NAVY RUGBY FIRST CLASS (2025) SERVICE SELECTION
YOHAN AFEWERKI SURFACE WARFARE
SHAWN BERRIOS SUBMARINE WARFARE
ILLYSSA BIAS SURFACE WARFARE
MARGARET GEIGER NAVY AIR
LILLY GEMMA USMC GROUND
KAYLA GIBBONS SURFACE WARFARE
KALELE HAKES SURFACE WARFARE
BIANKA HARRIS SURFACE WARFARE
MIRACLE HAYNES SUBMARINE WARFARE
RYAN HOTALING USMC GROUND
KAT KADIMA USMC GROUND
MICHAEL KALALAU USMC GROUND
BELLA MARCHI-SETYAN SURFACE WARFARE
JESSICA MCKENZIE SURFACE WARFARE
GRACE OLIVER SUBMARINE WARFARE
DONALD POBANZ SURFACE WARFARE
MYLA ROMERO SUBMARINE WARFARE
-CHANGES to the NRAA Class Representative Program: (formerly Hookers, now Captains)
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!
Greetings All - Rick "Pokey" Keller, class of 81' sending this as the new volunteer coordinating our Class Captain efforts as we look to take the next steps toward continued Navy Rugby Excellence. I am reaching out to men and women Navy Rugby Alumni asking for volunteers to act as the "Class Captain" for your class. We are looking for someone in each class to help rekindle the enthusiasm we all had as classmates/teammates and use that to get behind our current Navy Rugby programs. As the Class Captain you will be a conduit to your classmates amplifying messaging, helping ensure that we have as complete a roster of alumni as possible, and tailoring information to your class and their particular situations among other things. Prior to the program going on hiatus there were periodic Zoom calls to discuss various topics, hear from Coach Gavin Hickey, Etc.. I will have more information later but for now we need a volunteer from each of the classes represented by those of you addressed in this email. Volunteer one and all - I will sort it with you if I get more than one volunteer - don't hesitate just reply all and tell me your in! Contact me direct with questions if needed: pokey.keller@gmail.com / 256-558-0235
With you and VR, Pokey ‘81
UPDATE (1/15/2025): Still need Class Captain volunteers for the following classes/teams, Thanks!:
Men's - ‘67, ‘68, ‘72, ‘73, ‘77, ‘78, ‘85, ‘01, ‘02, ‘04, ‘05, ‘08, ‘11, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23
Women's - ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, ‘00, ‘01, ‘02, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10, ‘11, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘17, ‘18, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23
-Navy Men’s Rugby Spring (2025) Schedule:
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Director of rugby Gavin Hickie announced the 2025 men's rugby spring schedule.
Navy's road to its third-straight national title appearance begins when it welcomes California on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 12 noon ET. It will be the fourth meeting between the two programs with the Mids holding a 2-1 lead in the series. Last year's meeting in Berkley, Calif., the Golden Bears handed Navy its first loss of the season by a score of 47-24.
The Midshipmen will spend the remainder of the regular season on the road. Navy will visit Penn State on Saturday, March 1 at 1 p.m. in University Park, Pa. The two teams met during the fall season in September where the Mids posted a second half shutout en route to a 35-10 victory.
Navy will have a week off before shifting focus to Mount St. Mary's on the road on Saturday, March 15 with kickoff set for 12 noon. In the most recent outing in Annapolis last August, the Midshipmen displayed an all-around performance defeating the Mountaineer's, 36-8.
The spring regular season will conclude with a trip to Fredericksburg, Va., to battle the University of Mary Washington on Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m. It will be the first match between the two programs at the varsity level.
Round one of the DI-A National Championship Playoffs is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The quarterfinals are scheduled a week later on April 12, followed by the semifinals on April 19. The national championship will be held on May 3 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Feb 22 California Annapolis MD 1200
Mar 1 Penn State University Park PA 1300
Mar 15 Mount St Mary’s (MD) Emmitsburg MD 1200
Mar 22 Mary Washington Fredricksburg VA 1400
-Navy Men’s Rugby finished the fall season 10-1 winning their 3rd straight CRAA Rugby East Conference title and are #2 in the CRAA D1A rankings. 8 Navy Ruggers were selected to the Rugby East All Conference team: 4 on the First 15, 2 on the Second 15, and 2 honorable mention.
-An unofficial ranking of all Div 1 collegiate rugby teams is conducted on the RugbyHawk website maintained by two long time rugby enthusiasts. They utilize the computer algorithm for competitive sports developed by Arpad Elo (a Hungarian-American physicist) and chess enthusiast. The EloRugby (EloR) algorithm was developed for international rugby rankings and is now utilized by RugbyHawk at the collegiate level!
Division 1 College Rugby Rankings
All information as of 4:18 AM on Jan 10, 2025 UTC
Rank Team W-L-T EloPWR1
1 Navy 10-1-0 22571772
2 Brown 11-0-0 22061763
3 Life 7-1-0 21981764
4 St. Mary's 2-1-0 22541755
5 Lindenwood 7-0-0 21761746
6 Kentucky 10-0-0 20991737
7 California 1-0-0 20621728
8 Army 8-1-0 20301719
9 BYU 5-1-0 201317010
10 Mount St. Mary's 7-3-0 19861680
-Another unofficial collegiate rugby ranking occurs in the Goff Rugby Report, a long standing, source of all things rugby across the United States, maintained by Alex Goff. He gives some rationale behind his rankings but generally it is based upon his extensive experience with the game over the years.
Dec 10, 2024: 1) Life University, Rugby East 2) Navy, Rugby East 3) Saint Mary's, California 4) Lindenwood, Midwest 5) BYU, Rocky Mountain 6) Cal, PAC 7) Mount St. Mary's, Rugby East 8) Army, Rugby East 9) Central Washington, Independent 10) UCLA, PAC 11) Arkansas State, Midwest 12) Penn State, Rugby East 13) Arizona, PAC 14) Mary Washington, Rugby East 15) Adrian, Midwest 16) Davenport, Midwest 17) Colorado State, Rocky Mountain 18) Air Force, Rocky Mountain 19) Ohio State, Big 10 20) Grand Canyon, Independent 21) Cal Poly, California 22) Colorado, Rocky Mountain 23) CSULB, California 24) McKendree, Midwest 24) Illinois, Big 10
-Navy Women’s Rugby finished the fall season with a hard fought 5-5 record.
Pack the Prusmack this spring!!
(Go to our website Links page and select Navy Sports for the latest information on Men’s and Women’s Navy Rugby schedules, rosters and news!! Go Navy Ruggers!)
-A Great NORCAL Rugby podcast interview with Coach Gavin Hickie, Director of Navy Rugby, covering rugby life at Navy, the legacy of the program, training techniques, and the road ahead!
-NRAA Legacy Leaders: This is the first salvo of many that we hope will build a connection with our scholar warriors headed to the FLEET. Dennis Volpe ('96), Executive Performance and Transition Coach, Severn River Leadership Group, LLC, a rugger skilled in the art of executive coaching and professional development, has volunteered to lead our Legacy Leaders Program. As you may recall, we've recently established this program as a vehicle to (1) Create and sustain a connection with graduating Firsties and rising Midn to mentor and develop our rising leaders; and (2) Connect Alumni to Alumni for professional support, mentoring, and networking. Jack McAuliffe ('15) will be assisting Dennis in this endeavor. The initial moves you'll soon hear will relate to our Class of 2025 service selectees and how we'll do more to connect with them ahead of joining the FLEET.
With you & Vr, Pat O'Mahoney, '99, NRAA President
Trajectory Bending Moves
Ruggers past and present,
Since the formation of NRAA, I have been especially grateful to contribute to the development of our Alumni Association and our Navy Rugby program. I am beyond humbled by the opportunity to be your President and build on the exceptional progress we've made thus far. Further, we are anxious to see what we can do with strong numbers and more involvement. To that end, with the authority, responsibility, and accountability that comes with leading this team, we will endeavor to make you proud. More specifically, we will be laser focused on 3 strategic interests:
1
Building our Alumni Membership and Network.
At present we have approximately 2300 contacts in our database. We can do better, and each of us is responsible for spreading the word and connecting our vast network of Navy Rugby graduates to one another. Expect more from us, and we will for sure expect more from you.
Remember? The Might of The Chain...
2
Leveraging our Capacity to Contribute.
Many of you sitting here at one time or another have held the belief that you cannot give "much" or one day when your pockets are deep, you'll be able to make a real difference. Perhaps that is true, but what you need to know is that--while single, large gifts are critical--monthly giving in small amounts is essential and a force multiplier; $50, $100, $150 per month is frankly where we generate sustainable momentum. The redemptive nature of giving is immeasurable. Giving comes in many forms: your resources, access, time, or talent. Whatever it is, give.
Remember? "With You"...
3
Unlocking our Philanthropic Potential.
When we give, we're not just giving to build new things. We're investing in our tribe, a community of Navy ruggers whose shared beliefs and values were formed together, in battle -- at Hospital Point and on Ernie Blake field in the seasons of life. Our alumni base is a collection many professionals who have built success on the foundation of our shared Navy Rugby experience...all whose talents and resources can support our fellow ruggers. The access to opportunity that our alumni group possesses needs to be unapologetically leveraged.
Remember? Strength in Numbers...
All of us are stronger than one of us.
To these endeavors we commit ourselves, and by doing so, we commit ourselves to the men and women of Navy Rugby...yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
With you & Vr,
Pat O'Mahoney, '99
NRAA President
Navy Rugby National Powers
(Reference: Wikipedia- “College Rugby in the United States”; “National Collegiate Rugby Championship” )
Men’s National Invitational Tournament (1972-1979) : 1972 2nd; 1979 2nd
Men’s USA Rugby D1A National Collegiate Championship Tournament (4 team final bracket) : 1980 4th; 1983 3rd; 1994 2nd; 1996 4th; 1998 3rd; 1999 3rd; 2001 3rd; 2004 3rd; 2005 3rd; 2007 3rd; 2023 1st; 2024 2nd
Women’s USA Rugby Div 1 Club National Collegiate Championship Tournament: 2019 (fall) 2nd; 2022 (fall) 1st ; 2023 (fall) 1st
This is now the Navy Rugby Alumni Association website.
Rugby players interested in attending the Naval Academy and playing varsity rugby, please visit the Naval Academy Athletics websites below for detailed team, schedule and recruit information.
THANK YOU TO OUR VARSITY PROGRAM DONORS!
In special recognition of those donors who supported the final varsity rugby campaign between August 1st, 2021 and March 15th, 2022. Click the DONOR button to view the individuals that supported this effort.