Navy Rugby Alumni Association News

-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. Remember? The Might of The Chain

2) Leveraging our Capacity to Contribute. Remember? "With You"

3) Unlocking our Philanthropic Potential. 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

-February 24, 2025

-Army Navy Alumni Rugby Match 5 April 2025

Navy Rugger Old Boys played extraordinarily hard rugby over 3 twenty minute periods and came from behind in the last period to prevail over the Army Band of Brothers 33-27!! It was a fun and hard knock bloody day and many of the participants, both Army and Navy, played again in a Rooster’s (local “older gents” rugby team) rugby game following the Army-Navy contest. Great camaraderie, great fun, great food, great drink; both the Navy and Army teams gathered together under the goal posts and sang God Bless America and then the Navy team sang Navy Blue and Gold in victory. We then watched the Navy Rugby team handle Penn State ruggers handily, 45-7, on a field side big screen TV! The following day many participants assembled at Arlington National Cemetery to walk and remember fallen comrades. This game and its predecessors was the idea and effort of “Migs” Migliori, USNA ‘85, who has been working with Army players and other Navy stalwarts to hold these games whenever possible since 2018. The game was played on “Stan’s Farm” pitch, a well tended rugby field maintained and made available by rugby enthusiast, former French National team player, international rugger and current Rooster player “Stan” Vilgrain, who also provided the excellent prepared cookout food right at the pitch.

USNA Players: Marty Migliori ‘85, Tom Williams ‘85, James McNeal ‘86, Tom Kolongokowski ‘86, Tommy Monks ‘86, Carl Nerup ‘87, Matt Miggins ‘87, Ty Yanvary ‘88, Brian Cheeserman ‘89, Rob Cassady ‘89, David Thorn ‘89, Mike Roth ‘92, Chris Hayes ‘92, Jason Hedburg ‘94, Bart Randall ‘95, Dan Morris ‘95, Chris Cleary ‘96, Adam Piephorn ‘96, Dave Huren ‘98, Seth Stegmaier ‘01, Scott Randolph ‘04, Rob Miller ‘07, Tim Berger ‘08 Navy-Marine Corps additional players: Nick Piscan, Craig Hayes, Jon Jacobs, James Sisco, JD Spears

-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

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 (4/11/2025): Still need Class Captain volunteers for the following classes/teams, Thanks!:

Men's - ‘67, ‘68, ‘72, ‘73, ‘04, ‘08, ‘20, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24

Women's - ‘02, ‘05, ‘06, ‘08,‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘17, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24

Sincere Appreciation to those that have volunteered! Hoping to initiate the program soon!! BEAT ARMY!

1963-Ernest Blake 1964-Ernest Blake 1965-John Fyfe 1966-Andre Simonpietri 1967- 1968- 1969-Thomas Meteer 1970-Michael Knudsen 1971-John Cherry 1972- 1973- 1974-Rusty Kollmorgan 1975-Michael Langley 1976-Frederick Yarger 1977-Jim Bethmann 1978-John Wissler 1979-Peter Long 1980-Richard Carlquist 1981-John Burke 1981-Patrick Keller 1982-Matthew Aylward 1983-Mike Coughlin 1984-Randy King 1985-Marty Migliori 1986-JT Young 1987-Joe Buenavista 1988-Bob Strong 1989-Rob Cassady 1990-Rob Garretson 1991-Christian Bonat 1992-John Tarzon 1993-Brandon Lewis 1994-Jason Hedberg 1995-Daniel Morris 1996M-Sean Donovan 1996W- Jen Goddard 1997M-Daniel Freedman 1997W-Nikki Peoples 1998M-John Maguire 1998W-Ashley Sullivan 1999M-Pat O'Mahoney 1999W-Sarah Jansen 2000M-Devin Smiley 2000W-Lindsay Hawkins 2001M-Seth Stegmaier 2001W-Kathy Borkoski 2002M-Rob Stimis 2002W- 2003M-Ryan Curry 2003W-Aileen Kenney 2004M- 2004W-Bridget Seymour 2005M-Nick Ralston 2005W- 2006M-Mac Marrone 2006W- 2007M-Lindsay Blake 2007W-Catherine Long 2008M- 2008W-Sasha Frankhouser 2009M-Patrick Wheatley 2009W-Marianne Carlson 2010M-Kyle Millerd 2010W-Danielle Cicuto 2011M-Sean Rohrs 2011W-Jennifer Sandifer 2012M-Michael Bressler 2012W- 2013M-Matthew Kelley 2013W 2014M-Broderick Neel-Feller 2014W- 2015M-John McAuliffe 2015W-Hailey Brunette 2016M-Henry Dewing 2016W-Samantha Casey 2017M-Jake Martin 2017W- 2018M-Gardy Lebon 2018 M-Ben Johnston 2018W-Liz Pitman 2019M-Cole Euverard 2019W-Sidney Knipple 2020M- 2020W-Robyn Roper 2021M-Dallas Elliston 2021W- Kayla Ann Eshleman 2022M- 2022W- 2023M- 2023W- 2024M- 2024W-

-A great 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!

-2025 Navy Rugby Hall of Fame Nominations: We're getting a head start for the 2025 HoF process. It is never too early to nominate a well deserving teammate, coach, supporter, team or fallen teammate for the 2025 HOF Class. The nomination window is officially open until 31 May 2025.

Email your nomination form by clicking here

If you are interested in being involved with the HOF committee, please reach out to me individually here or find me on Linked-In. Thanks for your time. Cheers,

Rob Sinram '97

NRAA HOF Chairman 

The Hall of Fame page on this website also has links giving the criteria and forms to submit candidates!!

Thank you to all who helped make the 2024 "With You" and HOF Induction Ceremony another great event. It was an absolute privilege to induct the well deserving 2024 HOF Class. NRAA wanted to share links to HOF Ceremony video and pictures from the night.  

Video: Navy Rugby Alumni Ceremony

Pictures: http://www.enjoyphotos.com/

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