Metropolis Rugby Football Club

  Peter “Pedro” Wildenberg

Class of 2001

Positions: Fly-half, Center, Hooker
Years/Clubs Played: ’79-’80 Stevens Point  ’81-83 Eau Claire  ’84 Metro  ’85 Banshees ’86-92 Metro ’93-’06  Cardinals ’07-‘10
Select Sides: Played/Coached Atlantis, & Thunderbirds

Club Honors/Awards: Metro Captain 
Memorable Teams/Seasons: ’92 7’s (first National’s birth; last Metro season)  ‘86
Coaching: Stints with Metro & Metropolis;  7’s Dictator ’85-’00, ’03   Nationals in ’92, ’93, ’95, ’00, ’03  best finish ’95 (5^th)
Club/Union Administration: Union Disciplinary Chair & Treasurer in (late ‘80s/ 90’s); various club administrator positions (match secretary)
Previous to rugby: Football at Stevens Point;
How did you discover rugby: Invite at Stevens Point 18

Peter Wildenberg, known as Pedro to his mates, played the center positions for most of his 15’s career. A strong runner with quick side to side moves, Pedro was a key player for an extremely strong college side at Eau Claire RFC and for many years with Metro RFC. He coached Metropolis RFC 15’s on two separate occasions, and was the last Metropolis RFC coach to win a Division 1 match. However, Pedro’s first claim to fame is his creation, coaching and play for the Metro RFC and Metropolis RFC 7’s programs. The first tournament win for the Metro RFC 7’s squad was the 1988 Sawdust 7’s championship, beating the Quad Cities Irish side who had won the National 7’s title in 1986. Pedro then set sights on a National Club 7’s birth. Metro RFC would knock on the door for a trip to the National Club 7’s championship in 1989 and several years thereafter. The prize was finally won on the Des Moines pitch in Iowa by winning the Midwest 7’s Tournament in 1992 and representing Metro RFC for the last time as a club in the 1992 National Club 7’s Championships in Virginia where Metro RFC finished 6^th.  Pedro then led Metropolis RFC to three appearances at the National Club 7’s Championships in 1993, 1995 and 2000. The 1993 side again finished 6^th. Metropolis RFC improved to 5^th in 1995 by going 4-1, losing only to the eventual National Club 7’s champions and beating the runner-up on the way, but due to pool tiebreakers did not advance to championship play where they certainly would have finished higher. The Metropolis side in the 2000 tournament finished 7^th and marked Pedro’s retirement as Club 7’s coach. Over 50 tournament trophies mark Pedro’s 7’s career with Metro RFC and Metropolis RFC. He was first selected to represent the Midwest in 1990 for Inter-Territorial (ITT) play and did that again several times. He is the only player to have played in all 4 National Club 7’s Championships.