Scholarship Winners

2019

Jonathan Davies

Where were you born? 

Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ

Where do you live?

Morristown, NJ

High School graduated and year?

Morristown High School, Class of 2019

Years played for Morris, year of graduation from Lions?

Started playing Flag aged 4
(2005) for Denville Dawgs until Morristown Colonials started until I aged out in 2016. Played for Morris Lions 2016-2019

What are you doing currently?

Traveling around the world, and getting ready for college.

What are your interests?

Rugby, cliff jumping, and the unknown

What's your best rugby experience?

Charlotte Tournament 2017-2019. NJ Select 7’s New York Sevens Runner Up 2018. Winning the end of camp tournament at West Point 2019.

Biggest rugby influence?

My Dad

Who do you admire the most and why?

I admire my father, because he is a hard worker. He came from a working class family in UK and worked to make something of himself. 

What are your plans after graduation? 

I will be attending Indiana University, and I will be searching for my major. Also, I will push to start in games while I play rugby.

Any closing words?

Find what you love in life and keep with it.

Jenny Stumpf

Where were you born?
I was born in Morristown New Jersey.

Where do you live?
I now live in Flanders New Jersey.

High School graduated and year?
I graduated from Morristown High School in 2018.

Years played for Morris, year of graduation from Lions?
I started playing for Morris back before USA Rugby had developed rules for HS Girls. Coach Tom Feury needed a prop and invited me out to play. It didn’t matter that I was in 7th grade. I’ll probably be the only Morris player ever to play at States or Nationals for six straight years, 2013-2018.

What are you doing currently?
I am currently a sophomore at St. Bonaventure University and continuing my rugby career with the St. Bonaventure Women’s Rugby team.

What are your interests?
A broad range of music, cooking, making money, and puzzles (the old school type with lots of little pieces

What's your best rugby experience?
I would have to say that my best experiences have come from traveling with my teams to the various tournaments and nationals.

Biggest rugby influence?
I love my teammates because they are always pushing me to be a better player. But in terms of why I play it has to be my parents, split equally between my Dads love of Rugby and my Moms love of sports in general.

Who do you admire the most and why?
Mrs. KJ Feury never played rugby but her whole family did. So, she made their passion her own by bringing all her talents as a medical and administrative professional to the game as President of NJ Rugby. She’s a powerful example of someone who’s chosen to make a difference.

What are your plans after graduation?
I really happy with my choice of St Bonaventure for undergrad. It’s a solid school with a growing, well respected rugby program. Yes, it’s a little cold up here but all things are relative. My roommate and teammate is from Southwest Buffalo and finds the weather at school to be “milder”.

Any closing words?
Remember that rugby is a lifetime sport whether you keep playing or not. In other countries, rugby clubs serve as centers of the community, and my dad’s vision of bringing that to Morris County remains a strong work in progress. I plan to spend much of my future enjoying and building that community... From Flag to Master’s and everything in between.

2017

Charlie Duffy

I was born and raised in Morristown, NJ. There I graduated from Morristown High School in 2017. I started playing flag rugby when I was 6 years old, and continued with tackle starting in the 7th grade.

Now, I attend Auburn University where I continue to play rugby and major in Mathematics. After graduation I would like to move back to Morristown but I do not know what I want to do career wise yet (maybe teach math at a local school).

My best rugby experiences were playing for Morris on our annual trips to the tournament in Charlotte. 

*Charlie Duffy, pictured right

2016

Tyffany Brisbane

Hello, my name is Tyffany Brisbane and my new year’s resolution for 2016 was to change lives with my words. I have always loved writing and motivation; so I started putting the two together. I have been playing with Morris Rugby for three years now and was seen as one of the “quiet girls.” Until this year.

I was tired of being quiet and watching attitude make our team bitter on and off the field. So as a solution, I wrote. My first motivational message was like any other, short and to the point. Simply my theme for the season was, “let’s play our game and have fun doing it.” I did this for almost every game this season and loved the positive feedback. Our team has gotten closer than it ever has while I’ve been here and it continues to grow every day. This has been the best group of people that I have ever worked with and every single person has inspired me to keep going.

I’ll be continuing my rugby career at Wheeling Jesuit University in the fall. Thank you to all of the coaches that helped along the way, my teammates for being more than teammates, and my parents for allowing me to prosper in the sport I love. 

Max Berry

Where were you born?

Saint Claire's Memorial Hospital 

Where have you lived?

Rockaway, NJ

High School graduated and year?

Morris Knolls High School class of 2016

Years of playing with the Lions and year graduated?

Years graduated 2016 

What are you doing at the moment?

Currently I am training to play rugby at the University of Wyoming. 

What are your interests?

Rugby, skiing, hiking.

What’s your best rugby experience to date?

The greatest rugby experience that I have had was our Charlotte tour when we won the tournament.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan on attending The University of Wyoming studying International Affairs and Political Science. I also plan on playing D1 rugby for the Cowboys.

2015

Kat Ramage

Where were you born?

I was born at Morristown Memorial Hospital.

Where have you lived?

Hampton Township, NJ until I was one and Ledgewood, NJ ever since.

High School graduated and year?

Roxbury HS, Class of 2015

Years playing for the Lions, year of graduation from Lions?

I’ve played for Morris Girls and NJ Blaze since my freshman year. I graduated from the U-18 Girls in 2015.

What are you doing currently?

I’m spending the summer as a resident at the American Rugby Pro Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas

What are your interests?
Rugby, Art, Rugby, Music, Rugby, Snowboarding… did I mention Rugby?

What's your best rugby experience to date?

By far, representing the USA in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing China as a member of the first ever Women’s Team.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I’ll be attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH in September majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Studio Art plus playing D1 Rugby. Eventually I’d like to become a designer for a boutique car company.

Ryan Wood

Where were you born?

Denville NJ

Where have you lived?

Budd Lake NJ

High School graduated and year?

Mount Olive High School class of 2015. 

Years playing for the Lions, year of graduation from Lions?

Five years. 2011-2015. Graduated 2015.  

What are you doing currently?

Preparing for basic training. Volunteer firefighter. 

What are your interests?

Rugby, airsoft, military history, fire department, hunting. 

What's your best rugby experience to date?
 
Charlotte tour 2015.  

What are your plans for after graduation?

National Guard. College. Go active duty and serve my country as an Infantry Officer.  

2014

Will Kinzer

Where were you born?

I was born at Morristown Memorial Hospital.

Where have you lived?

I have lived in Parsippany, N.J. my whole life.

High School graduated and year?

Parsippany High School Class of 2014

Years playing for the Lions, year of graduation from Lions?

I played for the Lions from 2010-2014. I graduated from the U-19 Boys in 2014.

What are you doing currently?

I’m involved in my church and I work as a lifeguard.

What are your interests?

Rugby, politics, and Student Council at school.

What's your best rugby experience to date?

My best rugby experience would be qualifying for the 2014 State Championship game.

What are your plans for after graduation?

My plans for after graduation include studying political science and playing rugby at Loyola University in Maryland.

Tess Feury

Where were you born?

Morristown, NJ

Where have you lived?

Denville, NJ

High School graduated and year?

Villa Walsh Academy, Class of 2014

Years playing for the Lions, year of graduation from Lions?

Played 2012-2014, graduated 2014

What are you doing currently?

Playing 7s with the NJ Blaze and help coaching the Denville Dawgs Youth team. 

What are your interests?

Rugby, snowboarding, traveling 

What's your best rugby experience to date?

Winning the final of the National Girls High School Rugby 7s Championship against Doylestown in front of 10,000 people at PPL Park.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I will be studying nursing and playing rugby at Penn State.

2013

Gordon Reilly

Where were you born?

Augusta, Georgia
 
Where do you live?

Princeton, New Jersey
 
What High School did you graduate from? 

West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, Class of 2014
 
What year did you play for the Lions?

2007-2013
 
What are you doing currently?

Taking a year off before university (travel).
 
What are your interests?

Music, rugby, travel 

What's your best rugby experience to date?

Receiving The Gibby
 
What are your plans for after graduation?

None at the moment

2012

Ryan Chicarella

Where were you born?

In Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ on December 11, 1993

Where have you lived?

I have lived in Denville, NJ my whole life

High School graduated and year?

Morris Knolls High School, 2012

Years playing for the Lions, year of graduation from Lions?

I first started playing rugby when I was 4 or 5 years old. I started playing in the flag program started by Tom Feury. I have been playing the game ever since. Then I went on to play with the Lions in 2006 as a U15 where I followed a path to graduating as a U19.

What are you doing now?

Now I am playing rugby with the New Jersey Select Side team under Omar Rivera as the head coach. Soon I wish to play 7s this summer with the NJ Blaze. I also help coach in the Denville Flag program.

What are your interests?

My interest outside of rugby is spending time with my friends and family. I will also be attending CCM this coming fall, studying Criminal Justice.

Best rugby experience to date?

There are so many different rugby experiences I have had over the years. One of them would be playing with the same group of kids since I started the Lions Program. Another is being able to play at West Point last year and making it to the finals. But the best out of everything is being able to say that I was the captain of the 2012 Morris Lions rugby team.

Plans for after graduation?

After graduating, I plan on attending CCM to study Criminal Justice, along with starting on U23 side for morris rugby.

2011

Jeremy Latriano

Where were you born?
Brooklyn, NY

Where have you lived?
Brooklyn, NY, Albany NY, Atlantic Beach, NY and Bethlehem, NJ

High School graduated & year:
North Hunterdon High School 2011

Lions graduation date and length of term:
From 8-12th grade, 5 seasons, 2 with U15, 3 with U19

What you are doing now? School, rugby, major?
Studying and playing rugby at Penn State

Best rugby experience to date?
Tying Union 10-10 in the Mud Bowl on a last minute kick by Jake Feury.

2010

Jack Little

Where were you born?
El Paso, Texas

Where have you lived?
Texas, Tennessee, New York, New Jersey

High School graduated & year:
West Morris Central High School 2010

Lions graduation date and length of term:
2005-2007 (U-15), 2007-2010 (U-19)

What you are doing now? School, rugby, major?
Enjoying the summer, excited to see what the future has to offer.

What are your interests, school, hobbies etc.?
Rugby, skiing, relaxing with friends

Best rugby experience to date?
Being captain for the first U-19 Lions team to win the Jersey Cup.

Plans for after graduation?
Discovering what life has to offer in every from and shape.  Continuing the best sport in the world!

Matt Turinas

Where were you born?
El Paso, Texas

Where have you lived?
Houston, New York, New Jersey, London

High School graduated & year:
Chatham High School 2010

Lions graduation date and length of term:
4th year playing, graduated in 2010.

What you are doing now? School, rugby, major?
Working as a lifeguard until I ship off to Texas to work at a summer camp, then attend college.

What are your interests, school, hobbies etc.?
Rugby, rugby and rugby.  I also enjoy other sports, my dog Winnie, and socializing.

Best rugby experience to date?
Tie between playing at the NRU Finals at West Point and winning the Jersey Cup.

Plans for after graduation?
Not sure yet, but I know that I either want to go traveling or live in Austin, Texas.  Whatever I'm doing, I will try to play rugby to the best of my abilities.

2009

James Medley

Where were you born?
Middelsbrough, England

Where have you lived?
Middelsbrough, England; Feisheim, Germany; Chester, NJ

High School graduated & year:
West Morris Mendham High School 2009

Lions graduation date and length of term:
2005-2009

What you are doing now? School, rugby, major?
Student at Stony Brook University, Long Island.  Studying Journalism.

What are your interests, school, hobbies etc.?
Playing rugby with SBU, music, fishing, having a good time

Best rugby experience to date?
Rugby complex in the play-offs

Plans for after graduation?
Going to study at SBU

2008

Anthony Grego

Where were you born?
Chester, NJ

Where have you lived?
Chester NJ, West Morris NJ

High School graduated & year:
Mendham High School

Lions Graduation Date and length of term:
2004-2008

What you are doing now? School, rugby, major?
County College of Morris, N/A , Fire Science Technologies

What are your interests, school, hobbies etc.?
Fire Department, Hunting, BoyScouts

Best rugby experience to date?
Played flag rugby for Long Valley from 5th until 8th, got my first taste of tackle in Bethesda, Maryland with the Lions at a tournament and have played for the Lions until the Summer of '08

Plans for after graduation?
Go to a 4 year school for my Engineering degree and then two more years for my Master's degree in Fire Protection Engineering. After that I plan on staying in Morris County and staying active in the Lions

2007

Justin Sandy

Where were you born?
Easton, PA

Where have you lived?
PA, FL, NJ and SC

High School graduated & year:
Chatham High School 2006

Lions graduation date and length of term served:
2 years, I graduated in 2006

What you are doing now? School, rugby, major?
University of Richmond, VA... 7's... History major

What are your interests, school, hobbies etc.?
Rugby, military history, Army ROTC, collecting firearms, MMA

Best rugby experience to date?
1) Scoring a try in my first college game after intercepting a bad pass 30 seconds after I was put in the game.
2) Playing against Xavier with the Lions the first game after Gibby passed away. We lost by a penalty try to the best team in the league.
3) Getting 2nd in Virginia States Division II in 2007.

Plans for after graduation?
Serving in the US Army as a 2nd lieutenant and hopefully going to join up with Dan Rosica and kick some ass!

Rich Werkmeister

Where were you born?
Roselle Park, NJ

Where have you lived?
Roselle Park, NJ, Sparta, NJ, Collegeville, PA

High School graduated & year:
Sparta High School Class of ‘07

Lions graduation date & length of term:
3 years with the Lions, graduated spring of 2007

What you are doing now? School, rugby, major?
Ursinus College Class 2011, Biology and Neuroscience double major Bio statistics minor.  Captain of Ursinus Men's Rugby, the Bearcox.

What are your interests, school, hobbies etc.?
Officer of Campus Emergency Services, Rugby EMT, Rugby Captain, Doing genetics research with one of my professors.

Best rugby experience to date?
The Jersey Cup that was held through a huge storm at Mennen

Plans for after graduation?
Plan to go to medical school and get into surgery, eventually getting involved with doctors without borders.

2006

Conor Hynes

Where have you lived?
San Francisco, CA & Mendham, NJ

High School graduated & year:
Mendham High School 2006

Lions graduation date and length of term served:
4 years played for Lions: 2003-2006

What you are doing now? School, rugby, major?
Boston College Class of 2010 - Major: Economics; Minor: History. Currently: Boston College Rugby Football Club, Captain.

What are your interests, school, hobbies etc.?
Interests etc: Fishing, Skiing, History, Politics

Best rugby experience to date?
Losing to Xavier H.S. by a penalty try Senior Year at home pitch in Denville - I believe it was also the first match that we wore the New Jersey's with the Gibby patch - Best game Lions played during my tenure.

Plans for after graduation:
I plan to pursue graduate school studying law or education.