Spring Break
Heath hooks up with national rugby team
The OSU freshman who took up rugby four years ago is suiting up for the under 19 National Team
Noah Tinker
Issue date: 3/16/07 Section: Sports
Heath's journey to a spot on the U-19 National Team started when he began playing for a local team in Tualatin Valley while attending Jesuit High School.
"I started out with them and then moved onto the Northwest All-Stars, a mix of players from Washington and Oregon," he said.
It was with this team that Heath traveled to Colorado to compete in a national tournament in front of the coaches of the national team.
From those assembled, the coaches selected 150 players and invited them to summer camps. From these they winnowed it down to 40 players who were invited back to winter camps. After that, a final roster of 26 players was picked for the team.
Heath received the call March 5 from the national team coach William "Salty" Thompson that he had made the final roster.
"He called me and I knew what it was about and it was the most excited I've ever been. I've just been ecstatic for three weeks now and I just can't stop smiling," Heath said.
His selection came as no surprise to his coaches and teammates. "They already knew that I had a possibility of making it, but they've all been really, really supportive all year and they all congratulated me when they heard about it, they thought it was awesome," Heath said.
"I wasn't surprised about his selection, he is a great player," said Amjad "AJ" Kinhnaruth, the president of the Rugby Club. "I knew when he came that he was going to be a great player because I knew he was in the running for the All-American Squad, but he still surprised me with his ability."
Heath chuckled as he clarified, "actually it's the 'National Team,' but all the guys on the squad call it the 'All-American team'."
Kinhnaruth, who's been with OSU for his entire collegiate career, also plays the same position as Heath.
"If he wasn't with the National Team we'd be competing for the same spot," Kinhnaruth said. "With his ability I'm sure he would have gotten a great look from the coaches."
"I started out with them and then moved onto the Northwest All-Stars, a mix of players from Washington and Oregon," he said.
It was with this team that Heath traveled to Colorado to compete in a national tournament in front of the coaches of the national team.
From those assembled, the coaches selected 150 players and invited them to summer camps. From these they winnowed it down to 40 players who were invited back to winter camps. After that, a final roster of 26 players was picked for the team.
Heath received the call March 5 from the national team coach William "Salty" Thompson that he had made the final roster.
"He called me and I knew what it was about and it was the most excited I've ever been. I've just been ecstatic for three weeks now and I just can't stop smiling," Heath said.
His selection came as no surprise to his coaches and teammates. "They already knew that I had a possibility of making it, but they've all been really, really supportive all year and they all congratulated me when they heard about it, they thought it was awesome," Heath said.
"I wasn't surprised about his selection, he is a great player," said Amjad "AJ" Kinhnaruth, the president of the Rugby Club. "I knew when he came that he was going to be a great player because I knew he was in the running for the All-American Squad, but he still surprised me with his ability."
Heath chuckled as he clarified, "actually it's the 'National Team,' but all the guys on the squad call it the 'All-American team'."
Kinhnaruth, who's been with OSU for his entire collegiate career, also plays the same position as Heath.
"If he wasn't with the National Team we'd be competing for the same spot," Kinhnaruth said. "With his ability I'm sure he would have gotten a great look from the coaches."
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S Cain
posted 3/16/07 @ 11:22 AM PST
Copy editor says: Belfast is in Northern Ireland, not Ireland! Uh oh.
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