Hailey Judkins ‘29
Staff Writer
For first-year Pablo Mezquita, joining the Holy Cross Club Rugby team was never part of the original plan. Having never played rugby before arriving on campus, Mezquita discovered the sport by chance during orientation. What began as an unexpected encounter quickly turned into one of his favorite parts of college life.
Mezquita first heard about the team while trying to find the Pub Safe office. After getting lost along the way, he stopped a student for directions, only to learn he was heading the opposite way. The student offered Mezquita a ride to the Jo, and as it turned out, the student was “B-Lou”, the captain of the rugby team.
During the drive, “B-Lou” encouraged Mezquita to give rugby a try, and the suggestion opened the door to an experience he had not expected when he arrived at Holy Cross.
By August, Mezquita had made the team and was learning to play rugby for the first time. For Mezquita, the decision to join the team has turned into much more than an opportunity to learn a new sport. When asked about his overall experience, he described rugby as his “favorite activity on campus.”
“Rugby is the best program on campus,” Mezquita said. “It’s easily my favorite thing that I do.”
The team practices every day, but Mezquita does not view the demanding schedule as a burden. Instead, he sees practice as another opportunity to spend time with his teammates. The relationships he has developed with the players and the sport have made rugby an enjoyable and meaningful part of his college experience.
“It’s fun to be with the guys,” Mezquita said. “They look out for each other.”
That sense of support extends beyond simply spending time together on the field. For Mezquita, one of the most important aspects of the program is the way teammates treat one another, particularly those who are still learning the sport. As someone who entered the program without any previous rugby experience, Mezquita had plenty to learn. However, he said the team has made it easy for him to improve without feeling judged for his mistakes. When discussing how new players adjust to the team, Mezquita emphasized the importance of constructive criticism and an environment where players can learn at their own pace.
“I suck, but nobody tells me that,” Mezquita said.
Although he delivered the comment with humor, it reflects a larger part of what has made the experience so positive for him. Rather than making new players feel embarrassed about what they do not know, the team gives them opportunities to improve.
For Mezquita, being a good teammate is about more than athletic ability. He explained that the program values “the quality person you are, not the quality player you are,” even though the team still takes performance seriously. That approach has helped him feel comfortable being a beginner in a sport that was entirely new to him.
The experience has also shaped how Mezquita thinks about being himself in college. When asked what being part of the team has taught him, he reflected on the importance of staying true to his identity rather than trying to become someone else to fit in.
“Being who you are and doing that well is better than trying to be someone you’re not,” Mezquita said.
For a freshman still finding his place on campus, that lesson has become an important part of his experience. Rugby has given Mezquita a community where he can learn, make mistakes, and build relationships without feeling that he has to prove himself. His introduction to the team may have happened by chance, but the connections he has made have given him a reason to keep coming back. As Mezquita continues his college career, club rugby remains a constant in his world and for so many on this college campus.
Image courtesy of Holy Cross Rugby
Leave a Reply