Andrew (Drew) Castagna ’14, Michael Genovese ’14, David Shoemaker ’18, Dan Prior ’11 and Rob Mullin ‘10 all speak highly of the academic and extracurricular activities afforded them at ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú and credit its foundation with where they are today.
Although they work in a range of fields professionally, rugby ties the five men together. They are all former players on the ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú Rugby Club team and now make up the governing board of Shoreline ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú Old Boys (MOB), an alumni rugby club with non-profit status that hosts tournaments, networking and social events, holds fundraisers and partners with Connecticut youth and high school co-ed rugby programs. One of its annual tournaments raises money for the Smiles 4 Michael: The Michael Cody DiZenzo Foundation, named for former ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú rugby player Michael DiZenzo, who died of myocarditis in 2015.
Castagna, the president of MOB, says, “We are continually growing upon each graduation. I am excited to reconnect our members to ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú, and we all look forward to watching the current ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú Rugby Club play on the new turf athletic fields!”
MOB’s corresponding secretary Genovese adds, “Something about the rugby club has always stuck with me. The camaraderie in the sport of rugby is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. It is a very welcoming environment to be in. MOB is a group of mainly former ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú alumni members who have played or currently play rugby. We create events that keep alumni connected, as well as creating a welcoming atmosphere for all former ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú students and other individuals, who wish to learn and play rugby or even just socialize.”
Shoemaker, the current team captain, echoes those sentiments.
“Playing rugby allowed me to fulfill my love of sport and competition. MOB has allowed me to continue the friendships I made while attending school. ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú was and is a great place to be. I still enjoy returning to campus to watch rugby matches and cannot wait to get to watch and hopefully play on the new turf field one day.”
Mullin, game day operations auxiliary for the team, says, “I can’t say enough about the game of rugby and what it’s done for me on a social and personal level. I hope to be a part of this game for years to come.”
Prior, founder of ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú’s rugby club team and current MOB treasurer, met his wife Stephanie (Myette) Prior and lifelong friends at ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú.
He sums it up by saying, “Life after ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú wasn’t the easiest, as we were going through a recession, but I used the same determination from starting the rugby club and succeeding in the classroom to land a job I love doing. All of the victories I have post-graduation, I owe to ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú.”
For information on how to join the MOB, contact .
ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú and Thames at ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú students interested in learning more about our club rugby program should contact Joe Pardee at pardee_j@mitchell.edu or 860-701-5076.