Watson, McMurray, McIntyre, and Zimmerman Get ACRL Honors

ACRL Press Release

2013 Atlantic Coast Rugby League

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 Forest
Assistant Coach: Steve Laake, Maryland
Assistant Coach/Manager: Wright Henry, Clemson