As the girls’ rugby team at Eagle High takes the field, they bring more than just their athletic strength. They bring hard work, dedication and perseverance. Junior Taylor Ray is one of many on the team who help embody these characteristics and inspire other Eagle High student athletes.

“Some of my friends asked me to play rugby last year and I was skeptical at first, but I am really glad I gave it a chance,” Ray said.

Ray explained that she has met a lot of new friends and has learned to love the sport. She said that her friends inspire her to do better and keep her motivated.

“A good teammate is coachable, focused and hardworking. We need people like that on the team so that we can grow as a whole,” she said.

Ray’s favorite part of the season is Nationals because the team gets to travel and play against different teams than they normally do. She explained that this helps them grow closer and bond.

“When we travel so much it gets hard to stay on top of my grades, but when I get overwhelmed, I try not to procrastinate and get my work done as soon as possible,” she said.

Ray is dedicated to her sport and says she is working on different skills to make her a better teammate. She is practicing getting faster by conditioning with sprints, ladder drills and long distance runs to boost her cardio during the game.

She is hoping for a great season this year and for many successes for herself and her team.