Paula Woynarowsky’s strong offensive play and hard-hitting made her a university rugby all-star.
The third-year University of Lethbridge student scored four tries and helped the Pronghorns win bronze in the Canada West playoff tournament.
“I didn’t have any expectations of being an all-star,” said Woynarowsky, who is studying addictions counselling. “It was a big surprise. I played my best season yet so it was nice to be recognized.”
Woynarowsky was joined on the Canada West all-star team by Pronghorns teammates Brandi Van Eewen and Lindsey Duxbury.
“My speed has been my biggest asset,” Woynarowsky said of the strong points of her game. “Kicking under pressure has been something that I’ve had to work on but I’ve really improved that piece of my game and I utilize that skill as much as I can.”
A graduate of the F.P. Walshe Flyers high school rugby program, Woynarowsky spent the off-season playing with Lethbridge Rugby Club and working out with her Pronghorn teammates in preparation for the 2012 season.
“I really wanted to have fun and enjoy myself and develop as an athlete this year,” Woynarowsky said. “I was able to do this by playing from the heart.”
The season started well for the Pronghorns, who entered 2012 with a string of six consecutive Canada West championships.
The Pronghorns blasted the University of Victoria 49-5 in their first game. Woynarowsky helped her team with a try.
In their next game against the University of British Columbia the Pronghorns romped to a 30-3 win as Woynarowsky scored three tries.
Woynarowsky also scored a try in the Pronghorns next game as they fell 31-18 to the University of Calgary.
The Pronghorns regular season ended with a 38-19 loss to the vastly improved University of Alberta.
“Canada West was very strong this year,” Woynarowsky said. “The U of A and U of C have been building for the past two years and they really brought it. We had great leadership from our six fifth-year players. It was unlucky the way it ended.”
The Pronghorns found themselves matched in the first round of the Canada West playoff tournament against the improved University of Calgary Dinos.
The game was an epic battle but the Dinos squeaked by 33-32, ending the Pronghorns hopes of another Canada West title.
“It was really hard to be disappointed after that loss,” Woynarowsky said. “It was the best game we had played this year. I couldn’t have been more proud to be a Pronghorn.”
Woynarowsky and the Pronghorns rallied to win the bronze medal with a convincing 60-7 victory over UBC.
“That final game was so much fun and I think my teammates would agree with me in saying that it was a nice win to finish the season with,” Woynarowsky said. “We had lots of momentum after the U of C game and that transitioned into our final game.”
The five foot four wing also enjoyed success in the classroom by earning a $1,000 Pronghorn scholarship and the Jason Lang Scholarship.
Woynarowsky is not certain what the future holds for her rugby career despite having just finished an all-star season with the Pronghorns.
Next fall Woynarowsky has to complete the final practicum placement for the addictions counselling program, and she isn’t certain how that will fit into rugby.
“I haven’t decided if I will be playing next fall,” Woynarowsky said. “It will depend where my placement is. I plan on graduating in the spring of 2014. If it works out that I do play next year I really want to carry over the momentum that I have gained from this season and hopefully we can work our way back to the top of Canada West.”