Honey Badgers Nationals Run
By: Caroline Heimerl
Your Honey Badgers are proud to call themselves the runners-up of the 2023 D2 USA Club Rugby National Championships!
After closing their 2022 spring season at the Atlantic Regionals, the Honey Badgers were committed to putting in the work needed to punch their ticket to Nationals for the first time since their 2012-2013 season. Spring practices were dedicated to conditioning, agility work, strategy, and team cohesion.
Thanks to their diligence, and the unwavering support of their communities, the Honey Badgers fought their way to St. Louis after clawing their way through a harrowing Regionals weekend against Phoenixville Whitehorse and New Haven. These matches prepared the Honey Badgers for the fight to come in St. Louis.
Despite the challenging heat during their first game against Milwaukee Scylla, the Badgers did not slow down. The team, provided the first four tries of the match thanks to scorers Kathryn Todorovich, Shanna Davidson, Sara Mercado, and Alyson McCarty. A conversion kick by Casey Hartzell cemented a strong early lead. While Scylla responded with two tries before the end of the half, Severn continued their dominance in the second half with another three tries by Taylor McLean, Kaitlyn Marshall, and Maddie Steele and a conversion by Charlee Bryan. With Scylla only securing another two tries, the Honey Badgers walked away with 39 points to Milwaulkee’s 24, advancing to the championship final.
On Sunday, a determined Severn River faced off against 2022’s runners- up:, the Knoxville Minx. Again, Kathryn Todorovich brought the first try of the game, which Knoxville returned with their eventual tournament MVP, USA Eagle Jennine Detiveaux. Severn reclaimed the lead with a try by Tanya Gouws, but the Minx pulled ahead with the score sitting at 10-19 at the half. The Honey Badgers remained ferocious in the second half, providing the support for another two tries by Kathryn Todorovich and Cheryl Johnson. Adding their own two tries in the second half, and a total of four conversions, Knoxville came out on top, ending the game at 22-33.
While the outcome wasn’t what they had hoped, Severn enjoyed a night of celebration as the 2nd best D2 women’s team in the nation. The silver plate was escorted back home to Maryland by trusted members of the men’s team, and now sits proudly at sponsor Stan and Joe’s Saloon. The Honey Badgers would like to thank all their friends, family, and supporters for their part in an impressive championship run. They look forward to improving on their performance next year as the Honey Badgers continue to enthusiastically reach for the gold.
Severn Men: Recap and Look Ahead
By: Milton Greenstreet
Severn's D3 men side wrapped up their 2022 with mixed results. Their regular season performance may have been their finest in years, going 5-0 in the regular season (with a +196 point differential). Along the way, they dispatched familiar foe Washington Renegades easily 57-10, comfortably routed eventual champion North Bay 31-10, and had other resounding victories as well. They also had their first playoff win in almost a decade, beating newly-promoted Loudoun 41-0 at home. Loudoun pushed SR to the brink in a regular season match in Virginia, with a depleted 20-man side from River only pulling out the win 20-19. But the boys from Annapolis thought they should flex a bit when Loudoun came to the Legion for their first playoff match in Division 3.
While all of those results were exceptional, the only way Severn would look at this season as a success was if they were able to be crowned division champions of D3 Central. Unfortunately, they fell short, losing to familiar rivals North Bay, 25-28 in a very tight match. "That was deep heartache at its finest," said fly-half Erik Dronberger, summing up the tough loss. "There were some tough calls, but we did plenty ourselves as well. Credit to North Bay, they are a solid side, but losing two years on the bounce, by 3 and 5 points is a tough pill to swallow." Head Coach Mike Posko said, "While I feel we outplayed North Bay, the scoreboard didn't show it. We can't change the past and we are looking towards the future. We've scheduled a tough gauntlet of games for the boys in the spring in hopes of becoming stronger as a club." Division 3 looks to build on their strong momentum from the regular season in the spring by facing a tough, stacked schedule in 2023. A few matchups against squads from higher divisions should sharpen Severn's fangs for their 2023-2024 campaign.
The D4 men's side also blew a little hot and cold in 2022. While the side is only in its second full season as a competitive team fighting for playoffs, they competed all season long - strong enough to finish 4-4 and in contention for a playoff spot. While the team had roster shakeups from week to week, given the tough schedules both teams faced, Captains Mike Divver and Omar Ledesma kept things consistent from the front. They will look to build on the experience gained in 2022 and grow further in 2023.
One of the more exciting things planned for 2023 for Severn's Men's side is their tour to the United Kingdom. This tour was initially scheduled for 2020, but was derailed by COVID. Coach Posko, along with some of the senior players continued to plan the trip and Severn's second international trip in 7 years is slated for August 2023. While numbers were squeezed for their 2017 trip to Ireland, the fellas in green and blue have rallied 40+ players to join the cause of invading England & Wales this summer. With a full slate of games, towns to visit and pro teams to watch, Severn's 2023 summer is looking very bright.
Team Captain Steve Long summed it up. "Although we didn't accomplish our ultimate goal, the season was a success for the club. We won our first playoff match in years, the D4 side is competitive every week, and we have had more than a dozen new players put in a shift this season. We're really excited for the coming months as we test ourselves for the fall season and the trip across the pond." It really looks to be an exciting 2023 for Annapolis' favorite men's rugby team.
Honey Badgers: Recap and Look Ahead
By: Lenni Ferreira
Coming off a very successful fall season, Severn River's women's side, the Honey Badgers, have been keeping busy through the winter. With fun events, touch 7s, and winter workouts, the squad is keeping minds and bodies occupied, as to not let the rugby withdrawal set in.
The Honey Badgers have partnered with Grounded CrossFit in Hanover again this winter to ensure everyone stays in good shape for spring. Grounded has a beautiful facility, and when paired with two team captains that both have personal training backgrounds, the perfect Saturday workouts are the result. The music is blasting, the weights are moved, and the Honey Badgers are sweating. Winter workouts will come to a close at the end of February as Saturdays will again be filled with rugby games!
The winter workouts have mostly been attended by the women’s side with a few special guests from the men’s team, but you can find a true mix of club members at 7s. Playing outside on Saturdays at Kinder Park or the Legion, and on Wednesday nights at an indoor facility, Severn River ruggers have been getting together for fun and fitness to play touch 7s. During the competitive season, the women's and the men’s sides don't do a lot of on-field collaboration, but touch 7s offers the opportunity to play with a bigger, fresh pool of players; the club has partnered with Annapolis Social for indoor 7s. Getting fresh blood familiar with the game of rugby and staying warm from the chilly weather has been keeping the winter blues at bay.
The Honey Badgers have been well-represented at Capital Selects this winter, as well! One of the camps was closer to home this year, and had a great turn out. A few of the Badgers traveled down to Raleigh to play with Capital Selects and further their skills. A huge shout out to Scrappy, Taylor, Maddie, Tina, Caroline, Lindsay, and Tanya! The whole club is so proud of you all!
All of this hard work and fun is leading into a big season for the Honey Badgers. Having only lost 8-5 in the quarterfinal of Nationals last season, this squad continues to have their eyes on the prize. The season is packed with league games, challenging D1 friendlies, and plenty of B-side opportunities to develop new players' skills and confidence in the game. This season features many home games, so the Badgers are hoping for some good home crowd turnouts to propel them toward their goal of another trip to Nationals.
The Spring season will be packed with so much fun, but no doubt, a lot of hard work. Looking forward, past all of the hard games and late practices, the Honey Badgers have a thrilling experience on the horizon- its first international tour. The men’s team has gone abroad before, but this will be a first for the women's side. For 10 days in August, over 20 players will be flying out to Ireland to play rugby and explore a new country. This is not an opportunity many women’s teams get, and none of the Badgers are taking it for granted. Everyone is grateful for the robust numbers at practices and the support of an incredible club. The community and Severn River ruggers past and present should keep an eye out for fundraisers to throw a few bucks towards an unforgettable trip!
Brian Bratton Memorial Match
Brian passed away suddenly on January 1st, 2023 and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and his sweet puppy Lindy Lou who has been his sidekick for the last 14 years. There will forever be an image of his big bright smile in all of our minds, he was an unforgettable son, brother and friend.
Brian was most known for his humor, life of the party attitude, and his love for all things active including rugby, free diving, and paddle boarding.
Brian graduated from Arundel High School with a partial Soccer Scholarship to Ohio Wesleyan University. While at OWU he was spotted by the Football Team and dropped Soccer to become the Kicker for them. After a couple years he started playing Rugby because he was bored with Football and so the Rugby history begins. He played for Severn River when he would come home on break and immediately following his graduation from University of Delaware with his Masters in Exercise Physiology and Cardiac Rehab. Brian moved to Northern Virginia and joined Washington Irish where he played for approximately 8 years. He was an excellent player, tackler and as Bernie (father) would say “Fast as Shit”. Brian would always credit Severn’s own, Marty O’Neill for taking him under his wing and teaching him how to play #15.
Match Details:
Severn River vs Washington Irish
Saturday, March 4th @ 9:30am
American Legion Post 175 in Severna Park
832 Manhattan Beach Rd
Severna Park, MD 21146
Celebration of Life:
Saturday, March 4th from 12-4pm
Annapolis Elks Club
2 Pythian Drive
Edgewater, MD 21037
**If you are part of Brian's Rugby family, we invite you to wear your team's Jersey (Severn River or Washington Irish) that day, as well as your Rugby derby.
Annual Club Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction 2023
Severn River Rugby Club’s 45th birthday, team awards ceremony, and annual Hall of Fame induction was celebrated in proper fashion at this year’s banquet. Ruggers graced The Atreeum at Soaring Timbers in Annapolis with their presence for the first time, and the venue did not disappoint. The Mardi Gras Masquerade theme was definitely a bit of fun and lent some much-appreciated anonymity to members of the Severn squad who kept their masks on in all the photos.
Three Brothers catered the event for River and Burney Creek Creations provided the carved wood rugby ball coaches’ gifts. A big thanks to the club social chairs Mike “Butters” Gibson and Victoria Zito for putting on the event.
A new class of men’s and women’s players took home rings and derby’s this year. The ladies had a wall of dominating and lethal players on the pitch this past year including Most Valuable Back Tanya Gouws and Steel Tits recipient Erin Gallagher. Sam Leone who consistent improvement year after year earned him Back of Year and a derby. The men are excited to continue to develop players like Rookie of the Year Jay Carter who had never touched a rugby ball before but has quickly become a force on the field.
The men’s team took back the coveted YAD award this year, after Moose convinced Severn leadership that we were ALL dicks and lost the actual Triebel Cup trophy. Relief came when Moose showed up with the Cup safely in tow just as Severn was deciding how to break the bad news to Frederick. Turned out… just one dick that day.
The Hall of Fame committee sent Rachel “Sloth” Priddy into the Hall of Fame as a surprise after she had declined a nomination. Although confused at first, she was honored to be inducted alongside Severn’s longtime Captain Jason Dunbar and former U.S.A. Eagle Jon Holtzman. Many familiar, yet masked, faces traveled far to be at the event to support and celebrate!
Every time the NFL waters down the ProBowl, missing that flag football game to be hungover after the club’s annual banquet becomes an easier sell to current, former, and legendary players. It will be tough to beat the huge turnout from this year, but it’s something to shoot for as Severn River Rugby closes in on its 50-year anniversary.
Award Summary:
Women’s Awards:
Most Valuable Back- Tanya Gouws
Most Valuable Forward- Sara Mercado
Steel Tits- Erin Gallagher
Most Improved- Maria “Abuela” Beteta
Rookie of the Year- Andie Coutolakis
Unsung Hero- Lexi Decker
Player of the Year- Lenni Ferreira
Men’s Awards:
Most Valuable Back- Sam “Hot Pants” Leone
Most Valuable Forward- John “Gio” Giovingo
Unsung Hero- James “UK James” Nutland
Rookie of the Year- Jay Carter
Most Valuable Back (D4) – Mike Divver
Most Valuable Forward (D4) – Omar Ledezma
Unsung Hero (D4)- Isaiah “Zay” Perry
YAD:
Mike “Moose” Anderson
Hall of Fame Class of 2022-2023:
Jason Dunbar
Jon Holtzman
Rachel “Sloth” Priddy
Most Valuable Back Tanya Gouws
Most Valuable Forward- Sara Mercado
Steel Tits- Erin Gallagher
Most Improved- Maria “Abuela” Beteta
Rookie of the Year- Andie Coutolakis
Unsung Hero- Lexi Decker
Player of the Year- Lenni Ferreira
Most Valuable Back (D3)- Sam “Hot Pants” Leone
Most Valuable Forward (D3)- John “Gio” Giovingo
Unsung Hero (D3)- James “UK James” Nutland
Rookie of the Year (D3) - Jay Carter
Most Valuable Back (D4) - Mike Divver
Most Valuable Forward (D4) - Omar Ledezma
Unsung Hero (D4) -Isaiah “Zay” Perry
YAD- Mike “Moose” Anderson
Hall of Fame- Jason Dunbar and Rachel “Sloth” Priddy
Hall of Fame- Jon Holtzman
SRRFC Hall of Fame Class of 2022-2023 Inductee: Jason Dunbar
From the desk of the SRRFC Hall of Fame Committee:
When a 6’4” 250+ pound monster from Carroll County decides to play rugby, good things are bound to happen.
At a time when the Men's squad was on the other side of a great run, nationally, Jason Dunbar stood up and led the transition from the old guard to the new kids on the block in the late '90s and into the next decade.
Believe it or not, Jason was a voice of reason on the pitch. Without his assertiveness, perseverance, high expectations and lead-by-example attitude, the Severn River Rugby Club may not exist as it does today.
As Captain from 2000-2010, Jason propelled his team from the basement of Division 3 to winning Division 2, and ultimately convincing MARFU that Severn belonged in the Premier League with the likes of PAC, NoVA, and Washington.
Jason received the Most Valuable Forward award during his time at Severn, only overshadowed slightly by his earning of the coveted YAD award.
From the onset, Jason held any position necessary to build up the Club. This included Social Chair, Match Secretary, Field & Equipment Manager, Treasurer, Governor, and Vice President. Although Jason has a huge personality on the pitch, his focus on administrative leadership proved not only his versatility, but also his desire to help the Club grow.
The only position Jason didn’t hold during his reign was Club President, which at the time was held by fellow hall of fame member, Steve Compo. Compo said, “Personally, I don't think there was another person who would have had the impact Jason had on the rest of us to build something bigger than what we were. There’s nothing we would not have done for one another then and if Jason made a request today, I’d be there without hesitation.” Steve and Jason’s shared vision for the Club was instrumental in forging Severn’s way forward. Financial security, a home pitch to be proud of, and recruitment and re-tension were all on the pair's agenda. Jason helped the club grow financially and to achieve the larger vision we see today. He helped withdraw a loan to re-do the pitch, place the goal posts, and add the irrigation system to the field. The Ravens fundraising, which has continued to be key in creating a financial base for the club, was another of his projects with Steve. They welcomed the Women's team to the Club and supported several youth clubs through Anne Arundel County. Jason used his position at Aerotek staffing agency to help more than 20 ruggers find work to stay in the area. This was instrumental to holding on to key players and creating the feeling of family that lies at the heart of Jason's love for not only Severn River, but the sport of rugby.
Known for his colorful phrases on the pitch and his unrelenting efforts to make the club better for his current teammates, and to improve it for his future ones, the Severn River Rugby Club is honored to induct Jason Dunbar into the Hall of Fame.
So, raise your SoCo and lime shot in the air...
Severn River Rugby Football Club Class of 2023 Inductee: Jason Horst Dunbar
SRRFC Hall of Fame Class of 2022-2023 Inductee: Jon Holtzman
From the desk of the SRRFC Hall of Fame Committee:
Jon first stepped on to a rugby pitch in 1989 at the age of 18, beginning his rugby career with Severn River. Quickly learning the game, Jon became a dominant force not only as an ever-present scoring threat, but also with his punishing defense.
In 1993, Jon went on to Towson University to play football, and also played for the Towson RFC.
Jon’s athleticism and powerful running quickly caught the attention of USA Rugby; Jon was recognized as a USA Rugby Collegiate Representative and as a USA Rugby Collegiate All American in 1993.
Jon returned to play for Severn River in 1994 and also represented Severn that same year playing for the PRU East 15’s Select Side vs. Northampton, UK.
As captain of Severn River in '94 and '95, Jon's contributions earned him a derby for Most Valuable Forward as well as the prestigious “Leather Balls Award” for his dedication on and off the field.
By 1995, Jon had not only established himself as a dominant 15s player, but also as a force in 7s. That year, he became a representative of USA Rugby East 7s team and was on the first US team to ever beat Canada.
It wasn’t surprising that Jon’s rugby skills were being recognized at every level. By 1997, he was recruited to Life University. In '97 and '98, Jon represented the USA as an Eagle. Capped four times, Jon played all over the world, including in the World Cup qualifier against Argentina.
In 2000, Jon was on Life’s National Championship team in the USA Super League and voted as the Most Valuable Forward and MVP of the season.
Lucky for the club, Jon returned to Severn River in 2021 as the coach of the men's D3 & D4 forwards. Once Jon took the reins as the forwards coach for Severn, level of play went up immediately - there wasn't a scrum in the division that could hang with them.
SRRFC Hall of Fame Class of 2022-2023 Inductee: Jon Holtzman
Badgers Put Up a Huge Number on the Scoreboard vs NOVA D2
Hello honey badger fans!
Your team protected the home pitch with their first league game with a 85-0 score against NOVA. The badgers played as a unified front from the begging. The pods gathered and pushed and the backs continued to move the ball forward. Our co captain, Hope Wasserman, said “the team played seamlessly, and that our practices showed off our skills on the pitch”. NOVA came to play and their defensive line held strong as the Honey Badgers fought for each try. The defensive scrums and line outs won the battle and the amount of turnovers from poaches by players like Bri Leonard were unmatched. Bri notes “this game set the tone for the rest of the season”. She felt the players were connecting and the team momentum progressed with each minute. Bri Niewinski, AKA Breezy, felt the connection as well. She said, “everyone went out there and put their bodies on the line”. Even when we got tired, Breezy reminded everyone that they could do anything for 80 minutes! Your Honey Badgers are ready for another week of hard practice to prep for their first away game against James River!
Until next game,
XOXO
Belligerent Badger
Players of the match: Scrappy Whiteley & Victoria Zito
Tries: Bri Leonard (2), Maria ‘Abuela’ Beteta, Bri ‘ Breezey’ Niewinski (2), Erin Gallagher-Johnson, Lilly Soliday, Shelly Freeman, Katie Turner, Victoria Zito (2), Scrappy Whiteley (2), Tanya Gouws (2)
5 out of 15 conversions by Charlee Bryan
Honey Badgers Come Out Strong Against D1 Philly
Cheers to the start of the 2022-23 Honey Badger season. Your ladies came out to the pitch ready to defend their home turf against Philly D1.
The Badgers started off a bit bumpy, as noted by team co-captain, Masha Romanchak, but that is expected with new players and new lines overcoming a learning curve. We held Philly off for the first 20 minutes until they scored their first try. Kate “Todo” Todorovich brought us on the board with our first try, bringing the score to 14-5 at the end of the half.
After a motivating halftime speech by coach Dolla Harmse, the Badgers came out ready to strike. The ladies turned up the heat and the score. Erin Gallagher-Johnson, Izzy Izquierdo, Sophie Clendenin, Sara Mercado, and Lily Soliday each touched down a try in the 2nd half. Izzy and Sara’s tries were their firsts’ with Severn earning them Zulu Warrior status. Izzy is one of our new players and this was her last game with Severn before she departs to Okinawa to serve in the Marine Corps. She is thankful for the experience and lasting memories she has created with the Badgers in just the three months she’s been with us. Shanna Davidson, a five year Severn vet, said it felt good to dust off her boots and shake off the first game jitters. Severn closed the match with a 36-14 victory over Philly.
Your ladies are feeling strong and ready for another fantastic season. We only plan to keep going up from here!
XOXO,
Belligerent Badger
Tries-Kate Todorovich-1, Erin Gallagher-Johnson-1, Izzy Izquierdo-1, Sophie Clendenin-1, Sara Mercado-1, Lily Soliday-1
Kicks- Charlee Bryan- 3 out of 6
Women of the Match- Lily Soliday and Izzy Izquierdo (Pictured below)
Beer Olympics: 2022
By: Lenni Ferreira
The sky was clear, the sun was high, and at 11AM (ish) on Saturday August 13th, the Severn River Rugby Beer Olympics began. The competing teams gathered for the opening ceremony which consisted of a lighting of the torch (candle) by a player of Greek decent (yours truly), followed by a group shotgun. Some Olympians were new to shotgunning, some were veterans to the speedy can chug, but in that moment all players were unified by the cold drinks and heavily carbonated belches that followed. The events included beer ping, flip cup, boat races, corn hole, fricket, can jam, and later toss. The teams were made up of five players each.
Competitors came from near and far to demonstrate their drinking and lawn game skills. There were some close contests and some upsets; Team Leisure Drinking and Team Cram Ranch took early leads in the day, while other teams dominated in other ways. Olympian Andie Coutoulakis recounts, “Team JaBooty might not have won their games, but their booties won over the hearts of all of the fans.”
During an intermission of events there was a massive round of musical chairs that came with a prize of two bonus points. Picture this: six plastic chairs, 40+ ruggers... only one winner. It went exactly how you would imagine... multiple people piled on top of each other, hip checks, elbows dropped, broken chairs, and bruised participants. Team Super Smash Bros took the W in musical chairs. Olympian Sammi Bottorf spoke on that turning point for her team, recalling that they “started off a little shaky, but once Luigi won musical chairs, the motivation was clearly there.” The bonus points allowed them to punch their ticket to the flip cup round of playoffs along with five other teams.
From the six teams that entered the flip cup round of playoffs, only three moved on. The top three teams, Leisure Drinking, Cram Ranch, and Azerbaijan, went head to head in a boat race. Team Leisure Drinking was the last team left of women’s players. However, what the women are able to bring to the club in terms of rugby playoff success, they were not able to bring in terms of beer chugging playoff success. As the top seed in the competition, this loss was a huge upset. “It was a shame this round of the playoffs was pure chugging, as we would have dominated in any skill-based game,” remarked Olympian Lenni Ferreira.
Cram Ranch and Azerbaijan continued on to face-off in the finals in elimination flip cup. The match was intense and the crowd was half watching, half running around distracted and tipsy. Some theorize that it was the assless chaps giving Cram Ranch extra movement and an edge over their competitors. Whatever it was, they came out on top, and brought gold medals home to their questionable Ranch. Gold medalist and crammed rancher Parker Hackett reflected upon their win and said, “We came, we saw, we crammed.” Fellow gold medalist John “Gio” Giovanni captured the essence of the moment noting that, “Sometimes, the bad guys win.”
All in all, the Olympics were a huge success. Victoria Zito, women’s social chair and member of the Olympic committee, was simply “glad no one was carried out on a stretcher. That’s a successful beer Olympics to me.” We could not agree more. Fun was had, beer was drank, and all of the Olympians made it home in one piece.
We are grateful that 15s season is around the corner so these ruggers have a place to channel all of this
competitive energy.