Once again, the Maryland Exiles are the Maryland State High School Club Rugby Champions. In fact, this is the 7th year in a row. This was significant as we lost 27 players from last season who had varsity playing experience including many who were regular “starters”. In this year’s final only 5 players were on the 25 player roster from last year’s final. Very well done as the club came together to avenge a regular season loss to West Carroll to win 19-0.

First a shout out to some players who are graduating this year:

1. Aiden Perrenoud, Rockville High School; team captain scored 104 points the past two seasons. Plans to attend West Virginia University and play rugby there.
2. Charlie Siarkas, Sherwood High School; selected to attend high school all-American camp in 2014. Came back from knee injury to start in state final. Plans to attend West Virginia Wesleyan University studying computer science & computer science and play football
3. Alexandre Rogy, Lycee Rochambeau; tackling machine launched from the flanker position. Plans to attend Lycee Larochefoucalt in Paris and play rugby for ACBB in Boulogne, France.
4. Seamus McDonald, Sherwood High School; wing extraordinaire & ironman who was 1 of 3 players to play in all 17 varsity matches. Plans to attend community college in California and play rugby there.
5. Charlie Heim, Walter Johnson High School; Steady Charlie held down the tighthead prop position for most of the season as a first year player. He plans to attend Towson University and play rugby there.
6. Mitch Fenton, Whitman High School, all-metro wrestler with a rugby pedigree. First year with the Exiles and got to mix it up at hooker and flanker. Plans to attend New York’s Binghamton University and considering both wrestling and/or rugby.
7. Leo Simon, Richard Montgomery High School; another 1st year Exile who played flanker and center. Always itching to get in the action. He plans to attend University of Maryland and play rugby there.
8. Rodloy Pierre, Sherwood High School; a 1st year rugger and half of our Haitian contingent. Played second row and managed to score a try to help win a match. He plans to attend Montgomery College and study web design & game programming.
9. Andronel Jacques, Sherwood High School; the other half of the Haitian contingent and also a 1st year rugger. Played center, wing & fullback. He also plans to attend Montgomery College.

You will be missed, Godspeed in all of your future endeavors.

We will also be saying thanks & farewell to some of the middle schoolers as they ascend to new rugby programs while we will also have some middle school players returning as 9th graders with the Exiles. That leaves Samoa Joe Vitolio as the lone middle schooler so we have to build a team around him for next year!

Walker Calderon	Gonzaga	Manel Judice	Exiles
Bau Molinari	Gonzaga	Jaako Vanska	Exiles
Ian McGunigal	Gonzaga	Sam Johnson
Teddy Thomas	Gonzaga	Rhys King	Exiles
Johnny McAuliffe	Georgetown Prep	Luke McGrail	Gonzaga
Paul Bolek	Exiles	James Piercy	Saint Johns
Finn Pillar	Exiles	Dylan Sacks	Exiles
Charles Stover	Exiles	Morgan White	Exiles

Finally, a reminder of opportunities to play rugby this summer:

A. The Pittsburgh Regional Cup Tournament (RCT) is Charlotte, NC June 17-19. Anyone interested in being considered for selection to the High School All-American Camp or just playing with the Maryland selects should consider trying out. Scouts for the High School All American team will be there. Practices will be at Fairland Regional Park, Burtonsville on Greencastle Road and is run by Rugby Maryland. A separate note was sent out regarding this.

B. Maryland Exiles Summer Youth Rugby starts May 31st with practices at Timberlawn Park, 10800 Gloxnia Drive, Rockville on Tuesday’s & Thursdays at 7PM.