Army West Point Athletics
Men’s Rugby Set to Host Air Force
October 31, 2024 | Men's Rugby
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point Men's Rugby team (6-1) will face off against service academy rival Air Force (3-3) in a Friday night, under-the-lights matchup.
Head Coach Matthew Sherman expressed his anticipation for the upcoming match, stating, "We're excited to welcome the Zoomies to West Point and look forward to the contest. We've been pleased with the direction our team has been going, the identity we're creating, and we're determined to take another step forward Friday night against a very athletic and physical Air Force team."
The match will be marked by a significant display of pageantry, including a halftime ceremony featuring the 39th Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, GEN Mingus, and Medal of Honor recipient CPT (Ret.) Flo Groberg, honoring the service and sacrifice of former Army Rugby Officer Representative MAJ Thomas "TK" Kennedy, Class of 2000, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2012.
The Army Rugby players understand the importance of this tribute. Dakoda Wagner shared, "It's an honor to play in this game honoring Tom Kennedy (former Rugby OR). He meant so much to the legacy of the team, and I only hope that I can one day live up to the leader and man he was. Tomorrow, we wear the jersey for him. Beat Air Force."
Jack Reed echoed this sentiment, saying, "I am thrilled to be playing in front of so many of the Army's best leaders and to be doing it in honor of Tom Kennedy. Even without a presence on the pitch, he managed to leave the jersey in a better place. I can only hope to do the same."
The Black Knights are on a three-game winning streak, recently securing a 45-20 victory over Walsh after a fiery second half. Air Force, with a 3-3 record, enters the match after a recent win against Rocky Mountain Conference rival Wyoming.
Both teams share a common opponent this season, as each was bested by the Naval Academy.
Since Army's transition to varsity status in 2014, the Black Knights and Falcons have met 14 times, with Army leading the series 12-2 and holding a 9-0 record at home against Air Force. In last season's match up, Army narrowly defeated Air Force 22-17.
Currently ranked No. 7 in D1A by the Goff Rugby Report, the Black Knights are second in the Rugby East North standings, trailing only Navy, who handed them their only loss of the season. Air Force holds the No. 22 spot.
Sophomore Howie Heller ranks fifth in the conference for total points with 47, tallying four tries, nine conversions, and three penalty kicks. Benji Kemp leads Army in tries with five this season, placing him third in the conference.
Kick-off is set for 7:00 PM on Friday. Fans can watch the action live here.
Players Mentioned
