Blue Hills Regional Rugby Team Earns MIAA Sportsmanship Award

In photo, standing at left is Blue Hills Athletic Director Ed Catabia. Kneeling in front and holding the award is Blue Hills Head Rugby Coach Matt Siwik. The team members present from left to right are Brandon Holbert, Joe Fagan, Matt McCarthy, Shawn Vasquez and Brendan Donovan. Photo by Judy Bass.

By Judy Bass

MILTON – The boys’ rugby team from Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton was presented with an award for exemplary sportsmanship from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) at the State MIAA Rugby Tournament at Curry College in Milton on June 22.

The plaque that was given to Blue Hills states that it was awarded for “outstanding demonstration of sportsmanship and respect during the [2019] Rugby season.”

Accepting the award on behalf of the team and the school were Athletic Director Ed Catabia and Head Rugby Coach Matthew Siwik. Assistant Coach Ryan Kiff and Volunteer Coach Burke Doherty could not be present at the award ceremony but they also contributed to the team’s success.

Several members of the team attended including Joe Fagan, Matt McCarthy, Brandon Holbert, Shawn Vasquez and Brendan Donovan.

Blue Hills Principal Jill Rossetti expressed her pride in the team and their coaches. ”Our rugby student-athletes are class acts displaying respect. grit and great team spirit because their talented coaches lead by example. We are so proud of them and wish them the best.”

AD Catabia said, “To get acknowledged by our peers is a pretty good honor. It’s a tribute to what the three coaches have done and what the rugby players have done for this program. They’re having fun and the kids are having fun. So far, it’s been a win-win for us.”

This is only the second year of the Blue Hills rugby team’s membership in the MIAA.