GHS RUGBY CLUB HISTORY

Friday, May 2, 1986 dawned as a cool spring day with a crisp blue sky and biting breeze. It would end with Greenwich High School athletes completing the first match for Greenwich Rugby. The match was played on Randall's Island in full view of New York City. The Greenwich side, 19 players strong with one month's practice and only three players who had ever played a game before, lost to a powerful and experienced Fordham Prep side, 18-13.

The match marked a beginning and an end. It was the end of a period of organization. It was the beginning of Greenwich Rugby and a tradition of sportsmanship and championship play that continues to date.

Greenwich Rugby began when Rodney van Zyl, a South African who captained the forwards in that first match, and Barry Lyons, an Irishman who captained the backs, approached Terry Lowe about forming a Rugby Club. Terry, a nationally recognized teacher of the year, was also the coordinator of student activities at GHS and guided Rodney and Barry through the steps necessary for the formation of a club sport. Terry was instrumental to the success of the club in its early years and without his guidance the team would probably never have made it through their first season.

The selection of team colors and name were addressed with dispatch. GHS teams were known as The Cardinals, an American songbird of red plumage that is common to Greenwich. School colors are red and white. The Ruggers, all students of GHS and playing as such, were mindful of the less than enthusiastic support they had received from the school's athletic department bureaucracy. Further, they received no financial support, uniforms, etc. from the school and were not recognized as a school team. As a result, the founding members of Greenwich Rugby Football Club selected powder blue and white striped jerseys and chose "Big Blue" as the team name.

1987 marked a major expansion in the club's scope and fortune. Steve Nocka, a recent Colgate graduate was hired as a teacher at Western Junior High School in Greenwich. Steve played in the backs on his college Rugby club.  He was quickly recruited by the team to be their full time coach.  Steve Nocka coached the team through the 1990 season.

Mike Hochschild also entered the Greenwich Rugby picture in 1987. Mike was an immigrant from South Africa and a member of a distinguished South African family. Mike is a life long Rugby player and fan. Mike did not have a son at GHS and was not even then a resident of Greenwich, however he took the club under his wing. As a volunteer, he generously gave of his time to help coach the team. Mike recruited other Rugby players to assist the Greenwich club, thereby enforcing the tradition of volunteer help that continues to date.

Coach Nocka and Coach Hochschild helped develop the team into a force in the New England Union and won its first New England title in 1989. Equally important in the tradition of rugby players and the camaraderie they share, the team ventured on its first tour and stayed at other player's homes in England and Wales. Though no wins were collected overseas, the players shared experiences and memories that would last a lifetime. As the success and recognition grew, the team solicited to be a varsity sport. In 1990, the "Big Blue" turned in their blue jerseys for black and red jerseys and "Big Red" was recognized and supported as a varsity sport.

The previous history was provided by our former club historian, parent and rugby convert, Spencer Schedler.  The following history is by present coach, Steve Lapham. 

In 1991, I took over as Head Coach. With a teaching background and college rugby experience, I was thrilled to find out that Greenwich High had a rugby team and was in need of a coach. That was fourteen years ago, and I am proud to highlight with you the team's experiences and successes.  The team's captains were Brian Quigley and Doug Fainelli.  The team responded well to their new coach and we lost a heartbreaker in the final at New Englands.

Volunteering their time and rugby knowledge with me was Michael Thomas and Robert Ingalls. Coach Thomas helped organize a tour to England and Wales again in 1992, where we stayed with the previous hosts- from the touring side of 1989- Abercarn RFC of South Wales.  Young Will Thomas (son of Coach Thomas) along with Andrew Herriott, led us through three hard matches in England and one in Wales.  The incredible experience of the tour helped the squad improve and culminated with a tough battle in the New England final, placing fourth in the Eastern Championships.  New to the coaching staff was a fellow college and men's side teammate of mine, Sal Augeri.  The team thrived with over sixty members.

The following year, 1993 saw Greenwich pack their bags again as we traveled to three stops in Northern California. We captured the Redwood Invitational tournament on the first day of our tour. The experience of a very successful tour (posting a 4-1 record) gave the Cardinals the confidence to redeem themselves by winning the New England title. Though losing in the first round of Easterns, Greenwich was becoming a common name at championships and finished an impressive 14-5-1 season.  Captain Timm Nielsen and field captain Per Heilmann helped raise the bar on our level of play.  Joining the volunteer coaching staff was other teammate of mine, John Dowling. 

1994 would serve up the Cardinals some humble pie as many seniors departed.  Captain Fred Delmhorst led us through to the New England semis, but the team finished 5-6-1, something the Cardinals were unaccustomed to. 

In 1995, another volunteer joined the coaching staff, Fiore Screnci. Coach Screnci played competitive rugby in Italy; so in 1995, we said "arriva derci" Greenwich and traveled and competed in Rome, Florence and Venice.  Captains Dan Ehret and Dave Peterson took their blessing from the Pope and helped us tie Xavier for the first time and capture the New England title. 

In 1996 we had the pleasure to reciprocate the hospitality by hosting our friends from Abercarn, Wales. Due to a new administrator that tried to change our schedule after it had been set, which would have resulted in a less competitive schedule, the team was denied the right to compete in the New England tournament. With the exception of this year and this administrator, the tournament has always been an open tournament for all teams.  David Applegate was our skipper.
We suffered a great loss when Michael Thomas passed away. In his honor, we began the Michael Thomas Award that is given to the player that carries himself as a true gentleman off the field, while playing tenacious rugby on the field.

1997 brought back a team rich with experience and eager to get back to it's winning ways. The Cardinals rucked over the competition at New Englands winning the title and outscoring their opponents 118-7. The team responded with history as they went to the finals of the East Coast Championships and losing a heartbreaker to Xavier, NY by 3 points. Second in the East meant pack your bags, we're off to the Nationals at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. After three nail biting losses in a row, the Cardinals placed 11th in the country winning their last match.  Captain Todd Nightingale helped us set many Firsts- first time the A and B side won New Englands, first time to the Eastern final, and the first time competing at the USA Rugby National championships.

1998 was supposed to be a rebuilding year, as 20 seniors graduated. We "rebuilt" by capturing our fifth New England title and another Eastern championship appearance.  This time it was Donnie Matturro and Joe Petrone leading the way.   Volunteer assistant coaches included a former White Plains RFC standout, Joe Kelly and a 1991 alum, Lenny Siriwardene.  Individual history was made as our captain, Joe Petrone, was named to the Under-19 All-American team and toured New Zealand in the summer representing our team and country.

In 1999, Greenwich reached the pinnacle of its success. We put on our Number 1's (Sport Coats, Khakis and team ties) and toured Ireland and Wales. Stealing a little "Luck of the Irish", we captured our first European tour victory by knocking off Garryowen RFC of Limerick, Ireland. Our team went on to win its sixth New England title (fourth in a row) and again placed second at the East Coast Championships. This time was very different at BYU in Utah, for which we won the first three nail biters and went on to play in the National final. Greenwich Rugby placed second in the nation.  Captains Brandon Margolis and Rich Nightingale led the team out onto the pitch for the national final as the bagpipes played in front of a packed stadium.  Rich Nightingale set our single season try record that year with 25 tries and shattered the career try total with 42 tries.  First year senior Liam Patrick also made the record book scoring a single season high 164 points.  Coach Bob Ingalls retired in 1999. It was only fitting that the team could reach its highest level and give thanks for the nine years of volunteer service from Coach Bob.

The new millennium was another packed season including nineteen matches, twelve of those victorious.  Old friends and previous hosts on earlier tours of ours came to stay at Greenwich as Risca RFC of South Wales and Del Campo Cougars RFC of Sacramento, CA. stayed in our houses and enjoyed a friendly match with us.  Though we beat the Welsh in a close test match, the western Sacramento boys gave us a friendly beating.  The Cherry Blossom was snowed out in the middle of a 19-7 lead over Xavier, but our record gave us a high seed at the Easterns.  Placing third at Easterns meant another trip to the mountains of Provo, Utah at BYU for the National Championships.  The long season took it's toll on the Cardinals as players were injured heading into New Englands where we placed a disappointing second.  The team lost a couple close ones at Nationals and finished eighth.  The Cardinals were led by Eric Peterson, Rick Sullivan and Jon Trepanier- New to the coaching squad was a White Plains standout, James Carey.  It was a special season for the Sullivan family as Rick Sr., and his wife, Marilyn had the joy of watching three of their sons start on the first fifteen; Rick, Sam and John.  Rick Sullivan had a senior year to remember tying the single season try mark with 25 tries and good buddy and fellow senior, Bobby Bailey wrapped up his career at GHS setting the all-time points record with 216 points.

2001 brought back a couple alumnis to the coaching squad as Jason Guasco (1993) and Craig Breismeister (1994) grabbed a whistle for the first time.  Additional volunteer coaches were Jeff Reardon and Jon Trepanier, Sr.   Captains Sam Sullivan and Hitoshi Tagawa helped the team to a 6-6 record including a tough loss to visiting national powerhouse Highlands RFC from Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The "Tradition" continued in 2002 as Co-captains Brad Agonito and Steve Longo helped develop a hard-nosed rugby team that brought "it" every match.  The new international coaching staff included an: Aussie, Andrew Coleman; an American back from the English rugby pitches, John Porter; a South African, Per deVilliers and a Brit, Nick Priscott.  The hard-hitting Cardinals made it to their first final of the prestigious Cherry Blossom tournament losing to our arch rival, Xavier.  After pounding everyone but Xavier in the regular season, the Cards ran into the much improved BC High in the New England final and lost, it was a surprising first round exit at Easterns after being seeded third.

2003 season started snowy and rainy and rough as the Cardinals dropped their first three matches.  Losing a dozen seniors was not easy, but the tri-captains Jamie Dunn, Dustin McDonald and Kyle Ramachandran rallied the troops to fight back and finish 4-1-1 to salvage a .500 season.  The season was highlighted by a final appearance at The Ultimate Rugby Classic in Long Island, NY.  New to the coaching staff was a full time Assistant coaching position held by alumni Joe Pietrafeso(1996) and volunteer coach John Porter.  The Cardinals officially moved into the more organized and competitive Metropolitan Rugby Union and would compete in the First Division.  Unfortunately, the New England Union would respond by not allowing us to compete in their annual Foundation Cup, which has been an open invitation tournament.  At least we say Good-Bye to the Foundation Cup with our name engraved the most, winning six New England titles.

Stepping into a revised Division 1 Metropolitan league, the 2004 Cardinals went to work and suffered only one loss in league play to… you guessed it, Xavier.  Placing second in one of the strongest leagues in the Northeast put us as the #4 seed at Northeasterns(a change from Easterns).  Captains Jeff Aser, Mike Schacter and Dan Warzoha lead the team to a fifth place finish at Northeasterns in Concord, NH.  Joining the coaching staff with Coach Porter was our new full-time coach, alumni- Joe Petrone(1998) and a Division 1 player from Wales- Richard Cowley.  The team came together and excelled with only four seniors. The team lost a tremendous supporter, father, administrator and human being, as Spencer J. Schedler passed away.  A new GHS Rugby Hall of Fame was started this year and Spence was our first inductee.  The Schedler family was at our banquet to accept the induction and receive this year's yearbook that was dedicated to Spence.  The Schedlers had the honor to announce our second inductee, one of the team's original founders, Rodney J. van Zyl.  The team looks forward to honoring those who have made extraordinary achievements in the tradition of Greenwich High School Rugby.

2005 would bring the longest season in Cardinal history as the team ventured out on a pre-season tour in February to hopefully get a jump on the season.  After a couple weeks running around in the snow, the boys toured England which included a day in Wales and a tour of the locker rooms and pitch of the world famous, Millennium stadium.  Though no wins were posted in three matches (Keynsham RFC, Penryn RFC, Queen’s Elizabeth College) the team was treated to some very sharp training sessions with top level English coaches.  Much was learned and expectations for the season grew.  As with all of our touring years, the season was exceptional as Greenwich won all league games except for one, yes it was Xavier.  The team went on to the Northeast tournament eager to get another shot at Xavier.  Greenwich got its’ wish by beating Keio in the quarter’s and dismantling the New England #1 seed- St. John’s Prep, 41-3 in the semi’s.  The showdown was a battle, but a couple costly errors and a strong wind found Greenwich on the losing end to Xavier 26-12.  A number two finish was still a great accomplishment and secured the team another trip to the National Championships; this time at Stanford University.  Captains Frank Gianchetta and James Lawrence had their hands full leading this fiery bunch that played with a lot of energy and passion.  Coaches Joe Petrone and John Porter were back again and the team benefited greatly from their instruction.  Hall of Fame inductees were “Coach Bob” Ingalls

2006 welcomed the 20^th Anniversary of Greenwich Rugby (1986-2006).  We celebrated with another trip to the Nationals.  Youth and ignorance prevailed as the Cardinals had no plans for a rebuilding season.  After losing twenty-one seniors from last year’s team, Big Red came out on fire posting a 10-1 regular season record (6-1 in the Met Division One league).  Xavier, NY would once again be the Cardinals thorn in the side, handing us our only loss.  Captains Philippe Chaunu, Tomas Ferraro and David McCabe kept the “tradition” alive and successful molding a team made up of predominantly sophomores and freshmen.  Heading to the Northeast championships as the #2 seed, the Cardinals came back to beat the very speedy Keio Academy team with a penalty kick late in the match in the quarters; and then went on to dismantle the New England #2 seed, Bishop Hendricken in the semis.  The final was almost a replay of 2005 as Greenwich came out strong but wavered in the second half losing to those guys in Manhattan (Xavier).  Much of the success of our season was from Coach Porter and Coach Petrone who posted an undefeated Killer B season and a Freshmen team that developed three players into 1^st side players.  The Cardinals were happy to take just a bus to their fifth National Championship at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.  Luck was not on our side at Nationals as we lost three heartbreakers to finish 16^th in the country.  This year’s Hall of Fame inductees was one of the original founders, Barry Lyons and the team’s original faculty sponsor and supporter- the award winning teacher and coach, Terry Lowe.   

“ThreePeat” summed up the 2007 rugby season as the boys from Greenwich made an impressive third straight appearance in the USA Rugby U19 National Championship tournament out in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The Cardinals proved once again that they were the best in Connecticut and finished second in the Metropolitan Union, losing only one match to Xavier, NY.  The team secured the #2 seed at Northeasterns and fought their way to the final and lost a hard hitting battle to Xavier 15-7.  The team posted an impressive 12-2 regular season record going 6-1 in the Met Union, highly regarded as the strongest union in the Northeast.  The Cardinals had a strong showing at the annual Cherry Blossom tournament in Washington DC winning their first two games on Saturday and losing a close game in the semi-finals to a strong club from Ontario, Canada- the KCI Raiders.  The Greenwich Cardinal offense was awesome as it tallied 569 points before playoffs and averaged 41 points a game.  The defense was equally impressive giving up an average of under 6 points a game and registering six shutouts in the first 14 games.  Captains John Caldwell, James Dailey and Marcos Gowland were the skippers for this year’s tremendous season.  The program had 77 active players and fielded a 2^nd side that would beat the majority of the teams in our league.  This was all possible because of the consistent and determined coaching of John Porter and Joe Petrone.  This year’s Hall of Fame inductees will be: an original Big Blue player and current alumni supporter/liaison, James Leahy; and our present coach- and first under nineteen All-American from Greenwich High School, Joseph Petrone.  The Cardinals finished fifth in Tier B at the USA National championships.    

The success of Cardinal Rugby is due largely to the coaches and active players that volunteered their time for the good of Youth Rugby.

In Summary

Founded in 1986, we celebrate twenty-one years of rugby

The Cardinals have produced:

	Six New England titles (1989, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999)
	Eight East Coast Championship appearances (placing second three times)
	Four Northeast Championship appearances (5th in 2004, 2nd in 2005, 2006, 2007)
	Six National appearances (11th- 1997, 2nd- 1999, 8th- 2000, 13th- 2005, 16th- 2006,13th- 2007)
	Placing second in the country- 1999

The team has toured six times

	England and Wales (1989, 1992, 2005)
	California (1993)
	Italy (1995)
	Ireland and Wales (1999)

This is the complete high school rugby program we call, "A New Tradition".

Faithfully submitted,