Considered a leader among her peers, the future looks bright for an Oilfields High School graduand ready to fly the coop. Sandra Unrau earned the respect of her teammates, who named her captain of the Oilfields Drillers senior girls rugby team for two consecutive years due to her unwavering support and encouragement of teammates of all levels and abilities. “I was really helpful with the new people who’ve never played before,” said Unrau when asked why she thinks she earned the captain title. “I just wanted them to do their best. I thought as soon as they started experiencing what rugby was like they would want to keep doing it and keep it alive at our school.” Unrau began playing rugby four years ago after her cousin introduced her to the sport. She’s loved it ever since. “I love the bonding and friendships that happens in rugby,” she said. “You bond with the other team as well. Off the field you talk to them just as much as you would talk to your teammates. I love the idea of going in and full-on tackling people and afterwards you get to know who they are.” As team captain, Unrau feels she offers something the coach can’t – a role model who can best relate to the players. “If they have someone their age they’re more likely to feel accepted,” she said. “I feel like because I’m around the same age as them I can talk to them how a teenager would talk to them.” Pam Pracic, who coached Unrau for two years, said the Grade 12 student stays positive while challenging her teammates and having empathy at the same time. “She encourages them by paying them compliments,” she said. “She always makes sure that even if she offers them a correction she lets them know what they did well that time.” On the field, Pracic has watched Unrau keep the girls’ spirits up. “She often gives words of encouragement whether it be a handshake or a pat on the back or recognizing those who contribute to the field and often letting other people take the spotlight even though she is a captain,” she said. The fact that Unrau’s peers selected her as captain for two consecutive years is pretty telling, Pracic said. “It says that she clearly has a great rapport with the students on the team and a great relationship with the ones that are just starting,” he said. “She definitely stands out as a leader because every player respects her decisions on and off the field and will support her.” Although Pracic allowed the senior girls rugby team to select their captain, she always had Unrau in mind as the top contender. “She embodies what I look for in a captain,” she said. “One thing that stands out is her ability to go above and beyond, even outside of rugby. It has been a pleasure coaching her these last two years. She will be sorely missed next year.” Unrau’s prowess for leadership comes naturally, and it helps having two younger sisters. “I do a lot with my sisters – help them with their school work and teach them to drive,” she said. “I’m a pretty independent person when it comes to some things but I love helping people and being involved.” With plans to take that leadership and mentoring role further, Unrau enrolled in Lethbridge College’s two-year diploma program to become a conservation officer due to her lifelong love of the outdoors. “My family has been big into hunting and trapping - we’ve been outdoors all of our lives trapping in the mountains,” she said. “I love being outside and being associated with the biology of it. I love the anatomy of the animals.” As for where Unrau would like to be stationed as a conservation officer, she can think of only one place – the Foothills. “I’ve been here all my life,” she said. “I know the area very well, and the people. I would be awesome if I could stay out here after I finish college.” On May 28, Unrau was presented with the Sportsmanship Award at the Drillers athletic night for her role in rugby.
