Mon River Mud Dogs High School Boys
The Mon River Mud Dogs were one of the goals of the Mud Lobster family which started in 1999. The Mon River High School team was much debated by Lobster founders TD Maze and Gus Schuler. In 2002, Matt Thorn and Jon Niles discussed the options and the possibilities of creating a High School boys team but the ever stuggling Lobsters had problems of their own with stability and the constant turnover rate of a mostly graduate student team. The decision was taken out of the hands when Mon River was contacted by a set of young high schoolers at MHS concerning starting a Rugby Club.
The early years were tough going for numbers and even included two female ruggers who later founded the Mon River Maniacs. Interestingly enough, this was after being snubbed at a Pittsburgh match even though one ended up being the starting scrum half of the boys team.
Jon Niles stepped in to coach as former president Matt Thorn ran off to sell legal drugs in DC. Niles, Murph, and others contributed to the early molding of team. Players like Joseph Martin, Kevin Patrick, Roberto "Bobo" Benzo, Zak Wall, Eric "Ebizzle" Watkins, Alex Mascoli, Tommy "the Hooker" McGilton, Cameron Solley, Patrick “Whopper” Palumbo, Jimmy the Retard, and Dick Driver were early players who had excellent careers and learned to love the game of Rugby.
In 2005, the Mud Dogs underwent a coaching change as Jon Frodo Niles moved on to coach WVU Men and Matt Thorn returned to Morgantown from Washington, DC. The transition was difficult in styles of coaching were greatly different. Players like Nathan Gasti, "Flash" Gordon, "Bobble Head" Yorick, The Lazzel brothers, Little McGilton helped to keep it in the family and continued to contribute to a great season.
Matt Thorn, moving on to Law School in Michigan, gave way to the current state of the team coached by a combination of Matt Arling, Cameron Solley and Jon Niles. After 6 long years, the Mud Dogs remain and continue to work towards their team goals of being a successful High School team.
