Bitten by the rugby bug

Cate Jelle thought her competitive athletics career was over after he senior year of high school. But rather than coming to an end, a new sport has taken her career to another level.

During her days at Palmer High School, Cate Jelle was a student-athlete, participating on the Moose volleyball and cross-country skiing squads. After graduating, Jelle opted to attend the University of Nevada-Reno and its large campus lifestyle rather than shooting for a smaller school where she might be able to ski or play volleyball. But just going to her daily classes didn't satisfy Jelle's competitive nature. While exercising in a campus recreation center, another UNR student approached Jelle about joining one of the university's club team -- the women's rugby team.

Without even a minute of playing the sport or much of a thought about rugby, Jelle joined the squad. And since, Jelle has been bitten by the rugby bug and her new sport has taken her beyond the fields of UNR.

After just a few shorts months, Jelle's rugby career went from an enjoyable stroll to a full sprint. The 2003 Palmer High School grad was recently named to the U-19 girls' select squad for the United States. Jelle and her squad competed earlier this month in a tournament in Minneapolis and are currently playing a series of games in London.

Jelle said she doesn't know exactly why she became so taken by the sport. Staying active, the competition and the team aspect are all high on the list of reasons why Jelle seeks to remain active in the sport, but she said the reason why she choose rugby is almost unexplainable.

"It was totally out of the blue," Jelle said. "I never would have thought."

Jelle said the position she plays in the sport is far different than anything she has experienced in her athletic career. At forward, Jelle is in the center of the rugby action. Even as a middle hitter in volleyball, Jelle had a net standing between herself and the opponent. On the cross-country ski trails, the contact was limited to skiers breezing past one another.

Jelle's unexplained attraction to the sport, and reassurance of her talents from her teammates, drove her to Seattle to try-out for the select squad. She was among 30 candidates at the Seattle tryout and the select squad had more than 50 tryout in Philadelphia and 100 in Texas. Despite a rugby career spanning less than a year, Jelle was one of 28 to make the select squad.

Now Jelle has nearly two years of eligibility on the U-19 squad and if she does well opportunities such as camps and trips to international tournaments will come. Her trip to London will include a series of games against teams from Canada and England, and plenty of time for seeing sites such as Stonehenge. Jelle will also have the opportunity to challenge for a spot on the select U-23 squad.

In the meantime, Jelle will continue to compete for the UNR club squad in a sport with the unexplainable appeal.