By Ed Piper
The Viking rugby team, which was "great", in coach Ethan Willis' estimation, two years ago, held its first practice of the 2022-2023 season on the softball field at La Jolla High Sun., Nov. 20.
"There are a lot of people on vacation," one of the early arrivals told the coaches, as numbers trickled in. The initial practice was held on the first Sunday of Thanksgiving week, when school is out and families often go out of town.
Rugby splits players between forwards and backs, with 15 on the field for a squad at a time. The backs are the "small(er) guys" who run fast, while the forwards carry the heft and can help push a group of players in a scrum toward their goal line.
Jaret Swerdlow, 18, a senior, was a minor celebrity as warmups started and he told about having a full cast after breaking his leg last year. "I was on crutches (for the two months)," Swerdlow, who claims his last name is Russian and Romanian, related. He is a back--fullback, in fact.
Wyn Smoole, 18, a senior, played defensive end for the Viking football team which just finished second in the Eastern League.. His brother, freshman Leed Smoole, 15, also was among the early arrivals. Wyn, lean and strong, gives his height and weight as 6'3", 160 pounds.
Leed stands 5'11", 145 pounds. Both would appear to be suited to play with the backs.
Nathan Plaskonos, 18, a senior who played beach volleyball for the Vikings this fall, also played water polo before that. "I'm a water guy," he said during conversation. In getting at the derivation of his Greek-appearing surname, he said it's Ukrainian. He goes 6'2", 190 pounds.
Alex Weisiger, 15, a sophomore, weighs 240, at 5'11". He'll play forward.
Finally, Renner Smith, 14, a freshman, told Willis he's "never played rugby before". He is 5'7", 135 pounds.
On the subject of roots and name origins, Swerdlow, the senior, said a cousin "told me a relative coming through Ellis Island said 'Max' when he was asked his name. He meant his first name, but the official meant his last name. So it was written down that his name was 'Max Max'."
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