The First UW Rugby Dinner Auction

I'm lucky enough to credit a lot in my life to my five years of playing UW Rugby. I have my career as a Nuclear Engineer because I sent my resume to Tony Giles, and somehow, I ended up with a job offer. I’m closer with my younger brother, Riley, after playing two years of competitive rugby with him at UW. My time on the rugby pitch taught me grit, enduring those long, cold, and muddy practices at the mud bowl, wrapping up after dark when we could barely see the ball. Organizing and planning were skills I honed, which I now use daily both at work and home. As students, we managed every aspect of the club—from finances to coaching hires, practice schedules, game schedules, and fundraising.

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Speaking of fundraising, my wife and I (mostly her) organized the first UW Auction and Dinner for the Club back in 2003. Starting from scratch, we managed to secure impressive donations, including a cruise! That night, more than 20 years ago, we raised almost ten thousand dollars and it's been awesome to see the auction grow through the years. That first year, we went with the cheapest caterer, which meant we had to wash all the dishes ourselves and return them the next day. A crew of us was washing dishes with a garden hose in Jeremy Nash’s mom’s front yard well past midnight. Those are the kinds of memories that stick with you.

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During my time with UW, we transitioned from a social club to a serious athletic team. We found a lot of success on the pitch, but it required hard work and training beyond our regular practices. I have fond memories of leading long runs on the Burke-Gilman Trail, running the stairs and ramps at Husky Stadium, meeting at the IMA weight room at 6 a.m., and late-night fitness sessions at Dempsey Indoor. This extra work was driven by us as players, not by coaches. That kind of work ethic and self-drive sticks with you throughout your life. I make my own kids do extra fitness outside their sports practices. As a result, they are typically the most fit on their teams, and they have UW Rugby to thank for that.

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That's not to say we didn’t have fun; the off-field bonding was just as important. The lifelong friends I made are what I appreciate most about my time with UW Rugby. To this day, my closest friends are the ones I met through UW Rugby. We still meet up several times a year to camp, ski, party, or take our wives on a getaway together. If I need help with anything, those are the guys I call. When attending UW or Seawolves Rugby games, or other rugby events, running into old teammates is what I look forward to most. I appreciate everyone who has ever stepped foot on the pitch with me; you have made me the man I am today.

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Wes Hanson-Smith

2000-2005

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