While university-sanctioned athletics soak up all the funding and acclaim, club sports take a back seat, settling for budgets that often barely cover the cost of quality equipment.

Such was the case of the women's rugby program at La Salle. While the university did its part to allocate whatever funding it could, team members were left scratching their heads trying to figure out how to afford basic necessities.

"The school did what it could, but we are a club sport so they only do so much," junior center Maria Muscara said. "It was pretty bad, I mean we didn't even have enough money to hire a trainer to be at our games. We had to just play and pray no one got hurt."

Sophomore flanker Pattie Flanagan brought an e-mail she received from Nike to her team's attention. Nike was sponsoring an essay contest in conjunction with its "Let Me Play" foundation that caters to female projects promoting "human potential through sport." It urged women's teams to submit essays describing how they deal with adversity, and inequality. The winner received a grand prize worth $20,000 in Nike apparel. Nike also awarded monetary grants of $5,000 to select runner-ups.

Muscara, Flanagan and two other Explorers submitted essays in hopes to net the smaller grant, but Muscara's essay topped those of 40 other select teams from around the country, winning La Salle the grand prize.

"We've gotten balls, cleats, new jerseys, shorts, socks, you name it," Muscara said. "Which has been great because now we can use the money from the university for important things like transportation costs and affording a trainer - so now we don't have to keep our fingers crossed."

Muscara also claims that the grant has allowed for the school to give a second look to the team and other club sports. As of now, the program sits at 3-0, defeating its opponents by a combined score of 91-5.

When brains meet brawn, it's a beautiful thing. *

- Kerith Gabriel

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