2024-25 Preston Worth Scholarship Recipient: Lyndon Bailey

Lyndon Bailey's rugby journey began at age 8, inspired by his father who had played in his youth. "Early on I was quick and loved running the ball, something I couldn't do in football being a lineman," Bailey recalls, highlighting the freedom rugby offered compared to other sports.

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His physical development guided his positional evolution. "I was a 10 when I was skinny and young, but quickly grew into a lock which I never looked back on," he explains. "My body type was perfect to play lock and jumping for lineouts became my specialty."

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Bailey's rugby pathway progressed from the Los Gatos Lions to the San Mateo Wolverines, California Grizzlies, and earning selection to the USA Junior National Team. Currently, he represents Western Washington University at the collegiate level.

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Leadership recognition stands among his proudest achievements, having captained his state team before advancing to represent his country internationally. These experiences have contributed significantly to his growth, as rugby has "given me so much confidence and shifted my values to self improvement above all."

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The social aspect of rugby has been particularly meaningful. "I never had people that I grew up and played rugby with, so I was always meeting new people," he notes. "A lot of those became valuable friendships with people from far away that were a lot different than I."

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While focusing on rugby, Bailey also contributed to his high school football team, which achieved remarkable success as Division 2 state runners-up in California.

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Managing academics requires disciplined organization. "I find myself always having set times in which I can sit down to take care of academic responsibilities, and I try not to take any study time for granted," he explains. Bailey is pursuing a business degree at Western Washington University, with aspirations of becoming a "domestic salesman/manager."

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His immediate rugby focus is elevating "Western rugby to the next level as I feel we are good enough to thrive in D1A." Long-term, he hopes to "represent my country in the 2031 Rugby World Cup."

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Family support has been foundational to Bailey's journey, with his brother having "paved the way for me as a young baller." During the pandemic when his "home team fell apart," coach Leka Nemani provided a crucial opportunity by inviting him to join the premier league team, the Wolverines—a pivotal moment in his progression.

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When asked what wisdom he would share with younger players, Bailey's message is straightforward: "You will never regret putting in the work."