New UMW Athletics facility excludes rugby and track teams

by IZZY SCHEFERMANN

Staff Writer

As construction progresses on the new locker rooms at the Battleground Athletic Complex, athletes, parents and alumni continue to question why the rugby and track and field teams are the only two athletic programs not included in the plans.

The facility, expected to open in August 2026, is slated to serve teams including soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, baseball and softball. 

However, according to athletes and early planning information reviewed by The Weekly Ringer, neither track and field nor rugby will have explicit designated access to the new space.

The project was first announced during a groundbreaking ceremony in October 2025, where UMW Athletics celebrated what it described as a “highly anticipated multimillion‑dollar modular locker room facility.”

Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo emphasized that the new locker rooms would provide “dedicated spaces for seven NCAA field sports,” noting benefits for recruitment, retention and the overall student‑athlete experience on campus.

The initial announcement noted that the facilities would serve nearly half of UMW’s student‑athletes, but did not mention track and field or rugby.

Catullo said the exclusion reflects the project’s phased design.

“Locker rooms at the Battleground have been part of the facilities plan since 2014,” said Catullo. “The first phase was always intended to serve NCAA field team sports.

Unfortunately, the project was delayed over the years for various reasons. Once this phase is complete, the next phase will focus on creating space for the Track and Rugby teams, and planning for that has already begun.” 

For many connected to the programs, the news has been disappointing.

“Our team is often overlooked despite the size of our roster and the amount of time and commitment we put into our team,” said junior track athlete and international affairs major Eyaya Fletcher. “This lack of proper facilities reinforces the feeling that track and field is not prioritized.”

Sophomore CJ Hulleman, a physics and math double major and track athlete, said the team practices year-round and would benefit significantly from access to locker rooms, particularly during inclement weather, allowing athletes to warm up indoors and recover after practice instead of leaving immediately.

“The decision does feel like we’re not a top priority, especially since we would use those locker rooms very heavily,” Hulleman said. “We’re in season the entire school year and practice at the track every week, no matter the time of year.”

The men’s and women’s track and rugby teams, which compete in nationally recognized collegiate leagues, currently operate without dedicated locker rooms. Players say they often arrive already dressed in their rugby kit and change on the field before and after practice.

“We train through every season, but when it’s cold and muddy, we’re left stripping off wet kits in the open,” said junior biomedical sciences major and women’s rugby player Asia Monaè. “It’s uncomfortable, exhausting and honestly frustrating.”

Other rugby players expressed similar concerns.

“It feels like we’re being overlooked,” said sophomore business administration major and men’s rugby player Rhys Jones. “We represent UMW at a high level, but we don’t have the same basic resources other teams get.”

The conversation intensified on Jan. 22 after UMW Athletics posted a photo on Instagram showing the construction site and encouraging followers to donate money for the chance to name a locker.

Instead of generating enthusiasm, the post drew a wave of comments questioning the exclusion of certain teams.

“What about the XC/TF teams? They’re in season all year, they should have locker room space like every other sport listed here,” wrote one parent under the post.

Another commenter simply asked, “So where’s rugby?”

The comment came from the official account of Zip Rugby, a rugby merchandising company based in the United States, and founded by Max McCuscker, the company’s current CFO and a UMW student. 

McCuscker said he spoke up because the Instagram post was the first time he learned rugby would not be included in the new facility.

“I think the school introducing locker rooms is a great step forward for well‑earned student‑athletes. But I feel some varsity teams are not being treated equally,” said McCuscker.

UMW Athletics did not respond to a request for comment about why the two programs were excluded from Phase I.

The captain of the women’s rugby team, senior psychology major Nyah Speicher, said she first heard about the locker room project as a freshman, but details were scarce.

“My impression was that many athletes figured they would be general‑use locker rooms for any of the teams competing at the Battleground,” she said.

Speicher added that the team was surprised to learn rugby was not included.

“The rugby pitch sits at the heart of the Battleground Athletic Complex, so it was a surprise,” she said. “We didn’t expect that an exciting facility like this would only be available to a portion of the athletics program.”

She also said the decision may not affect retention but could influence recruitment.

“Many of the schools in our conference are bigger universities with more resources,” she said. “Having a great locker room facility would help us stay competitive.”

Catullo said UMW is currently renovating the Stone House at Hanover and William Street to create space for track and both rugby teams. He added that several additional projects are planned in the coming years and that the department “will continue to evaluate our needs.”

Some athletes speculate that space limitations or funding priorities may have influenced the

decision. Others worry the move reflects a broader pattern of underinvestment in larger‑roster or non‑NCAA teams.

For track and field athletes, the exclusion feels especially discouraging given the team’s recent success, including new university records and national‑level qualifiers.

Rugby players note that their teams consistently compete in regional and national tournaments, helping elevate UMW’s athletic reputation.

Women’s rugby player and sophomore finance major Jo Lent recently went to a national all-stars tournament representing UMW in one of the highest forms of college rugby and expressed her disappointment with the school’s failure to recognize rugby when proceeding with these lockerooms. 

“When you’re competing at national tournaments, you see how seriously other schools invest in their rugby programs,” said Lent. “We’re out there representing UMW on some of the biggest stages in college rugby, but it’s hard not to feel overlooked when we come home and still don’t have the same basic facilities as the teams we compete against.”

Students outside the programs have also taken notice.

Sophomore women’s soccer player Sami Perterio, a business major, said the situation has raised questions even among athletes whose teams are included. 

“I feel like everybody should have a locker room,” Perterio said. “But if there isn’t enough money right now, it makes me wonder when those teams will ever get the support they need.”

Track and rugby athletes say the choice sends a discouraging message, especially given how often they train at the Battleground and how heavily they would rely on locker room access.

For now, they’re watching a new facility rise in the center of their training grounds, one they won’t be allowed to use.