The Iowa Central rugby program put a strong cap on the 2020-21 season with a sweep over Iowa State University recently.
In the third and final game of the day at Crimmins Field, the Tritons and Cyclones met in a special 7s match as a way for Iowa Central to help Iowa State prepare for nationals.
But the match also allowed for a special moment for Iowa Central.
Veteran Triton head coach Brent Nelson brought Olympic rugby player Garrett Bender in to serve as an honorary coach. Bender, a native of Minneapolis, played on the 2016 U.S. team that competed at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"He reached out a couple of years ago because he liked what we were doing with Iowa Central rugby," Nelson said. "We struck up a friendship and have kept in contact ever since. To be able to bring him in to not only talk to the guys and serve as the guest speaker at our banquet, but to coach the 7s team, that was really something special.
"Not many people get to say they were coached by an Olympian, so I know the guys were excited about that."
The 29-year-old suited up 114 times for the United States 7s from 2011-2016 and was a standout in several sports at Minneapolis Washburn High School, helping the team win the Minnesota High School State Championship in rugby.
Bender also earned a scholarship offer to play football at St. Cloud State, opting instead to focus on playing rugby.
"Garrett just has a tremendous knowledge of the sport and wants to make a difference in his community by giving back," Nelson said. "He's an incredible rugby player but an even better person. It was truly amazing for the guys to get to be around him for a couple of days."
The U.S. team placed ninth with Bender at the Olympics. He has also won bronze with the U.S. at the 2015 Pan American Games, won the 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships and was sixth at the 2014-15 HSBC Sevens World Series and again a year later.
Iowa Central posted a 21-19 victory in the 7s match over Iowa State with Aiden Farrell and Raykyle Taisague converting tries and their own kicks. Gus Sokol also had a try and Chris Santos a kick.
-By Dana Becker