The Bishop Shanahan Rugby Team was organized in March 1993, by Coach Greg Karabin and Russ McBride for boys looking for a physical contact sport that required intelligence, discipline, physical conditioning, and teamwork.....but was also fun to play. Fifteen young men banded together on the field provided by Msgr. Robert McManus of St. Joseph's Parish in Downingtown, Pa and began practicing and playing matches. The first year saw a record of eight losses and only one win, but the program grew and attracted more players to an average of forty-six per year in 1999, 2000 & 2001. The 2002-'04 seasons provided over 50 boys the opportunity to play rugby for their school & in 2005 the team grew to over 70 players. In the 2005 season Shanahan introduced two full teams playing in Division1 & Division 3 and this practice contunues till today with the addition of a 9th grade schedule as well.. Bishop Shanahan Rugby has improved in level of play with Shanahan teams winning the Chester County Rugby League ( Brandywine District) in '97,'98,'99, 2000, '02, '03, '04,'05, '06 & '09 while also placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th in the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union (EPRU) Division 1 league. Shanahan finished third consecutively in 2002 & 2003 behind the top club teams in the EPRU and finally won 1st Place in the EPRU D1 tournament in 2004 & finished in 1st place at the end of regular season play in 2005 & 2009. Shanahan won the Catholic Invitational Tournament in 2002, 2003 & 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2009.
Since 1993, over 600 young men have played rugby for Bishop Shanahan High School. Shanahan teams have also toured Scotland (1998, 2002), Italy (1999), Bermuda (2000,2003), Cayman Islands (2001,'04,'07), Portugal (2005), Belgium (2006) France (2008) & England (2009).
Shanahan rugby has become the largest male sports program in the school Most graduates continued their Rugby career and can currently be found starring for colleges and clubs.
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Record: 1- 8 -- Captain(s): Bill Myles -- MVP(s): N/A --
All Stars: N/A
Accomplishments: Completed First Year of Play
Record: 1- 5 -- Captain(s): Mike Houser -- MVP(s): Mike Houser
All Stars: N/A
Accomplishments: Grew team to 20+ players
1995 - Schedule | Results | Pictures | Roster List Record: 6-3 -- Captain(s): Mike Minjoni -- MVP: Mike Minjoni
All Stars:
Accomplishments: Participated in Yale H.S.Tournament
Record: 2-8 -- Captain(s): Jeff Plourde, Geoff Karabin -- MVP(s): Geoff Karabin; John McGovern --
All Stars:
Accomplishments: Participated in Yale H.S.Tournament
1997 - Schedule | Results | Pictures | Roster List Record: 11-1 -- Captain(s): Chris Piskai -- MVP: Chris Piskai --
EPRU All Stars Chris Piskai (hooker), Tim Karabin (flyhalf), Tom Bogusch (center), Joe Harrahan (fcenter).
Accomplishments: Chester County League Champions; Ranked 3rd in EPRU; Participated in Yale HS Tourn.
Record: 10-2 -- Captain(s): Chris Piskai, Tim Karabin -- MVP: Tim Karabin --
EPRU All Stars: Tim Karabin (flyhalf), Chris Piskai (hooker), Tom Bogusch (inside center), Joe Harrahan (fullback)
Accomplishments: Chester County League and Tournament Champions; Ranked 5th in EPRU; Played in Scotland
Record: 9-4 -- Captain(s): Rich Avioli, Daniel Karabin -- MVP: Rich Avioli --
EPRU All Stars: Rich Avioli (wing forward), Dan Karabin (8 man), Steve McCusker (2nd row), Dave Wilson (flyhalf), Ryan Modugno (fullback)
Accomplishments: Chester County League and Tournament Champions; Ranked fifth in EPRU (Div I); Only high school in Division I (divisions new in '99); Played two matches in Rome, Italy.
Record: 10-5-1 -- Captain(s): Daniel Karabin, Dave Wilson -- MVP(s): Daniel Karabin, Bern McGovern --
EPRU All Stars: Dan Karabin (8man), Steve McCusker (WF), Dave Wilson (flyhalf), Jeff Friel (fullback), Sean McDade, Anthony Mattioni
Accomplishments: Chester County League and Tournment Champions, Bermuda U-19 Tournment Champions, Ranked 7th in EPRU Div 1 - Seasonal play.
Record: 5-6-1 -- Captain(s): John McLaughlin, Anthony Mattioni -- MVP(s): Anthony Mattioni, Eamon Cantwell --
EPRU All Stars: Anthony Mattioni (hooker), Jonathan McLaughlin (WF), Kevin Karabin (flyhalf), Mike Mattioni (scrum half), Eamon Cantwell (prop).
Accomplishments: 2nd place Chester County Tournament; Toured Cayman Islands - 1-2 record vs Cayman & Ontario select sides
Record: 19-2-1 -- Captain(s): Dan Reilly, Jon McLaughlin, Kevin Karabin -- MVP: Jon McLaughlin --
EPRU All Stars: Dan Reilly (prop), Jonathan McLaughlin (WF), Kevin Karabin (flyhalf), Mike Mattioni (scrum half), Mike Swanick (center), Jon Morin (center).
Accomplishments: 3rd Place EPRU tournament; Won Chester County Rugby League;Won Chester County Invitational; Won Catholic Invitational Championship; Toured in Scotland
Record: 15-2 -- Captain(s): Kevin Karabin, Michael Mattioni -- MVP(s): Kevin Karabin, Michael Mattioni --
EPRU All Stars: Kevin Karabin (flyhalf), Mike Mattioni (scrum half), Mike Swanick (center), Joe Piskai (WF), Rick Menna (prop), Steve Hurley (8man).
Accomplishments: 3rd Place EPRU tournament; Won Chester County Rugby League;Won Chester County Invitational; Won Catholic Invitational Championship; Bermuda U-19 Tournment Champions
Record: 16-1-- Captain(s): Steve Hurley, Mike Swanick -- MVP: Mike Swanick...Coaches Award: Mike Kelly
EPRU All Stars: Mike Swanick (cecnter), Mike Kelly(wing), Chris Ponto(flyhalf),
Accomplishments: 1st Place D1 Tournmanent...1st Place Chester County Rugby League, Chester County Invitational & Catholic Invitational
Record: 15-2 - Captain(s) : Mike Barbera & Charlie Hennessy MVP: Joe Burg... Coaches Award: Mark Schaeffer
EPRU All Stars: Charlie Hennessy, Mike Barbera, Joe Burg, Chris Ponto, Brian Kennedy, Mark Hurley, Mark Schaeffer, Bryan Oteri
Accomplishments: 1st Place D1 regular season finish (6-1); 3rd Place D1 Tournament; 1st Place Chester County Rugby League, Chester County Invitational Tournament & Catholic Invitational Tournament.
Record: 10-1-3 - Captain(s): Chris Ponto & Mark Hurley. MVP(s)- Chris Ponto & Mark Hurley
EPRU All Stars: Chris Ponto, Mark Hurley, Bryan Oteri, Patrick McKee,
Accomplishments: 3rd Place regular season play D1; 4th place EPRU D1 tournament; Chester County Rugby League Champions; Catholic Invitational Champions; Chester County Invitational Champions & 2nd Place Ghent International Tournament.
Record: 10-5 Captains- Andrew McLean, Justin Uy & Zac Guidone.
MVP- Rick Stolnis Coaches Award: Max Husband & Greg Orlowski
Officers: Greg Orlowski (Morality officer), Bill Thomas, Rick Stolnis & Max Husband
EPRU All Stars: Zac Guidone, Max Husband, Andrew MacLean, Rick Stolnis, Bill Thomas, Justin Uy, Justin Zeh
Record: 8-4 Captains - Justin Zeh, Jacques Indekue
MVP - Justin Zeh Coaches Award: Andrew Salvitti
Officers : Ben Green (Morality Officer); Andrew Salvitti;
EPRU All Stars: Justin Zeh, Andrew Salvitti, Gavin Waring, Ben Green, Michael Hoertz, Brendan Reif, Jay McIlvenny, Dan Flynn, Pat Wert, Zach Barbera
Accomplishments:
Record: 12-1 -1 Captains - Daniel Flynn, Patrick Wert
MVP - Jay McElvenny Coaches Award - Sean Morrissey
Officers - Tom Magee, Jay McElvenny, Brendan Reif, Justin Muir (Morality Officer)
EPRU All Stars - Jay McElvenny, Patrick Wert, Sean Morrissey, Zac Barbera, Nick Horoski,Patrick Lilly, Tom Magee
Accomplishments: 1st Place Brandywine District; 1st Place Brandywine District Tournament ((aka Chester County Rugby League); Catholic Invitational Champions; Undefeated Regular season & tournament play. Only loss was an exhibition match with West Shore RFC.
