Woodbury High graduate Thomas Moesenthin helped the UW-Eau Claire Men's Rugby Team win a national championship. Photo: Contributed,
WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – A former Woodbury High School athlete is now a national champion— but not in the sport many might expect.
Thomas Moesenthin, a 2022 Woodbury High School graduate, was a standout wrestler for the school. His athletic success is continuing at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, where he helped the Men’s Rugby Club win its first Division III National Championship April 26. The Blugolds shut out Springfield College 20-0 in the title match at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland.
“No athletic achievement matches winning a national championship,” said Moesenthin. “I didn’t just win with my teammates but with my brothers. We put a mark on the map and proved who we were and that meant a lot to me.”
The UW-Eau Claire team finished its season with an impressive 30-2 record with a total of 965 points scored.
Moesenthin just joined the team last year as a sophomore. With no prior experience in rugby, he said it was lessons learned on the wrestling mat that helped him adapt to the sport.
“Wrestling taught me how to lose and how to compete to better myself as a human,” Moesenthin said. “Coach Justin Smith at Woodbury High School taught me that wrestling isn’t just a skill that translates only to the mat. Your passion and hard work will translate to life in the workforce.”
As a high school junior, Moesenthin made history at Woodbury by becoming the Royals first heavyweight wrestler to place at the state tournament. He capped off his senior year with a 35-2 record.
Today, he’s balancing life as a student-athlete with a demanding academic schedule. Moesenthin is pursuing a double major in accounting and information systems. This past spring he also completed an internship at Wipfli, a Minneapolis accounting firm, while still traveling with the rugby team to weekend tournaments. Despite the workload, he felt every challenge was worth it.
Moesenthin has two more seasons of eligibility left and plans to continue playing while completing his CPA requirements.
His advice to youth interested in the sport?
“Just try it! There are new teams being created around the country and high school teams are becoming more common everywhere,” he said. “No one should ever be nervous about joining a rugby club if they have never played. They should always remember to go into it with a mindset to have fun and be ready to make friends.”
