September Alumnus of the Month: Brett Peck

Congratulations to our September Alumnus of the Month, Brett Peck.

When did you play?

1988 to 2004 full-time, played after for a while in town and B/C side, some sevens, summer touch, Olde Blue Weekend.

What positions did you play?

Wing to center to flanker.

What got you started?

Kind of a long route. I had heard about the club from my younger brother who was friends with Sean Knight from school. We grew up in Ann Arbor. I was interested in playing, but I didn’t think I could play since I was going to EMU. During a conversation with my chemistry professor the topic came up and he had a TA (Tom Perkey) who was playing. He gave me his phone number and I joined the team that fall.

Any honors or awards?

Selector, nominated for team captain, Cowmeadow Awards, team stuff.

What are your favorite memories/teammates?  

Memories: So many…

First game against Notre Dame I knocked my opposing winger out of the game on the kickoff.

My first A-side selection, back when the teams were combined and we were in the Men’s Senior League, was a home game against Cleveland. It was a very big deal for me. Making it to “the show” took a lot of work. There were a lot of guys with more experience and size. I’ve always been on the small side for an inside center. It was hard to overcome that stigma. I had been bumped for both of those reasons.

On a separate note, I was a few minutes late to the game. My younger brother and I had to go to Cleveland last minute Friday night to see my dad. I missed the warm up, Dave and Jeff made the team play short until I arrived. They believed in me and did not want to sub my spot.

Winning the national championship in 1995. I started the season as open-side flanker but dislocated my big toe in a practice and missed the rest of the fall. Joe Attia took over, a pretty good replacement! In the spring for the playoffs I filled in as wing, center, and flanker.

Some special teammates: Jeff Hagan, Dave Horton, Dave Perpich, Jim Hagerman, Ed Spybrook, Brian & Kevin Zimmer, Sean Knight, Scott Salamango, and so many more.

What have you done since Michigan Rugby?

I have lived in Ann Arbor and raised my five kids: Gabrielle (25, EMU grad), Garrett (23, Hope grad), Meredith (21, Colorado State grad), Lillian (21, Northern Michigan student), Everett (18, Pioneer grad & Northwest Kansas student this fall). I work in the construction industry as a glazing contractor and chief estimator. I try to stay active; I run, lift, and run Spartan races. I go scouting with my kids, hiking, camping, and still live in town.

As for the Spartan Races, my younger brother and I had been racing in the National Series with our goal to compete at the world championship. I had made in the year before in Lake Tahoe but my brother could not race due to a training injury. However, in Abu Dhabi he made up for it and won first place in our age group.

I was just happy to race. In June that year I fainted at a workout, went to the hospital and found out that I had some serious undiagnosed heart disease, two blocked arteries. Nearly died, got four stints and a defibrillator implant a week later. I had already qualified for Abu Dhabi so my brother challenges me to go and race.  After I got cleared, I started training and we went. I finished, I don’t remember what place, but was proud to have overcome my health issues.

How has Michigan Rugby affected your life beyond rugby?

Joining the team changed my life. I joined after some aimless college years. I was 21 and got kicked out of EMU in the spring. Spent the summer in Florida working labor for my dad, who has a rugby club, doing construction in Fort Myers. Joined those guys for the summer. Joined U of M in the fall. Felt an immediate sense of home and belonging. I dedicated myself to playing, learning the sport, making the A side. This required me to get my life in order. I feel that joining the team set me on the path to being successful  I will forever be grateful for the experiences, friends, and memories, both on and off the field. Go Blue.