Western Mustangs Sports

Natascha Wesch is the spirit of the women's rugby program at Western and was the driving force behind the Mustangs earning the right to host the 2006 & 2007 national championships.

The Baie d'Urfe, Quebec native has turned the Mustangs into one of the top contenders for CIS women's rugby. Since Wesch began her tenure, the Mustangs won back to back CIS National Championships in 2004 and 2005.

Under Wesch, the Mustangs have experienced tremendous success in OUA competition. They were OUA champions in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007 and advanced to CIS Nationals winning silver in both 2008 and 2009. She won CIS Coach of the Year in 1998 and has won OUA Coach of the Year awards in 1998, 2004 and 2007.

Most recently, Wesch coached the Musatngs to a bronze medal finish at both the OUA, and CIS Championships. 

Wesch is no stranger to success on the rugby pitch. Starting her rugby career in 1991, Wesch joined the Montreal Barbarians and was elected MVP in her first year as well as the following year. In 1992, she was selected to the national rugby squad where she played for Rugby Canada until 2002. During that time, Wesch competed in four Canada Cups, two World Cups and was selected assistant captain of the squad in 1998.

Wesch's success has carried on from player to coach. She has been selected head coach of Ontario's U-17 and U-19 teams as well as Canada's U-19 team in 2000. Her experience and success led to her election to the Rugby Ontario Board of Directors as Director of Women's Rep Teams in 2002.  

Wesch has earned recognition for her excellence and commitment to the sport, the highest of which come from her own players. She was named a Women of Excellence by the YMCA for her contributions in the sport, fitness and recreation category "for her commitment to the athletic and academic development of young women through rugby." 

Updated on May 4th, 2015 by P.Bialik