60th Anniversary Reunion Is Largest in the Program’s History!
PSU Men's Rugby with Founding Team Member Dick Walker
What a weekend!
From October 14-16th, Penn State Rugby alumni, family, friends, current players, and staff gathered in Happy Valley for a celebration of the Program's 60th Anniversary. With over 400 people in attendance, we were informed that this weekend was the largest alumni event for all of PSU Athletics in 2022.
The weekend teed off on Friday with the Inaugural Fraser Grigor Annual Golf Tournament where more than 15 foursomes (a new record!) vied for the title champion as well as hole prizes. Stephen Wallick, Justin Lotter, Luke Roberts, and Tim Antoian (pictured above) claimed victory. Thank you to Joe Pullara for helping to organize. We hope to grow the tournament even bigger next year.
Friday evening, the Booster Club hosted a private event at Doggie's Pub. Doggie's renovated inside and spacious outdoor beer garden was the site of 300 members of our rugby family reuniting, remembering old stories, and sharing new ones while a slideshow of photos and videos of past teams and events played throughout the night. Thank you, Nichole Lopes, for putting the epic slideshow together, and to the Troskos for hosting such a great event.
On Saturday, we packed the West Fields Pitch to watch the Men's team take on Army and the Women's team play an intra-squad match, with a few alumni filling out their ranks (their scheduled opponent, New York Rugby Club unfortunately cancelled). As the current teams played, the older Nittany Lions, friends, family, and no doubt some future Nittany Lions, cheered from the hill. During breaks in the action, the next generation of PSU Ruggers enjoyed some drills. We honored the Program's past USA Eagles and the attending 2022 Life Member Awardees Angela Smarto, Tricia Chipeleski-Marnell, David Skidmore, and Barbara Landis. Eric Ebert could not attend but also received the 2022 Life Member Award.
Saturday evening, everyone proved that rugby players clean up nice at the 60th Anniversary Banquet held at the Penn Stater. Close to 450 well-dressed alumni, family, and friends along with the current teams enjoyed dinner during which we honored the Program's past and looked to its future. Of special note was the trophy display and the video messages sent from New Zealand by the Nittany Lions currently playing and coaching in the Rugby World Cup, including current head coach, Kate Daley, who is an assistant on the team. Thank you, Steve Lash, for putting together the video featured below!
During the banquet, we honored Jim Mathias with the Distinguished Service Award, which has been awarded only 8 times in the Program's history. Jim's decades of support, in every sense of the word, have been vital to the Program's success. Dick Walker, a member of the founding team of the 1960s, closed the banquet by expressing his joy at seeing how far the Program has come. Dick’s moving comments did not leave a dry eye in the house. Throughout the weekend and ending at the banquet, people were able to bid on the many great silent auction items. Thank you to all of the donors and bidders who helped us raise close to $14,000 for the Program!
On Sunday morning, the Booster Club hosted a catered brunch at West Fields, where people enjoyed breakfast sandwiches and refreshments while saying their goodbyes and trying to tire out their children before the trip home. We hope everyone who was able to tour the Kabala Family Rugby Hall after brunch enjoyed the updates. These updates were completed for the first time in 4 years and included the addition of 5 new US Eagle shadowboxes, a new Sevens Internationals display, a feature of our new Olympian, and the newly formatted National Team honors, formerly “All-Americans", display.
The weekend definitely was one to remember. It quite literally would not have been possible without our sponsors Innovative Thought, David Skidmore and Linda McClellan, and the Life Member challenge. While the Reunion is usually a "break-even" event for the Booster Club, our generous silent auction donors and bidders allowed us to raise close to $14,000 for the Program. Thank you so much to the current players and Booster Club members who helped manage the many events and needs of the weekend to help it run smoothly.
The Planning Committee started their work for this event back in February 2022 and the best part of all their efforts was seeing so many attendees connecting with one another and the current teams. We missed those who couldn’t make it and hope they will join us at next year's PSU Rugby Friends and Family Weekend!
In case you missed the weekend, here is the 60th Anniversary Weekend Program. If you notice any names that are missing from the lists in the Program, please contact Kristen at ksnyder524@gmail.com.
Photos can be added and viewed in our 60th Anniversary Google Album!
Our past is special and our future is bright. Few other rugby programs in the country have what we have. Please use the energy you have from the 60th Anniversary Weekend and take this opportunity now to make a donation to the Booster Club. Monthly donations greatly assist in long-term planning and no donation is too small.
Please reach out if you have any questions about fundraising. The only way we continue to grow PSU Rugby is together!
Get connected and make an impact for Penn State Rugby! How will you get involved?
Thank you for making a difference for the current Men's and Women's Teams. You are building a competitive, world-class Rugby Program that changes lives! To support the current Men’s and Women’s Rugby Teams at Penn State, consider making a donation.
