Turner Captures Rugger of the Year Honors

Photo: Phil Turner (left) accepts the Jeremiah Wright Memorial Trophy as New Mexico Tech Rugby Club's Player of the Year for 2005-2006. At right is New Mexico Tech rugby director Dave Wheelock.

SOCORRO, N.M., May 12, 2006 -- Graduating geology senior Phillip Turner has been named Player of the Year by his New Mexico Tech Rugby Club teammates for the 2005 - 2006 term. Turner becomes the third recipient of the Jeremiah Wright Memorial Trophy, named in honor of the former captain who died in a traffic accident in September 2002.

Other Tech rugby players recognized include:

• Most valuable back - Tory Tadano and Seth Daly (tie vote);
• Most valuable forward - Phil Turner
• Rising Star (outstanding rookie) - Steve Graves
• Most improved - Britt Catron
• Outstanding attacker - Matt Nelson
• Outstanding defender - Seth Daly

The Pygmies compiled a fall 2005 record of 11 wins and 6 losses, while capturing ten-man tournament championships in Santa Fe and Flagstaff, Arizona. Following December graduations of a handful of key players including co-captains Patrick Simons and Patrick Garcia, the Pygmies struggled to rebuild with a spring 2006 record of two wins versus five losses, and posted a 0-3 record on a 10-day tour to England. The club will field a seven-man team in the Rio Grande Rugby Union Sevens Tournament May 20 at St. Pius Field in Albuquerque before adjourning for the summer. Fall training sessions begin Tuesday, August 22.

-NMT-