After the season's final whistle, Damir Conci had in mind not only a feeling of relief, but also the major realization of what they had accomplished: Division I.
Being the captain of the Principia Thunder Chickens rugby team, Conci knew that he could enjoy the moment and discover the focus required for the next season. After winning the rugby national championship final, the team celebrated victory over Indiana University of Pennsylvania with the big score of 47-16. The Thunder Chickens played in a format of 15 players against 15 players, playing in a Division II collegiate league.
Principia's rugby team crowned a perfect season of 11 wins and 0 losses with their first national title since 2013. With new additions to the roster, captain Conci, a sophomore out of Argentina, was able to meet the expectations of those who recruited him, unlike his previous season, where the team fell short of winning the national championship.
With a roster full of stars this season, the team had four players named as National Collegiate Rugby Division II All-America: Damilola Odunuga, Celino Peterson and the newly recruited players Juan Francisco Alessio and Andrew Matoka. All of which were game changers.
The recognition of Principia rugby's talent did not stop on the All-American nominations. The team had four All-Stars nominees, the newcomers Andy Naringo and Ntando Sibanda as well as the previously mentioned Peterson and Odunuga.
The tournament MVP, Odunuga, pointed out the importance of this last season's accomplishment, not only for the program but also for the Principia College community.
Known as Dammy, the MVP said he is glad because he feels that the rugby team is serving as a bonding tool inside Principia's community.
"Having rugby, a sport that isn't, you know, part of the U.S. culture, is quite nice," he said, referring to how he feels that the program's success is inserting them into Principia's culture and how this adds a sense of diversity to the community, bringing everyone together to support one cause, specifically in a college where the presence of international students is really significant.
In addition, this incorporation to the Principia traditional culture is opening doors for more success in a further future.
Odunuga said that the title of national champions and the Division I promotion also serves as the base for even bigger steps for the program. They are now role models for people in their home countries, showing to younger rugby players that it is also possible for them to follow similar footsteps and achieve the same goals.
Odunuga and Conci wrote more of Thunder Chickens' new history already, as they went to Oklahoma City this past weekend to start off their first Division I tournament of the season. The Thunder Chickens got their first podium at the league, after getting third place at the Crimson Storm Classic Sevens tournament.