1. WestVirginiaMountaineers
HeadCoach: JohnBaker
2015 Fall Record
In Conference Overall
1 – 6 1 – 8
7th
Place,RugbyEast
Currentlyrankedoutside of
D1A Top-Twenty
Players to Watch
CJ Burnes,Sr. Flanker Honorable Mention All-Conference,2015
Luke Ellis,Jr. Scrum-half Honorable Mention All-Conference,2015
Kyle Antonucci,Sr Fly-half
Sam Krizner,So. Hooker
AidenPerrenoud,Fr. Flanker
JohnBaker takesoverthe reignsasHead Coach of 15s for the Universityof WestVirginiathisfall.He has
beenthe team’sheadcoach of 7s forthree years,while servingasanassistantcoach to 15s. The
Mountaineershave struggledwithrosterdepthsince movinguptoDivision1A twoyearsago, but
indicationsare thatthe squadhas doubled insize this fall.Bakerisunderstandably hopeful thatthisisa
barometerof thingstocome.
If the team’sCollege 7sChampionshipsperformance isanymeasure,Bakerhassome chops. The core
playersintheirone-win15ssquad, alsoturnedin a Top-Twentyseasonin7s. At the Championships
theywere wilyand competitive andtookadvantage of the gapstheyearned.Withthatathleticismand
acumenamongtheirtop players,Bakerpointedout,itreallyisamatterof depthforhissquadright
now.
WVU’s leadershipgrouphasexperienceacrossa broad spectrumof winsandlosses betweenthe two
codes.That should helpthemsettletheiryoungerathletesasthingsgetbumpyinRugbyEast thisfall.If
theiryoungdepthcan stepintothe spotlightwhenitcounts,these Mountaineers couldbe atrickylittle
spoilerwhiletheybuildforthe future. Itall remainstobe seen,of course.

2. Theirupperclassmenare goodandat leastone of the freshmenrecruits(AidenPerrenoudof the
MarylandExiles) hassome overseasexperience. Youthinlarge numbers isneverasencouraginginthe
short termas a club wouldreallylike,butitiswhatit is.The Mountaineersare retoolingforthe future.
The team will be testedearlyandoften thisfall,astheirschedule startsoff withconsecutivematches
againstthe conference’sfourtop-twentyclubs.
The Mountaineersfirsthome matchwill be atthe endof that swing againsttheircrossstate rivals, the
17th
rankedWheelingJesuit Cardinals. That’sthe matchWVU will alwayscircle.Rivalriescount,
especially forthe underdogs.
All thingsconsidered,sometimesroughstartsare the bestthingfor a team.If Bakerand hisleaderscan
keepthe ladspositive throughwhatissure tobe a bumpyfirstmonthof the season,theycouldvery
well findthemselvesinamuch betterpositionagainstthe remainingteamswhohave typicallyhad
closerbattleswith themoverthe years. Hopefullythe testagainstWheelingwillrevealthatturn.
Article &Artworkby Ryan J.Trost
Thisis AmericanRugby – RugbyEast