2023-24 Paul Horne Out of State Resident Scholarship Recipient: Oliver Kelleher
For Oliver Kelleher, the path to rugby was not a straight line. At age 11, his mom's British upbringing inspired her to introduce Oliver to the sport. However, after a single practice, the young Kelleher declared he was done and never wanted to play again.
It wasn't until high school that Kelleher rediscovered rugby. A friendship with a kid who played 7s for the Wrentham Barbarians club team led to Kelleher attending a practice - and this time, he fell in love with the sport.
"The relationship with my teammates kept me playing, along with the coaches and the overall community," Kelleher reflected. While his junior season was cut short due to COVID-19, he still cherished the practices. As a senior captain, Kelleher helped lead a successful campaign as both a skilled ball carrier and kicker.
When it came time to look at colleges, Kelleher had his priorities: a school with a rugby program, a strong environmental science department, and a community different than what he had grown up with. Working with a tutor, Western Washington University quickly emerged as a top option.
On his campus tour, Kelleher got to meet the team and participate in a touch rugby session. However, the visit took a scary turn when one of the team's star players suffered an unexpected seizure and his heart stopped beating during the game.
"I was in shock, but during those terrifying 5 minutes waiting for the ambulance, I really saw how strong the rugby community was and the bond each player had," Kelleher said. Thankfully, he survived and still plays today.
After meeting with coaches over dinner and experiencing WWU's beautiful campus, Kelleher knew this was where he wanted to be. However, finances posed a challenge until he was awarded the Paul Horne Out-of-State Resident Scholarship, allowing him to commit.
At Western, Kelleher was named the starting fullback his freshman year, playing the 15s format for the first time. As a sophomore, he shifted to outside center. He credits the team captain, who played at 13, for mentoring him and helping develop his skills as a well-rounded ball carrier and kicker with a high rugby IQ.
Off the field, Kelleher praises WWU's rugby program for encouraging academic excellence and an active lifestyle, allowing him to balance his schedule for skiing, friends and personal time. He has also relished the team's incredible social environment.
"WWU's rugby team has such a great social aspect outside of rugby whether it's after games, practices or even planning fun trips on bye weekends," Kelleher said.
Through rugby's twists and turns, Kelleher has found his passion at Western Washington University. With leadership skills honed as a captain and the drive to compete at an elite level, his future in the sport looks bright.
