Joe Schroeder BSCE 2016 was recently named to the USA Rugby 7s team, which competes
in tournaments against other rugby sevens teams around the world. Joe lives in Chula
Vista, California, where the team trains.
How and why did you first become interested in rugby?
I began playing rugby in high school because my older brothers played it. I really
enjoyed football growing up, so when I found a sport with the same physicality during
the off-season I was drawn to it.
How did you deal with not being able to play rugby while you were at Trine?
I played in some tournaments throughout my summers, but it was definitely hard. I
missed the sport. I also was pretty busy with my major(civil engineering) and a couple
extracurriculars I picked up (cheerleading and fraternity), so I did not think about
rugby.
How did you get the opportunity to play rugby again once you graduated? How did you
get in shape again?
After graduation I took a job in Columbus, Ohio. I joined the Scioto Valley Rugby
Club when I stumbled upon it browsing social media. I was ready to get back in the
sport and excited for the opportunity to play again. I had a gym membership, so I
was already in decent shape, but I started doing a lot more cardio work. The club practices
we had also got me in shape.
How did the opportunity to play for USA Rugby come about? What types of experiences
will you get to have with this team?
I started doing extra training sessions at the Tiger Rugby Academy in Columbus, which
is how I got noticed. The assistant coach for the national team showed up at one of
our sessions and invited me to camp. The experiences I get to have are unreal. I have
the opportunity to represent the USA in the Sevens World Series this season. I have
already played in tournaments in Dubai and Capetown. We also went down to Mexico this
fall and built a house for a family in need. This journey has been crazy and very
rewarding, and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity.
How are you able to balance rugby play with work, life, etc.?
This has been a tough thing for me to do, but I have found my rhythm. I moved down
to part-time with work. I also have kept my course load light, only taking one class
at a time: I am currently working on my masters of civil engineering through Ohio
University's online program. Taking these steps has allowed me to chase my dream while
still pursuing my professional career. Some weeks are tougher than others, but I'm
having the time of my life.