Pa. Soldier juggles responsibilities, rugby in pursuit of Olympic dreams

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The designation “warrior” has become closely associated with the U.S. Women’s Olympic Rugby Sevens team as they demonstrated their resolve and perseverance at the Paris Olympics this summer. On July 30, 2024, Team USA clinched its inaugural Olympic medal in rugby, overcoming the formidable Australia to secure bronze.

For Sgt. Autumn Czaplicki, a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, being a “warrior” is more than just a term as she aims to join the Olympic team in 2028. Juggling high-level athletic commitments with her military responsibilities, Sgt. Autumn Czaplicki has proven her remarkable determination and tenacity.

Just ask Tony DeRemer, the head coach of the women’s rugby program at West Chester University.

“From one of the first days I saw her play, I knew Autumn was something special,” DeRemer recalled. “When I was in the process of recruiting her, she had no prior rugby experience, but she had excelled as a four-sport athlete, even winning a state wrestling championship. Therefore, I had no real expectations of how she would perform on the rugby field.”

In 2018, during Czaplicki’s freshman year, she and the WCU Golden Rams faced off against the Army West Point Black Knights, typically recognized as one of the elite teams in the nation. A freshman with minimal rugby exposure, Czaplicki wasn’t daunted.

One of DeRemer’s cherished memories of Czaplicki is when she received the ball and leaped over an Army player, a feat he had never witnessed in any of his coaching years in live rugby matches.

DeRemer remarked to one of his assistant coaches, “This is going to be an exciting four years.”

The following year, the Rams triumphed over Brown University in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association Division II National Championship, with Czaplicki scoring the decisive try. And while those years were indeed enjoyable, her rugby journey was just starting.

Czaplicki is currently part of Alpha Company, 128th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division but has recently been chosen to join the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program. This program allows top Soldier-athletes like Czaplicki to compete on an international scale while fulfilling their military roles.

The key goal of the program is to train Soldiers to represent Team USA at the Olympics or Paralympics.

“There are no words to capture what it signifies to represent the U.S. and the Pennsylvania National Guard in such a unique capacity,” Czaplicki expressed. “I am incredibly grateful that the Pennsylvania National Guard supports my pursuit of my dream to become an Olympian.”

Though WCAP is located at Fort Carson, Colorado, she collaborates with the national rugby team in Chula Vista, California, undergoing training throughout the week. Her training regimen comprises speed drills, weight training, skill development, and team practice, all aimed at preparing for international events like the HSBC SVNS in Perth, Australia, this January, which showcases the world’s top rugby teams. However, according to Czaplicki, the commitment to her Army career must take precedence as a WCAP member.

“For instance, this is a significant year for me, but I will be absent from two international events due to the Basic Leader Course,” she noted. “Our duties as Soldiers always take priority over our sport. Since we are remote Soldiers not stationed at Fort Carson, we have regular online commitments, such as Army correspondence courses and quarterly training, and I am consistently handling some form of paperwork.”

While her responsibilities as a Soldier have occasionally pulled her away from the sport, she asserts that the military has served as the “backbone” of her rugby experience.

Her dual journey in rugby and military service began concurrently.

“I was determined to engage in sports during college, but I had no affinity for soccer, lacked the skill for basketball, and was too slow for track,” Czaplicki explained. “I naturally possess athletic ability but had not truly discovered a sport I felt passionate enough about to dedicate myself to.”

She dabbled in rugby during high school, influenced by her parents’ collegiate rugby backgrounds, but faced discouragement due to her struggles with passing correctly. Before embarking on her college journey, her mother contacted DeRemer. Despite her limited rugby experience, DeRemer recognized her athletic talent and consented to offer her a scholarship.

“At the same time, I also wanted to serve in the Pennsylvania National Guard,” Czaplicki shared.

Although she initially intended to pursue ROTC at West Chester, her existing commitments to rugby, a job, and a full course load of 18 credits proved overwhelming. She recognized the necessity for a change.

“I came to the realization that enlisting would allow me to join the Pennsylvania Army National Guard,” she said. “Immediately after the semester concluded, I acted on that. I was fortunate enough to participate in the split-option, enabling me to balance rugby, academics, and still graduate on time.”

She credits her military service for instilling the discipline, courage, and work ethic crucial for high-level training. After enlisting, she committed herself fully. Her grades improved from Cs and Ds to a straight-A average, she increased her work hours, made no excuses, and never accepted failure. Consequently, she began to shatter school records and currently holds the titles for the most tries scored in Rugby 7’s and most tries in a single game in Rugby 15’s. She earned All-American accolades in 2019 and 2021.

It was also in 2021 that rugby transformed from merely a college pastime for Czaplicki.

“I was watching the 2021 Olympics—USA vs. China—and Kristi Kirshe scored the initial try. My immediate thought was, ‘I want to do that too,’” Czaplicki reflected. “From that moment, it was as though a switch flipped in my mind, and rugby evolved from a fun activity with friends to an all-consuming passion.”

After completing college, that obsession led her to Washington, D.C., three times weekly, as well as travel to Canada for club rugby competitions.

“I was wholly committed to this aspiration,” she recounted. “I found myself financially drained from flights and gas money trying to get exposure. I trained regardless of weather conditions, even in a foot of snow.”

Even though she was holding on to a dream that had become financially and physically taxing, she persevered simply because she felt she hadn’t yet earned the right to give up.

“The women who came before me faced even greater challenges. I understood that the obstacles I encountered, and continue to face, only serve to make my moment that much more meaningful,” Czaplicki stated. “One lesson I’ve garnered from this journey is that it’s not solely about what you achieve, but who you become along the way.”

After a year of this commitment, Team USA reached out to her.

Czaplicki traveled to Chula Vista, joined the team, applied to WCAP, and made her international debut against Spain in March 2023.

Now, she anticipates competing against teams and athletes she admires, including the renowned New Zealand Black Ferns. These are women she has always watched and would have eagerly sought autographs from until two years ago.

“I had already faced them in 15’s, which felt like a full-circle moment for me. When I was a child, my dad turned on a rugby game featuring New Zealand, showcasing their haka, and explained its meaning and significance,” Czaplicki shared. “Witnessing the last world cup champions perform their haka was an extraordinary moment and a stunning segment of my journey thus far.”

With the prospect of competing in the Olympics, she is realizing a dream many athletes aspire to. Yet she remains grounded by recalling her athletic journey prior to rugby and aspires for her story to resonate with young girls who feel sidelined in sports like soccer and basketball. Sports have the potential to transform lives, and she encourages other Soldier-athletes to explore local club rugby opportunities or the All-Army Sports program.

Czaplicki’s path has not been without difficulties. However, the backing of her fellow Soldiers and leaders in Pennsylvania has motivated her to maintain focus and provided her with a purpose to strive for.

“I would never want to disappoint them after all the extra effort they have also invested in me being here,” Czaplicki stated. “My comrades in arms do follow my journey and have consistently been incredibly supportive.

“I represent the PA Guard at every practice and competition.”