Special to the Tribune

Complete with brutal tackles, grass-stained knees and unrelenting rain adding to the ambiance, Wisconsin-Platteville's appropriately named Mudfest 2007, an all-day, nine-team rugby tournament, lived up to its expectations Saturday.,”

Complete with brutal tackles, grass-stained knees and unrelenting rain adding to the ambiance, Wisconsin-Platteville's appropriately named Mudfest 2007, an all-day, nine-team rugby tournament, lived up to its expectations Saturday.

The Marquette men's first obstacle was a fierce Wisconsin-Whitewater team. The Warhawks, who finished the fall season third-best in the state, beat the Golden Eagles 20-0.

In the consolation bracket, senior captain Drew McMillin helped his team rebound against the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

With tries from junior Nick Ihn, senior Zach Singsank, freshman Vincent Kelly and McMillin, Marquette routed the Raiders 27-5.

Despite ending the day in victory, McMillin felt as if the team didn't get its money's worth.

"We paid $250 and usually we play three games," McMillin said. "But since we lost our first match we went to the consolation bracket and only got to play two."

The team will have to wait until April 14 before it plays again. Marquette will participate in an eight-team tournament in Riverforest, Ill., put on by the Chicago Westside Condors. The Condors, who have several Marquette alumni on their team, will award the winner with new jerseys free of mud stains.

Football seeks improvement in offseason

The Marquette club football team has big plans this spring despite not competing in any games.

The spring season will entail a tryout day on April 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Valley Fields, as well as four practices and an annual inter-squad scrimmage in preparation for the fall.

In addition, senior captain Nicholas Cerveny is taking the team's efforts beyond the field.

"During my tenure as president I wanted to implement a community service aspect of the team, so we are going to do an event with Habitat for Humanity this spring," Cerveny said.

Cerveny isn't stopping there.

"In past years we have just been playing sort of hodge-podge teams from around the area, but this year we are starting our own conference," he said.

Other teams in the new conference are Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Southern Illinois, Xavier and Miami (Ohio).

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