Exercise science grad represents WMU on international rugby stage

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Whether making artful tackles in Paris or storming the pitch in Normandy, Western Michigan University exercise science alumnus Ivan Delgado, B.S.'21, M.S.'24, put the Bronco men’s rugby club on the international map.

A multi-year All-American at Western, he was one of just 32 players selected from across the country to represent the United States on the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) All-American team for the France-USA Rugby Centennial. 

"To be able to play in those high-level games and go to France to experience it all, that's a pretty cool thing," Delgado says. "It's a perfect example of why someone should come to Western and play club sports. You don't have to be a Division I athlete or play a varsity sport to still get noticed at the national level."

Delgado's team played a series of matches against Academy-level French teams as well as the world champion French military team, honoring the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Olympic gold medal match between France and the United States.

Steven Hiatt, NCR vice chairman, called the series "a fantastic opportunity to showcase the unique, long-lived connections" between the two countries, adding, "Being part of the All-American team is one of the highest honors in American sport, and sending the All-American team underscores the importance of the event."

The NCR All-American team played matches in Hauts-de-France, Normandy and Paris, getting opportunities to do some sightseeing and interact with fans along the way. After a whirlwind two weeks, Team USA came away with a clean sweep of the series, winning all of the matches.

"It feels pretty unreal to have been selected, because coaches were telling us there were thousands of applications and tons of film they watched," says Delgado. "For me to be selected for one of those 32 roster positions felt pretty good. I'm grateful for the opportunity and grateful to be considered one of the top collegiate players in the country."

Career preparation

Growing up in Chicago, Delgado found Western through the rugby club.

"The coach at the time, who's now the director of rugby, recruited me to play at WMU," Delgado says.

While he anticipated joining a nationally competitive rugby program, he didn't understand at the time how much his decision to study exercise science would enhance his athletic performance.

Through an impactful internship with WMU Athletics' strength and conditioning coaches, Delgado had the opportunity to put what he'd learned in the classroom into practice by helping train Bronco athletes.

"They really shaped me to be a good strength and conditioning coach, because after that experience with all the knowledge I learned from them, I got a full time job back home in Hinsdale, Illinois, as a sports performance coach," he says. 

The internship also enhanced Delgado's presence on the rugby pitch, better preparing him for high-level competition with the Chicago Lions rugby club this fall.

"Every sport needs specific training, and before my internship I would always find a way to get hurt. Once I was working with (WMU strength and conditioning coaches), I found that I already had so many stressors on my body and my workouts were adding even more stress and load to my joints, which would eventually cause injury," he says. "Learning proper training techniques helps me become a better athlete myself."

Club sports at Western

Rugby—among the more competitive clubs at Western—is part of the larger Sports Club Council. There are 30 clubs registered with the council for fall 2024, ranging from badminton to esports to wrestling.

"We have a vast array of anything students want to be involved in; we have clubs vying to be on the national stage and competing all over the Midwest trying to win national championships, and then we have clubs at the other end that just enjoy the sport and social aspects and finding community and a sense of belonging on campus," says Kyle Bushee, assistant director for club sports at Western.

Clubs are entirely student-run, and they offer a chance for students to develop resume-worthy experience while also putting their passions into practice. Executive board members also get additional leadership training each fall.

"We walk them through the nuts and bolts of what's required but also equip them with some high-level tools like conflict resolution, managing a budget and other real-world applicable skills that they might not get elsewhere," Bushee says.

More information about Western's club sports teams is available online.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.