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Show HILLTOP TIMES 8 TIMES August 19, 2010 419th line recruiter makes Air Force rugby team BY MARY LOU GORNY Hilltop Times editor T ech. Sgt. Dustin Ballingham, line recruiter for the 419th Fighter Wing, said he was excited to hear he had made the Air Force Rugby Team. The Air Force Reserve recruiter who had played rugby at Weber State University for two and a half years and who now plays on a Division I team in Utah, made his first year tryout at an Air Force mini camp in March and he must have made an impression. The Air Force team has taken the tournament trophy from all other U.S. military teams at the November military brackets tournament six years running, and it's a pretty sizeable honor to make the team in competition with all the others trying out Air Force-wide. Before Ballingham left for the camp, he had received some direction from former Air Force Rugby Backs Coach Craun Fansler, who showed up to some practices at WSU. Before this Ballingham had never played with an organized team made up of Air Force rugby players or at the Air Force Academy. "Our team took second place (at the mini camp). So we did very well. For a group of guys to come together from all the bases, train together for three days and we go do that — it's pretty awesome," he said. "It's pretty exciting," Ballingham said of getting the news in July that he had made the team and will see play at the flanker position. "We report Oct. 26 to Fort Benning, get together back as a team, start training together, so we actually start getting back in sync with one another and then come Nov. 1 we actually start the tournament that week." Head Coach Lt. Col. Dan Lockert said in an e-mail response to the Hilltop Times that rugby is a sport where players have to be ahead of the action by three moves. "I believe there is no comparison relative to the level of mental and physical preparation necessary to play a match or for a trainCourtesy photo ing session," the coach said. "One person cannot carry Tech. Sgt Dustin Ballingham (center) confers with his team mates at the Air Force Rugby Mini the other 14 for 80 minutes; Camp held in March. ; it takes all 15 players pulling together to win a match," he viewing calls, making said ed, at that age, it was touch great peace of mind know- j said. calls or for such things as ing that even if you aren't i Ballingham, born and rugby, but the principle reretrieving a ball. However, at home you've got friends . mained the same — support, raised in the Uintah-South somewhere." Weber area near Ogden, took there aren't as many injuries communication, think ahead as you might expect to see Senior Master Sgt. Mark up the sport in high school and teamwork," Lockert during such long stretches of through friends but really Cooling, a 419th Senior Readded. non-stop action. got back into it in college. Ballingham describes the cruiter and his superior, As Coach Lockert said, fierce level of intensity on "I enjoy it. Like I tell othsaid, "It's a good opportunity "Typically you see far less ers, I could go biking, go the field as a gentlemen's to have the Air Force Rerunning, go for a walk. I pre- injuries in rugby than in sport where opposing teams serve showcased in a bigger American football. For exam- play on the field with the fer rugby," he said. field with all the active duty members. Dustin's bringple, there is no line of scrim- ardor of hooligans and yet Ballingham described the ing good light to the Reserve mage or blocking in rugby. often go out to dinner with intense conditioning he goes The tackier must make an each other afterward leaving program." through, both at the mini attempt to wrap up the ball all the drama on the field. camp and while playing for You can tell his senior rehis Salt Lake Division I team. carrier (spearing is illegal) He points out, that spircruiter and other recruiters His two-a-days — for team and the tackle must be made it of camaraderie is what have his back. Three of them from below the shoulder. practice here or at the mini drew him to the sport, itself. were present at his interview camp — typically consist of and gave warm praise to the "Rugby is continuous mo- And he draws parallels to conditioning in the morning usually reserved sergeant tion much like soccer and the his membership in the Air and skills training in the afForce. who they described as pretty ball changes possession just ternoon for drills, ball hanquiet, except when it comes as often so you must be able "Camaraderie is a big dling and ball movement. to rapidly transition from of- thing for me. I've got friends to the sport of rugby. fense to defense," the coach everywhere through the Air Game play on the large "They get me to go runsaid of the sport he highly Force. You want to make life- ning with them," Ballingham field, 70 meters by 110 merecommends to others, men long friends and stay pretty ters, carries a high level of said. "And I hate running." and women. much anywhere in the world intensity as play doesn't stop After all given a choice of — this is a great way to do for much, save injuries or sports, he'd rather be play"My son played his first referees' usual role of reing rugby. rugby season at age 6. Grant- that," Ballingham said. "It's PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, P.C. Dale Hibbert, Pediatrics Jennifer Brown, Family Leland Pack, Orthodontist Come in as customers, leave as friends. (Since 1976) MANUEL'S Accepts Military Insurance Latest technology in painless dentistry Free exam for children under 2 yrs Arcade games & more Open Mon through Sat Courtesy photo Ballingham surveys the field in anticipation of play during mini camp. 7740770 2112 N. HILLFIELD RD. #1 • LAYTON RESTAURANT & CANTINA 1145 South State, Clearfield 773-7579 www.el-burrito.com HALL From page 7 Mike Kafka and a 22-yard run from scrimmage to go with two punt returns for 14 yards and three kick returns for 63 yards. "I thought when given the opportunity, he could play all of the positions: running back, receiver and the return game," head coach Andy Reid said. "I thought he excelled in all of them. ... He had a productive day." Hall knows he'll need many more productive days to survive final roster cuts later this month. As a 24-year-old undrafted rookie who's shorter than most of the Eagles' ball boys and plays two positions where the team is well stocked, Hall knows he faces long odds. "I've always felt like I've had to outwork everybody to accomplish what I've accomplished so far," Hall said. "I'll always have that edge mentally, that I have to keep pushing, I can't take breaks. "Height and size are God-given. You can't control those. But you can control how hard you work. Just go with what you've got, and dream big." follow s FAcei&flteflW\- •-.,„••,.•• ^( AUGUST 18'- 21° 1 DAVEFABUJOM H |