlled takedown like wrestling so you don't injure yourself."
As a former tight end for the Brodhead-Juda football team, Davis had to break his habits of how he carried the ball. He was accustomed to carrying the football cradled into his chest with both tips of the ball covered.
"In rugby you carry the ball more vertical so you can make a pass when you need to," he said.
To Davis, former high school soccer players have an advantage when it comes to learning rugby and making a quick transition.
"Our coach always says soccer players make good rugby players because of their field awareness," Davis said. "They are always aware of where the ball is on the field and know where to go and what to do with the ball."
Alec Treuthardt, an Argyle graduate, was a familiar face Davis could talk to about the rules and the game when he first started playing for the Warhawks. In addition to Davis and Alec Treuthardt, Argyle graduates Cam Treuthardt and Will Hermann also are on the rugby team.
"I played against him in basketball, and we had that Six Rivers connection," Davis said of Alec Treuthardt. "I knew the name and the face. Having that connection helped me."
His career hasn't come without adversity and injury. Davis suffered a concussion in the fall 15-on-15 rugby season and missed one month. He returned in the postseason and played in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and the national tournament.
"I was grateful I still had the opportunity to play," he said. "We have a big club team with a lot of talent. It was definitely hard watching my teammates from the sideline."
Davis' days as a collegiate rugby player at Whitewater are dwindling. The corporate health communications major with a minor in family health and disability studies will graduate in May. He will move on to Western Illinois University where he plans to get his master's degree in college student personnel and work as an assistant complex director at the university.
"I want to be a college housing director," he said. "I want to make sure students have a safe and community environment."
He noted he won't close the door completely on the sport he's come to love after finishing his undergraduate studies.
"I'm planning on playing in a club rugby league," he said.
