Gael Alumni Rugby OGs Run For Rugby

A group of alumni rugby players have entered into a grueling 200 mile relay race, from San Francisco to Napa, as a way of giving back to the Saint Mary's College Rugby program. As younger alumni who are still building professional careers and families, it’s not as easy to just write a big check to support Gael rugby. They put their heads together and thought it would be great to come together with former teammates to show their appreciation for the program, especially their former coaches, who they are still close friends. They came up with the idea of running a race together. In true Gael rugby fashion, it couldn’t be your usual 10K or half marathon, it needed to represent the physical extremes they were put through under Tim O’Brien and Jonny Everett. As Joe Midtlyng '06 (the man leading the charge on this idea) put it, "Our group found a way to compete as a team that honors the grit and drive that have been keys to the program’s success under Tim and Johnny." The 200 mile race is a relay with 12 team members, all of whom are Gael rugby alumni that played under O'Brien and Everett. They have named themselves “Saint Mary’s Rugby OGs” with several members of the team part of O’Brien and Everett’s first season at the college. The group has been training for several months to ready themselves for the November 2nd race which will take about 24 hours to complete. They are using the race to get the attention of former teammates and asking that everyone show their support and donate to a Fund that will go directly back to the rugby program. If the group reaches their goal of $10,000 before race day they have committed to each running 1 of their 3 legs with rugby ball in hand which would only add to the challenge. This is a great example of the comradery and lasting relationships built playing rugby at Saint Mary’s under our stellar coaches. “Gael Rugby Forever” is alive and well!

See below roster of the relay team:

Tyler Jones ‘02

Evan Bariault '04

Matt Keathley '05

Cory Sichi '05

Mario Gosalvez '05

Damien Fatongia '05

Pat Follett '06

Joe Midtlyng '06

Kevin Swiryn '07

Ryan Martens '08

Brendan O'Meara '09

Holden Yungert '16

We appreciate any and all support! As stated above all raised funds go to SMC rugby.

-SMC Rugby OGs