All-Conference Teams and Award Winners Named
Naval Academy scrumhalf Ricky Neel-Feller is the 2013 Atlantic Coast Rugby League Player of the Year, narrowly edging out his teammate and fellow halfback partner Jack McAuliffe. Neel-Feller led the Midshipmen to an undefeated ACRL conference season and a trip to the semi-finals of the inaugural Varsity Cup National Collegiate Rugby Championship.
Clemson University took home the other two individual
awards, as Tigers scrumhalf Ryan Gilroy was named Freshman of the Year honors
and Tigers head coach Justin Hickey was unanimously voted the conference Coach
of the Year. This is the second
consecutive year that a Clemson player was named Freshman of the Year, as
Gilroy’s teammate Dan Collins took home the honors in 2012.
Navy and Clemson, who finished first and second respectively
in the conference, led all teams in All-Conference players. Navy had an astounding eleven selections,
including six first-teamers, while Clemson was close behind with nine players
selected overall.
In keeping with its member schools’ emphasis on academics,
the conference again named an All-Academic team. To be considered for the All-Academic team, a
player must have been a junior or senior who was a consistent varsity player
and carried a cumulative GPA over 3.5 or better.
Finally, the ACRL is proud to announce the team that will be
representing the conference on the field in the first ever ACRL-Big Ten
All-Star Challenge. The team will be
coached by Clemson’s Justin Hickey and the match will take place on Friday, May
31 in Philadelphia at Drexel University as part of the USA Sevens Collegiate
Rugby Championship. Kickoff for the
match (which will be rugby 15s) is scheduled for 5:30pm. The squad is still not finalized, as the
coaching staff is awaiting the potential availability of some players who are
still in contention for spots on the CRC rosters of Navy, NC State, and
Virginia Tech. The team includes many
All-Conference players, including a quartet of players who have been named to
the past three ACRL All-Conference teams: Matias Cima, John Davis, and Keith
Sneddon from Maryland and Johnny McMurray from Wake Forest.
A full list of the 2013 Atlantic Coast Rugby League
All-Conference Teams and Award Winners is below.
2013 ACRL Player of
the Year: Ricky Neel-Feller, USNA
2013 ACRL Freshman of
the Year: Ryan Gilroy, Clemson
2013 ACRL Coach of
the Year: Justin Hickey, Clemson
2013 All-ACRL
First Team
Prop- Abe Harmon, NCSU
Prop- Darrien Green, USNA
Hooker- Dan Collins, Clemson
Lock- James Watson, Wake Forest
Lock- Jon Thornton, USNA
Loose Forward- Matt Fetty, Clemson
Loose Forward- Keith Sneddon, Maryland
Loose Forward- Andrew Stelletto, USNA
Loose Forward- Ben Shafer, Maryland
Forward- Matt Pace, NCSU
Scrumhalf- Ricky Neel-Feller, USNA
Flyhalf- Jack McAuliffe, USNA
Inside Center- Seamus Seifring, USNA
Outside Center- Justin Warzoha, Clemson
Wing- Matt Reilly, Maryland
Wing- Robbie Hemstreet, UVA
Fullback- Evan Burch, UVA
Back- Greg Hesler, NCSU
2013 All-ACRL
Honorable Mention
Prop- Carl Katz, Virginia Tech
Prop- Max Simons, Clemson
Prop- Brett Weaver, Clemson
Prop- Eddie Youngs, NCSU
Hooker- Bill Whelan, Virginia Tech
Hooker- Matt Kelly, USNA
Lock- Michele Minichiello, Virginia Tech
Lock- Shaun Rich, Clemson
Lock- Matt Daniels, NCSU
Loose Forward- Spencer Wilson, USNA
Loose Forward- Martin Sexton, Virginia Tech
Forward- Keegan Downey, Maryland
Forward- Chris Rixey, USNA
Scumhalf- Ryan Gilroy, Clemson
Flyhalf- Matias Cima, Maryland
Inside Center- Ben Coburn, Clemson
Outside Center- Nick Hancock, USNA
Outside Center- Dan Hudgens, UNC
Wing-Ron Helms, USNA
Fullback- Stefan Friend, Clemson
Fullback- Johnny McMurray, Wake Forest
Back- John Davis, Maryland
2013 All-Academic
Team
Liam McIntyre, Wake Forest
David Christian, Virginia Tech
Sam Gedeon, USNA
Tommy Evans, Clemson
Greg Hesler, NCSU
Drew Herpel, Maryland
2013 ACRL All-Star
Team
Forwards: Brett
Weaver, Clemson; Dan Collins, Clemson; Max Simons, Clemson; Bill Whelan,
Virginia Tech; James Watson, Wake Forest; Michele Minichiello, Virginia Tech;
Matt Fetty, Clemson; Ben Shafer, Maryland, Eric Higgins, Virginia Tech; Keith Sneddon, Maryland
Backs: Matias
Cima, Maryland; Matt Reilly, Maryland; John Davis, Maryland; Ryan Gilroy,
Clemson; Eddie Abreu, Clemson; Stefan Friend, Clemson; Johnny McMurray, Wake
Forest; Jack Zimmerman, Wake Forest; Dylan Cunningham, UNC; Nick Johnson,
Clemson; Justin Warzoha, Clemson
Head Coach: Justin Hickey, Clemson
Assistant Coach: Pat Kane, Wake ForestAssistant Coach: Steve Laake, Maryland
Assistant Coach/Manager: Wright Henry, Clemson
