Brookfield Grads Shine On, Off the Field with Eastern Rugby Team

WILLIMANTIC, CONN. — This fall, Eastern Connecticut State University's (ECSU) club rugby team finished in first place in the south region of the New England Rugby Football Union's Division III men's college standings and qualified for postseason play. They fought hard before losing in the semifinals against Tufts University.

The team included two Brookfield High School (BHS) graduates: Kelly McGorty, class of 2013, Accounting major; and Shea McGorty, class of 2015, majoring in Biochemistry.

Eastern's rugby club is well known for their volunteerism in the community. Over the past several years, they have refurbished the dining room at the Holy Family Home and Shelter, served meals at the Covenant Soup Kitchen and volunteered in other ways in the community.

The team just completed its seventh year under coaches Joe Pardee and Ray Aramini.

"The New England Rugby Union is the premier club league in the region," Aramini said. "We had a fantastic year and I am very proud of the team."

Intercollegiate sports at the varsity and club levels are an important component of campus life at Eastern, which is Connecticut's only public liberal arts university. The University combines a strong liberal arts curriculum with experiential learning opportunities — internships, student research and community service — to prepare graduates for successful careers in a variety of professional fields.

Founded in 1889 as a two-year normal school training elementary school teachers for jobs in Connecticut schools, Eastern has grown to become a comprehensive, master's degree-granting institution of more than 5,600 students recognized by such publications as U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review.