yeah, older US was strictly Classic and Classic was one of those servers that didn't really have a hardcore sparring community
people hung out at level14.graal rather than a spar arena (UN) or an events house (Babylon), etc.

Classic was more centered around it's close-knit community, PKing, and events, so I guess there was just never a need for US to have some beastly sparring presence, although they did have people like Trip, Deo, Clel (I think?), but my memory is way too clouded about Graal times to remember if they were in US even pre-Rufus
US vs. VV at Babord fort, I'll take that over sitting in TC spar any day

it just makes sense that when Classic was dying and everyone moved to UN that sparrers would be who US should recruit
not like anyone wants to recruit those plebs like Unique, Jigga, and whoever else plays that toilet server anyway