Luke Zana is our October Player of the Month. Zana is a crossover athlete who only just started playing rugby this fall. He earned his first start at wing against Western Michigan in September, and hasn’t looked back. On October 8, he had a breakout two-try performance against Maryland.
Position: Wing
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 190 lbs
Year: Freshman
Major: Mathematics
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Why did you decide to play rugby?
I wanted to continue athletics after football in high school, and this seemed like the most natural transition.
What have you liked about Michigan Rugby so far?
So far, I have really loved the trips we do. Driving to games, going to the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and staying in Maryland were some really fun times with the whole team, and it’s great to have time on the road to just hang with my teammates.
Describe your most memorable moment on the field.
Scoring my second try of the game agains Maryland was awesome. I caught a great offload from McNabnay and broke through the line to score. It’s always fun to score, but we had been practicing that play a lot at practice and it was super rewarding to see it pay off.
What’s your most favorite rugby drill in practice? Least favorite?
My favorite drill is working on the backside flood because it allows the wings to really get some action more often and implements some creativity. My least favorite drill is the bronco because I prefer short sprints and recovery to continuous running.
What other sports have you played?
I played football, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, and swam in high school.
What do you see yourself doing in five years?
In five years I hope to have graduated college and be working a job, hopefully in the data science field, as well as living on my own. I hope I continue athletics in some manner as well.
What is an embarrassing childhood memory that you can share with us?
An embarrassing childhood memory I have is I once ripped half my retainer out by chewing caramel. My orthodontist had specifically told me to not have caramel, and I ignored him completely. It was an awkward visit to get it repaired for sure.
What is your favorite place in Ann Arbor?
My favorite place in Ann Arbor is the entrance to Angel Hall. It feels really powerful and majestic, and makes me feel like a scholar or something when I walk in.
What is your biggest fear?
I am terrified of heights.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is steak.
Do you have any game-day superstitions? Explain.
On game day, I always listen to a podcast for about an hour to clear my mind of everything else that is going on. Then I transition to my pregame playlist, and generally try to get pretty fired up. Throughout the whole process, I try hard to not talk to anyone else, as I find that to be distracting.
Who is your favorite superhero and why?
My favorite superhero is Thor. I am very interested in Norse mythology so I enjoy that connection, and his powers would conquer my fear of heights.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
A quote that I carry in my wallet that I find impactful is that “luck is the last dying wish of those who think winning can happen on accident. Sweat is for those who know success is a choice”. I try really hard to implement a sense of work ethic and dedication into my life.
Again, congratulations to our October Player of the Month, Luke Zana!
