The Zoomie Rugby Football Club (ZRFC) is an unofficial title used by both the men's and women's rugby union teams at the United States Air Force Academy. Zoomie is slang for a cadet or graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.
History The U.S. Air Force Academy men's rugby team began in 1968. In 1980, the Air Force began competing in collegiate rugby under USA rugby. Fit and fast described play in those early years, prompting the Eastern Rockies Rugby Union President, Terry Fleener, to coin the nickname "Zoomies"... which stuck and continues on to this day. Since that time, the Air Force men's rugby team has made 13 appearances in the national tournament, earning three national championships—in 1989, 1990 and 2003. Several players have gone on to represent the USA on the US men's national team, including Ben Trautwein, Matt Schmitz, Josh Dean, Mike Hobson, Brian Lemay, and Eric Duechle.
The U.S. Air Force Academy women's team was founded in 1977, shortly after the first admission of women to the academy. The women's team competed within Colorado for several years, but moved to national competition when the women's national championship competition was organized in 1991. The women's team won the first national championship that same year, and have gone on to win three more, in 1994, 2002 and 2003. Two of the Air Force women's players, Shalanda Baker and Laura McDonald, have gone on to play for the US women's national team.
Results
Men
+Air Force Rugby Postseason History (1980-present). eRugbyNews. Retrieved 2010-02-06.YearTournamentFinishResult1980National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipFinalistQuarterfinal: W, 22-9 vs. Colorado Semi Final: W, 17-16 vs. Army Final: L, 15-9 vs. California1983National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipFinalistQuarterfinal: W, 13-9 vs. Oklahoma Semi Final: W, 6-3 vs Navy Final: L, 13-3 vs. California1986National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipThird PlaceQuarterfinal: W, 24-9 vs. Kansas State Semi Final: L, 18-4 vs. Dartmouth 3rd Place: W, 13-9 vs. Bowling Green1987National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipFinalistQuarterfinal: W, 19-10 vs. Colorado Semi Final: W, 15-8 vs. Bowling Green Final: L, 10-9 vs. San Diego State1988National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipThird PlaceQuarterfinal: W, 22-13 vs. Colorado Semi Final: L, 19-10 vs. California 3rd Place: W, 32-0 vs. Bowling Green1989National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipChampionsQuarterfinal: W, 22-9 vs. Colorado Semi Final: W, 17-16 vs. Army Final: W, 25-7 vs. Long Beach1990National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipChampionsQuarterfinal: W, 47-10 vs. Kansas Semi Final: W, 37-32 vs. Ohio State Final: W, 18-12 vs. Army1992National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipThird PlaceQuarterfinal: W, 24-0 vs. Colorado Semi Final: L, 30-15 vs. Army 3rd Place: W, 20-13 vs Penn State1993National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipFinalistL, 36-6 vs. California1994National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipThird Place3rd Place: W, vs. Penn State1995National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipFinalistSemi Final: W, vs. Army NCG: L, 48-16 vs. California 2003National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipChampionsFinal Four: W, 46-28 vs. California NCG: W, 45-37 vs. Harvard2004National Collegiate Rugby ChampionshipSemi FinalistSweet 16: W, 71-10 vs. Tennessee Elite 8: W, 16-13 vs. Ohio State Final Four: L, 36-32 vs. Cal Poly-SLO
Women Source: (1991-present). eRugbyNews. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
1991 National Champions 1992 National 3rd place 1993 National runners up 1994 National Champions 1995 National 3rd place 1996 National 3rd place 1997 National 3rd place 1998 National 4th place 2002 National Champions 2003 National Champions
Notes
External links . Rugby Magazine. Retrieved 2010-02-06.