Thank You, Exchange Students

This May is Senior Appreciation Month! Michigan Rugby’s class of 2020 includes 13 graduating seniors. Those seniors are joined by three exchange students who are leaving the program after spending a year in Ann Arbor. In this article, I’ll acknowledge those exchange students. Stay tuned for articles later this month that will focus on our seniors.

Before we begin, four seniors will not be recognized in this article series because they are returning next year. Team captain Jack Vecchio just graduated with a degree in aerospace engineering. However, Jack will return in the fall to pursue a masters. Truman Stovall, meanwhile, just graduated in three years with a degree in biomedical engineering, but plans to return for a fourth year as he also pursues a masters. Davis Grimm and Juan Marco will return as fifth-year seniors.

Let’s recognize our exchange students:

Dan Geary

Dan Geary came to Michigan Rugby from Ireland in January and unfortunately only got to wear maize and blue for a few months. Dan impressed as scrum half for Bennies in Intrasquads. Next year, Dan will return to University College Dublin, and he will graduate in 2021. Here’s a clip of Dan making a fool out of me (George Janke) before scoring:

Dimitris Ioannidis

Dimitris Ioannidis played wing and fullback for the Wolverines during his year in Ann Arbor. Dimi, as he was known on the team, made the most of his Michigan Rugby experience. In addition to touring Mexico with the team during spring break, he helped Sues to an Intrasquads title in February. Originially from Cyprus, Dimi has one year left at City University of London, where he studies finance. Here’s Dimi racing down the field for an Intrasquads try:

Pablo Ballesteros

Pablo Ballesteros joined the rugby team as soon as he stepped on campus last August. He played fullback and flanker for Michigan. While his fall season was cut short because of a broken ankle, Pablo did play a starring role in Bennies’ upset of Dudes in the Intrasquads playoffs this year. Pablo is a business major, and will return to Madrid in the fall for one more year at Comillas University. Here’s a clip of Pablo scoring a try against Eastern Michigan:

Dan, Dimitris, and Pablo, thank you for your dedication to Michigan Rugby this year. You’ll always be a part of the UMRFC family. Good luck with your future endeavors!