Bailey Walker Hits The Ground Running With Bruins
Thamesville’s Bailey Walker is off to a strong start with the OCAA’s Sheridan Bruins – Photo courtesy of Sheridan College Athletics
Despite being a first year player, Walker has been thrust into crucial positions, and a leadership role with the Bruins from day one.
“She has played various positions for Sheridan,” says Bruins head coahc Tamara Dixon. “We have a very inexperienced team so we utilize Walkers experience in different leadership positions. We also depend on her to keep the players organized on the pitch, even though she is considered to be a rookie on the team. With this said, she has played a few key positions such as eight man, fly half and inside center,” continued Dixon.
For Walker, who helped her UCC Lancers to an OFSAA position last year, playing at Sheridan thus far, has been a different but exciting experience.
“Rugby here at Sheridan is way different than I was expecting,” says Bailey Walker. “Here it’s more about developing the player themselves. I love playing here though. The girls are all amazing and the coaches are even better. We have a coach who currently plays for Canada, so she brings something great to the team,” added Walker of Dixon.
For Dixon, she was filled with positive things to say about Walker, who scored her first try of the season in a 37-12 win over Mohawk College in late September.
She makes good decisions on the field, when she has possession of the ball she creates options, she is at the right place at the right time, she plays with confidence, she answers practice session questions with confidence, Acts on suggestions from the coaching staff and other team mates,” listed Dixon.
Along with other local rugby standouts including Sydnee Nolan (Queens), Breanne Nicholas (Western), Amber Nicholas (Western), and Tegan Williams (Western); Walker, a former Kent All-Star, and Ontario Summer Games medallist in Rugby 7s, has used a budding Chatham-Kent rugby system to make the step into postsecondary athletics.
“Honestly playing rugby in Chatham made me the player I am,” says Walker. “I had so many great and knowledgable coaches who taught me so much and provided me with some of my most amazing experiences.”
Sheridan next takes on Humber October 9, before closing out their season October 19 against Seneca.