Congratulations to Braden Loughnane, our Player of the Month!
Position: Center
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 175 lbs
Year: Rising Sophomore
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Westwood, MA
Why did you decide to play rugby?
My brother played in college (Holy Cross in Worcester, MA) so it was on my mind, and I knew I would miss football and needed to be part of a team.
What have you liked about Michigan Rugby so far?
It’s a great community and all of my best friends are on the team. We manage to have fun together while still pushing each other to get better on the field.
Describe your most memorable moment on the field.
Because of a few injuries and an exam conflict, I got to start at center last fall against Notre Dame. About five minutes into the game I got the ball and dove into the try zone for the first score of the game (and the first of my career). The rest of the game didn’t go so well, but that was a big moment for me and I look back on it a lot.
What’s your most favorite rugby drill in practice? Least favorite?
Favorite: any kicking drills the backs do; least favorite: sock wrestling (because I always lose)
What other sports have you played?
In high school I played football and baseball. I also ran track in the winter.
What do you see yourself doing in five years?
I’m not sure exactly what I want to do with my computer science degree, so hopefully I’ll explore some upper level courses and figure that out within the next few years. I think I would like to live out in California for a bit, hopefully still playing rugby.
What is an embarrassing childhood memory that you can share with us?
Trying to be rebellious, I was a Yankees fan for a couple of years when I was young. That’s a big deal in Boston, and I would wear jerseys to school and everything. I think I came to my senses after the 2007 World Series and went back to being a Sox fan. I like to pretend that that part of my life never happened…
What is your favorite place in Ann Arbor?
Mitchell Field (duh)
What is your biggest fear?
Snakes and spiders
What is your favorite food?
I eat a lot of pasta. It’s a very versatile food.
Do you have any game-day superstitions?
Not really; I’m not very superstitious. I try to follow the same schedule for when I eat, hydrate, and stretch before the game, but no voodoo.
Who is your favorite superhero and why?
Batman. When I was little we had the old ’60s Batman TV show on VHS. I also love the Dark Knight movies. Batman’s one of the only superheroes without any supernatural powers (as long as you don’t count being born a billionaire), so he gets credit for that.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
“Nobody cares, work harder.”
Again, congratulations to our June Player of the Month, Braden Loughnane!
