University of Michigan Rugby Football Club

University of Michigan
Full nameUniversity of Michigan Rugby Football Club
UnionNational Collegiate Rugby
Nickname(s)Wolverines
Founded1959; 65 years ago (1959)
LocationAnn Arbor, Michigan
Ground(s)Mitchell Field [1]
PresidentRyan Grover
Coach(es)Christian Mentzer
Captain(s)Tommy Hendricks
League(s)Big 10
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.mrugby.com

The University of Michigan Rugby Football Club (UMRFC) is a rugby union club at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The UMRFC currently plays in the Big Ten conference at the D1A level, the highest level of collegiate play under National Collegiate Rugby.

The Wolverines largely rely on talent drawn from within the United States; however, foreign students will often add valuable contributions while studying abroad in Ann Arbor. Many players join with little or no previous experience in rugby. Despite this, the UMRFC has won a number of championships and produced several athletes that have gone on to play rugby at a professional level.

According to their Player Handbook, UMRFC's mission is "to develop upstanding student athletes and men through the sport of Rugby. To play the game with inspiration, cultivate a close knit family within the club, and promote commitment, discipline, and respect on and off of the field."[2] Reinforcing these values, the Wolverine's work a variety of community service and charity events.

History

The team began as the Michigan Rugby Football Club, founded in 1959. The club was composed of U of M undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and alumni as well as Ann Arbor community members, maintaining this composition for 40 years. In January 2000, the University of Michigan Rugby Football Club was formed and restricted to current undergraduate (and in some cases, graduate) students at U of M.

Club honors

  • Collegiate Rugby Championship Quarterfinalists: 2014, 2015
  • Midwest championship and National Quarter-Finalist: 2007-2008
  • Midwest Championship and National Semi-Finalist: 2004-2005
  • Senior Men National Championship: 1995
  • National Third Place: 1980

Results

Full results since 1959

See the current schedule at the team's official website.

  Big Ten Championship
  Non-conference
Fall 2023 Schedule/Results
Date Opponent Result Location
8/25/23 Cincinnati W 61-5 Cincinnati, OH
9/1/23 Bowling Green L 10-35 Ann Arbor, MI
9/15/23 Ohio State L 10-24 Ann Arbor, MI
9/23/23 Maryland L 19-31 Ann Arbor, MI
9/30/23 Rio Grande W 28-14 Ann Arbor, MI
10/7/23 Notre Dame W 19-17 Ann Arbor, MI
10/20/23 Michigan State Lansing, MI
10/27/23 Trine Angola, IN
11/4/21 Big Ten Semis TBD
11/13/21 Big Ten Finals South Bend, IN

Past and current captains and presidents

Season Captain Assistant Captain
Fall 2023 Tommy Hendricks Shea Loughnane/Armen Vartanian
Winter 2023 George Janke
Fall 2022 Braden Loughnane/George Janke
Winter 2022 Braden Loughnane/George Janke
Fall 2021 Carter Lyon Nathan Feldman
Winter 2020 Jack Vecchio Luke Boll
Fall 2020 Jack Vecchio Jordan Perez
2019–2020 Tanner Visco Davis Grimm
2018–2019 Jamie Demers Tanner Visco
2017–2018 Justin Malin Ron Marine
2016–2017 Jeremy Reid Zach Burns
2015–2016 Zach Burns Cole Van Harn
2014–2015 Joel Conzelmann Sequoyah Burke-Combs
2013–2014 Kenny Andutan Chris Padmos
2012–2013 Michael Lacivita Grady Bridges
2011–2012 James Wilber Matthew Crabtree
2010–2011 Charles Berklich James Wilber
2009–2010 Charles Berklich James Wilber
2008–2009 Aaron Dodd Max Mikulec
2007–2008 Aaron Dodd Jake Leederkerken
2006–2007 Karl Seibert Nick Harris/Dan Kuriluk
2005–2006 Matt Trenary Josh Rubin
2004–2005 Andrew Finn Wes Farrow
2003–2004 Craig Williams
2002–2003 Andrew Marcus Craig Williams
2001–2002 Mike Livanos Andrew Marcus
2000–2001 Mike Livanos Andrew Marcus
1999–2000 Ryan Gaylor
1998–1999 Scott Salamango
1997–1998 Scott Salamango
1996–1997 Scott Salamango
1995–1996 Mike Springs
Year President Vice President
2023 James Willcox Timothy Zamarro
2022 Thomas Hendricks Luke Boll
2021 George Janke Braden Loughnane
2020 Jacob Bodner Nick Campbell
2019 Mahmoud El-Naggar Jacob Bodner
2018 Lyric Kleber Jamie Demers
2017 Nate Fisher Justin Malin
2016 Matt Kasten Travis Sawyer
2015 Chening Duker Jackson Wagner
2014 Jared Bosma John Palladino
2013 Ian Etheart CJ Stock
2012 Ian Etheart Karl Boothman
2011 Andrew Swain Michael Lacivita
2010 Oluwatobi Eboda Andrew Swain
2009 Niall O'Kane Matthew Crabtree
2008 Jake Leederkerken Kevin Owens
2007 Eddie Schehr Evan Barclay
2006 Evan Barclay
2005 Brent Barna Matt Russell
2004 Aaron Aragona Josh Rubin
2003 Kurt Sarsfield
2002 Kevin Barlow Wes Farrow
2001 Mike Cavnar Wes Farrow
2000 Aaron Bennett Mike Cavnar
1999 Aaron Bennett Ryan Gaylor
1998 Aaron Bennett Michael Olzevski
1997 Mike Springs Aaron Bennett
1996 Mike Springs
1995 Mike Springs

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ "Mitchell Field". Mitchell Field.
  2. ^ "Current UMRFC Player Handbook". Google Docs.

External links

  • Official website
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