Friendships are important, especially friendships bonded through sports. Being on a sports team with plenty of peers you have never associated with can easily bring everyone closer together. Whether it’s baseball or gymnastics, the friendships bonded through a closely connected team are always strong.
Junior Marshall Walch continues to kindle new relationships daily, as it is only his first year on the FHC Rugby Team. To grow as both a student and a rugby player, Marshall utilizes his skills daily to build the best version of himself day by day. For only playing for one year, the upperclassmen who have been on the team for years already include Marshall as if he has been on the team for a longer time.
“My favorite part of [Rugby] is probably the team,” Marshall said. “They’re all pretty supportive and will always make sure to help correct you when you make a mistake. Having such a supportive team definitely makes playing rugby much more enjoyable.”
Marshall believes that one of the most important aspects of being a rugby player is making the best memories possible. Whether it’s at the opposing team’s stadium for an intense rugby game or enjoying practice with the team, memories are always irreplaceable.
One of the traits that the rugby team never forgets is positive morale. Coming into each game with the mindset and excitement of winning will always lead them to victory. On the way to each match, hyping each other up while blasting fun music to lead them to their ultimate goal: winning.
“One of my favorite memories is probably when we were getting hyped up for our first game of the season. Since it was only the first game ever for me, it made me feel like I was really part of the team now,” Marshall said. “It was super exciting and everyone was super positive, and we ended up winning, which made for a good start to the season.”
However, outside of the rugby team, Marshall enjoys spending quality time with some of his favorite people. Whether it’s his family or friends, he loves enjoying time socializing with a variety of different people, leading to him eventually getting the courage to join the team.
One of the reasons Marshall always plays hard is that he is always playing with his best friends. Since many of his friends had already been a part of the Rugby Team, they eventually convinced him to join them on their journeys across the spring season.
“Even though I just started playing this season, it’s already been super fun and I already feel like I’ve been a part of the team forever,” Marshall said. “I got into the sport because a few of my friends were on the team and wanted me to join.”
There are many people, mainly his closest friends, who inspired Marshall to join and work his absolute hardest as a striker on the rugby team. However, through all these friendships, one person on the team stands out to Marshall as one of his biggest inspirations: the seniors.
Senior Landon Pokora, for instance, is a great role model for underclassmen. As Marshall wraps up his first season, he understands the value of having someone to look up to—not necessarily to imitate entirely, but to learn from their best advice and guidance as he prepares to become a senior himself.
“One of my biggest inspirations has probably been Landon Pokora because he’s a senior and he’s always doing his best at games and practices, and he’s a good leader as well,” Marshall said. “Having a leader that pushes you to your fullest abilities has definitely helped to make me the best player I can be.”
Although Marshall doesn’t spend all of his time playing rugby, outside of the sport, he enjoys going to school-related sports games with some of his best friends, along with spending quality time with his friends and family.
By utilizing the skills he learned in his first season, Marshall has already noticed many beneficial changes in his life from the sport. However, this sport is often overlooked and forgotten about at times, but Marshall will always consider it one of his favorites. From making some of his favorite memories to new bonded friendships, he plans on finishing out his last high school season next year as a part of the team once again.
“I was super nervous to join at first, I can’t lie,” Marshall said, “but after my first few games and spending more time with the rest of the team, I definitely can see myself as a part of the team once again next year.”
