Coaches Corner November 2020
Everyone has been hard at work over the past month. We have hosted Army men and women, had a very productive parents group call, launched our online stores and practiced each day while facing the daily challenges of navigating the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. While the results against Army were not what we had planned for, I can say we have learned many lessons and we are better teams today than we were a month ago. Despite the defeats, we are fortunate to have been able to practice this Fall and both our men’s and women’s teams have made great strides over the past few months. We will carry these lessons into the Spring.
I want to thank everyone for the calls, emails and messages of support throughout the Fall. Your ongoing support of Navy Rugby means the world to us and we hope everyone stays safe and can join us in Annapolis for what we hope will be a hectic Spring season, including hosting Army again.
There is a lot of information in this newsletter, so please enjoy and feel free to reach out anytime! From all of us at Navy Rugby, we want to wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Gavin
Army Review
Our men’s and women’s team lost to Army by the scores of 39-13 and 39-0 respectively on November 14th in Annapolis. While our women’s team closed the gap on our previous defeat to Army, our men’s team did not perform as we expected.
Speaking on our women’s performance, Coach McCarthy said, “All things considered the ladies have turned lemons into lemonade this Fall. Training constraints have been necessary and altered our plan starting with the integration of our new Plebe class. Normally the coaching staff gets up to a dozen sessions with the Plebes before the Brigade returns. This summer we were limited to a handful of zoom calls. We were limited to keeping the team in pods the first month after a delay following reform and the team leadership (Class of 2021) stepped up and the development of the Plebes and new players has been fun to watch.”
Our women defended valiantly for large parts of the game. Navy women had the respect of Army who acknowledged our resolute defending by opting for shots at goal as opposed to kicking into the corner off penalties.
On the men’s side, why did we lose? From our in-depth analysis of the games, I have formulated these answers. Some things are in our control, while others are not. Throughout the men’s game, we were physically dominated in almost all of the collisions. Of the 111 tackles made by Army, 16 were dominant tackles, while we had none. On top of this, missing touch from a penalty, a knock-on in a crucial moment and a sloppy infringement, giving away a penalty to Army, all cost us dearly. As did our failed attempt to score a try from five meters out, along with a failed catch under our posts which gave Army a five meter scrum, from which they capitalized. I would say we handed Army 29 points while they had to work for 10 points. It is a bitter pill to swallow but we have learned our lessons, the hard way. We simply cannot give good teams significant head starts on the scoreboard and expect to claw back the win.
Out of our control is Army’s ability to recruit heavily for their men’s and women’s varsity teams. As a result of this, Army men’s team had 5 plebes on their team, while we had one on our bench. It takes time to teach new players the game of rugby.
It was also very apparent that Army’s men and women ruggers are utilizing their varsity status and lifting in the gym a lot. Speaking post game with Coach Sherman of Army, he informed me that during the season his players are in the gym 3-4 times per week and 5-6 times per week during the off season. It showed. With 33 varsity sports ahead of us, all vying for lifting times, we have not been able to secure any team lifts this Fall. While the pandemic has not helped, space and time works against us as a non-varsity sport. As part of Army’s strength and conditioning program, all players wear GPS units. These are the same units professional rugby players wear during practice and games. These small GPS monitors collect data on each athlete’s output based on distances run, stress load, fatigue and other metrics, allowing for accurate assessments of training volume and injury prevention.
Coach McCarthy added, “as most Navy Rugby fans know, Army has been a varsity program for some time now and always fields a strong side and this year is no different. Having your first match against arguably the best team you might face all year with all the constraints we have faced was a daunting task. The girls stepped up played as hard leading up to the final whistle as they did the opening minutes. We had two girls play in their first match and others playing new positions, it was a “trial by fire” and I am proud the way the girls fought. The Commandant of Midshipmen, CAPT T.R. Buchanan, requested to address the team after the match and he remarked on the pride he had the way the team fought regardless of the outcome. We are excited about the work ahead and look forward to playing them again this Spring!”
As painful as it is to lose to Army, we own these defeats and have been working hard to improve. What we do desperately need to continue to compete with the top varsity programs in the country is access to rugby recruits and access to team lifts.
USNA Leadership Suspends all Organized Athletic Activities
On Wednesday November 11th, the entire Brigade was put into a minimum 7-day quarantine and most teams were informed of the decision to suspend all activities. The news comes amid a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases within the Brigade. The only teams allowed to continue with practice are football, basketball, swimming and rifle. One casualty of this suspension was our return games at West Point on November 14th. Teams will be notified of when they can return to practice but must once again follow the resocialization protocols, commencing in small pods for a few weeks, before slowly building back up to full practice.
Speaking on the suspension of athletics, Director of Rugby, Gavin Hickie said “we are obviously very disappointed not travel to West Point this weekend and to cease all rugby activities but these measures have been taken with the well-being of the Brigade in mind. We have been fortunate to practice consistently this Fall and have been closely monitoring Covid cases within our rugby teams. We have been dilligent in following all the safety protocols laid out by our athletic trainer, Emily Teson. Credit must go to Emily for keeping us safe and ensuring we have been able to maintain our practices this Fall. We will be back in action as soon as we are given the green light to return to rugby.”
Navy Rugby Hall of Fame Coach, Mike Flanagan Steps Back into the Action
Mike Flanagan, Head Coach of Navy Men’s Rugby for 27 years, came back to help coach the Midshipmen’s scrum on Saturday November 7th 2020. Coach Flanagan is a USNA Rugby Hall of Fame Coach, who led the program from 1991 - 2017, before retiring and suggesting Coach Hickie to the Naval Academy Athletic Association. Leading a two hour scrum clinic, alongside Navy Rugby Scrum Coach, Karl King, Coach Flanagan worked the Mids hard throughout the clinic. Speaking of his recent work with the Midshipmen, Coach Flanagan said, “it’s always been a pleasure to be on green grass teaching rugby scrummaging to motivated, committed athletes. The young men and women at the Naval Academy embody that. Thanks to Coach Hickie and Coach King for the invite. I hope it helped!”
Navy Rugby High School Zoom Call
Director of Rugby, Gavin Hickie and Women’s Head Coach, “Murph” McCarthy will be hosting a live zoom call on Saturday December 5th at 1300 EST. The call is aimed at high school rugby players who want to learn more about the Naval Academy and Navy Rugby. The prospective Midshipmen will be guided through the admissions process, learn about life at the Naval Academy, and have the opportunity to ask questions.
Speaking about the zoom call, Director Hickie said, “we want to give all high school ruggers who wish to attend the Naval Academy an opportunity to speak with us directly. We want to get to know you and we want to help guide you through the admissions process, while also providing you with a deep insight into Navy Rugby. We are excited to meet everyone virtually on December 5th!”
To receive your email invitation for the zoom call, please ensure you have completed and submitted our rugby recruit for HERE.
Coach / Gunnery Sergeant Richard Merryman
Gunny Merryman joined the team in 2018 and has made a significant impact on the Midshipmen.
Richard Merryman was born in Washington, D.C. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 17 January 2006 and graduated recruit training as a Private with Company D, aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, SC. Upon graduation from recruit training, Private (Pvt) Merryman attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, NC. On 2 May 2006. Pvt Merryman was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class (PFC). PFC Merryman was transferred to Naval Air Station Meridian, MS to attend his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) school where he was designated as an Aircraft Maintenance Marine, MOS 6046.
In January 2013 Sgt Merryman reported to Drill Instructor School Class 2-13 in MCRD in San Diego, CA. Upon graduation, Sgt Merryman was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment. Sgt Merryman completed 6 recruit training cycles as a green belt Drill Instructor, two cycles as a Senior Drill Instructor, one cycle as a Chief Drill Instructor and served as the 1st Battalion Drill Master for his final four months on tour.
Sgt Merryman was promoted to Staff Sergeant (SSgt) from the below zone on March 4th 2014 and went to Staff Non-Commissioned Academy. In June 2016, SSgt Merryman received orders to 1st Tank Battalion in Twentynine Palms, Ca.
SSgt Merryman served as Platoon Sergeant and deployed on the 11th MEU in August of 2016. Upon his return, SSgt Merryman was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) in December of 2017 and held the billets of Platoon Commander, Company Tank Leader and Company 1st Sergeant all while holding the billet of a Platoon Sergeant. GySgt Merryman submitted to be an Assistant Marine Officer Instructor (AMOI). In May 2018, GySgt Merryman received orders to the United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD as an AMOI. GySgt Merryman currently serves as the 22nd Company Senior Enlisted Leader.
GySgt Merryman’s personal decorations include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (fourth award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal (third award), and the Navy and Marine Commendation Medal.
GySgt Merryman is married to Michelle Merryman of Springfield, VA and they have four children, Josie, Joey, Brooklynn and Dominick. He is currently studying the NASM Certification (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and is due to complete the course in early 2021.
Speaking about Navy Rugby:
“I have been around the game of rugby since I was 13 years old. Coming into the Marine Corps I never thought I would have the chance to be around the game again. Getting orders to the Naval Academy has been the best thing that has happened in my career. It gave me the chance to be around Navy Rugby and the game I love as well as becoming the first ever Enlisted member of the team. More importantly, the Naval Academy has given me the chance to mentor and develop future officers and to create better men and woman. I am eternally grateful to Director Hickie and to the Navy Rugby program, it has made me a better leader and man ,as well as giving Michelle and I a place we want to retire and call home.”
Men’s and Women’s Stores Now Open
Our men’s Elegant Violence Clothing Store is currently open and active. We typically raise $15,000 from the sales of these teeshirts throughout the Brigade, which goes towards the annual operating expenses of the team. This year, we are doing things a little differently with the store completely online. We have more products than usual and sales are going well, but we are hoping for a big push before Christmas. Unlike previous years, our Elegant Violence Store will remain open year round but orders must be submitted by Sunday, December 13th to guarantee delivery ahead of Christmas. The link for the store can be found here: Elegant Violence Store
Our women’s team has launched our online store through Kampus Klothes. We receive 10% from each item sold and the store remains open until Monday, November 16th. Orders received by November 16th will arrive before Christmas. The link for our women’s store can be found here: Women’s Rugby Store
Meet the Mids
This month we feature two more 1/C ruggers who came to the Naval Academy without ever playing the sport previously. MIDN Nicole August hails from Las Vegas while MIDN Peyton Long was recruited to play football but found his way to Navy Rugby.
Read their profiles here: Meet the Mids
Varsity Status Update
As we know, Army men’s and women’s teams are varsity. Among the top varsity teams in the country are, Arizona, Cal, Life, Lindenwood, Davenport, Dartmouth women, Harvard women, Central Washington, Mt St Mary’s, Southern Virginia, Queens University, Kutztown and many others. This list is growing all the time which is fantastic for rugby.
We have been set a target of $6M by our Athletic Director, Mr Gladchuk to achieve varsity status. We still need over $5M to reach this goal.
Air Force has been set a target of $10M to gain varsity status. They currently have $3M secured.
With You,
Gavin
