From: Pittsburgh, Born & Raised
Occupation: Physical Education Teacher for Pittsburgh Public Schools. Also a Procurement specialist
Position: Lock, Prop
Played Rugby Since: 2008
Birthday: September 17
Accolades/Accomplishments: College: 3x ARU champion with the Shamrock Rugby Club. (SRU) Forwards Captain. Midwest elite 8. Mens Club – MVP Northern Virginia Rugby Club. 2x Forwards MVP Pittsburgh Rugby Club. Pittsburgh Rugby Club Captain. First Pittsburgh Forge Rugby Club Captain. Best Friends Rugby back to back Steel City 7s Champs. One time me Dirty and Kyle Franklin went to Erie and won scurvy sevens too. Oh and I Sat on the board that was able to put differences aside and create The Forge!
Previous teams: Schenley High School, Slippery Rock Shamrocks, IUP tooters, NOVA Rugby, Pittsburgh Rugby Club (RIP in peace)
Interview
Q : How did your rugby career begin?
A : I was recruited by a coach for a startup youth rugby league in Pittsburgh because I was big.
Q : What do you love about rugby?
A : Hitting people and the camaraderie.
Q : What's something you will miss about rugby?
A : The competition and the shit talking.
Q : Greatest lesson learned?
A : You only get out what you put in.
Q : How much impact has rugby had on your life?
A : Rugby has humbled me many times. Expecting to run through a guy and getting stopped short makes you think different next time and work harder in between. Also the guys make fun of me when I get too fat so that impacts the amount of cardio I do.
Q : To spread the rugby love, what would you like people to know about rugby who have never encountered the sport before?
A : Rugby will challenge you physically and mentally in ways nothing has before. For 80 minutes on Saturday you will feel like you’re in a brawl. It will hurt. For the test of the day you'll drink it off and celebrate the effort with the other team. We leave it on the field.
Q : What is your favorite personal rugby moment?
A : On the field it was at Saranac playing for the SLOBS (Slippery Rock Old Boys) the first year we entered the can-am tournament we won the social championship. In one of the games I was carrying a few guys on my back and we ran into the padded wooden post, causing it to break and fall over. Try awarded.
Q : If I had an airplane full of jellybeans and I wanted you to get them all out, but in a very sanitary way so that I could still eat them, what would you do? You have 24 hours to do this, but you have unlimited funds:
A : buy a bunch of brand large high powered vacuums and suck em out... I guess.
