This summer has been a productive one for Caroline Bullock ’24. She has the grass stains and bruises to prove it.
A captain for the 2024 national champion Claremont Foxes women’s rugby team—the team’s first title in Division I and third in a row—Bullock has continued pushing herself against elite competition after graduating in May.
It started in spring when the two-time MVP was invited to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for a 7s Development Camp where USA Rugby competed against Canada. This summer, Bullock was selected as captain of the Pacific Southwest Griffins—a 23-and-under regional all-star team comprised of athletes from Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico—leading her squad to second place in its tier. From there, she was selected to compete at the Top 40 U23 USA Rugby Development Camp, again in Chula Vista, where she played with premier athletes from across the country. The opportunity, both “inspiring and motivating,” places her in a talent pipeline for the 2025 and 2029 Rugby World Cups—and possibly even the next Olympics.
Bullock finished up a busy summer playing and training with the San Diego Surfers, a women’s club coached by rugby notables Richie Walker and Lauren Daly. While many of her classmates are onto their first job or graduate school, Bullock said she is having way too much fun on the pitch.
“I know I have my CMC education to propel me as an engaged citizen and member of the workforce,” said Bullock, a PPE major from Helena, Mont. “But for now, developing my rugby skills and seeing where that takes me is truly fulfilling.”
Were you always interested in rugby or is this something you discovered while at CMC?
I actually had no intentions of competing (in athletics) at a college level. I chose CMC to focus on school and academics. After a year of COVID, I realized how much I missed having a team—I thought about trying to walk on the track or basketball teams. But it seemed the universe had other plans. At the Club Fair on Parents Field during my sophomore year, I approached a booth solely with the intention of petting the dog at the table. Little did I know that it was the rugby coach’s dog. Though I was originally unconvinced I would love rugby, it was love at first tackle.
Why do you think it resonated with you? After this summer’s competition, how far do you think you can go with it post-graduation?
It is incredibly team-oriented—the success of the team relies on every teammate looking out for each other. There is a reason that “support” is the most common word screamed on Parents Field as the Foxes are playing. I played three sports in high school (volleyball, basketball, and track), so rugby afforded me the opportunity to learn and compete in something new. Playing rugby, especially in the States, also puts you in an incredibly tight-knit and unique community. Individuals I have played with, or against, only a few times have become lifelong friends. Coaches develop not only your skills, but also you as a person. No community (I’ve been part of) has ever been so willing to take care or support each other solely based on a shared love of sport.
After this summer’s competition, I have the confidence in my discipline and work ethic to believe that I will one day represent our nation and play on the (Team USA) Eagles.
Bullock studies on campus during her senior year. Photo by Anibal Ortiz
Do you see any parallels between what you learned at CMC and what you love about competing in rugby?
Looking back at my college experience, a lot of the lessons I learned at CMC are intertwined with the ones I learned in rugby. On campus and in PPE, I learned how to better understand viewpoints and perspectives that were radically different from mine—and how to work toward shared agreements. As a rugby captain, I united teammates with different motivations toward a shared goal of competing and winning. Additionally, I think the idea of finding success by empowering each individual to reach their own full potential rightly aligns with CMC’s (mission and) Campaign for Responsible Leadership. If our leaders empowered individuals instead of disparaging them, our society would be more civically active and engaged.
What else is next for you? Do you have any advice for CMC or prospective students?
I am continuing to work with the nonprofit organization that I founded earlier this year—the Montana Transparency Project, an organization working to promote government transparency and the promotion of Montana’s Right to Know. I am also working on creating a small brand for the promotion of women’s rugby dubbed “Hot Girls Play Rugby” from my senior year Foxes motto.
As for advice, enjoy every second. It goes by way too fast.
Make friends that challenge you—challenge your perspectives and thought processes, challenge you to be a better version of yourself: a stronger athlete, a more disciplined student, a more engaged leader. Practice gratitude regularly. Do so out loud, and to everyone. Thank your professors after class, your building attendants for keeping campus running, the Dean of Students for their magic, and your friends for existing. This will help you build relationships and maintain a positive perspective on whatever situation you may face.