ABOUT
Founded in 1976, and re-establised in 2010 after sixteen years of dormancy, Ithaca College Rugby is currently the largest sport club on campus. and the fourth largest men's athletic program at Ithaca College. Boasting a roster of approximately 65 athletes, the program runs both competitive 15s and 7s rugby. Bombers Rugby has traveled across the nation and abroad, representing our school and sport with distinction.
In 2013, the Ithaca College Rugby Endowment was created to support the development of rugby and enhance opportunities for student-athletes to develop skills and friendships through the brotherhood of rugby.
Win or lose, Bombers Rugby seeks to serve as a model of success for collegiate rugby.
TEAM
Dr.Annemarie Farrell
(Head Coach)
Annemarie Farrell began her position head coach of the Men's Rugby team in 2009, 6 months prior to the program’s reinstatement. Just two years later she led the team to a DIII NSCRO Final Four appearance, and the team has continued its success under her leadership in USA Rugby Division II. As one of three women currently coaching collegiate men, she has overseen the development of Ithaca College Rugby from just a dozen participants to over 60 student-athletes, the establishment of the IC Rugby Endowment, and an international tour. Previously Farrell served as Head Coach of Cornell Women’s Rugby, Denison Women’s Rugby and as a scrum coach for Ohio State Women’s Rugby. At the national level, Coach Farrell managed the U.S. Women’s National Team, under Head Coach Kathy Flores, from 2006 to 2008. A Level III certified USA Rugby coach, Farrell presented her experiences coaching college men at the Women’s Sport Foundation’s Title IX conference at the University of Michigan.
Farrell is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, and completed a Masters and Ph.D in Sport & Exercise Management at The Ohio State University. She is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Sport Management & Media at Ithaca College. Her research focuses on female sport consumer behavior.
Terry Light
(Assistant Coach/Backs Coach)
Terry Light has been assistant coach and backs coach of IC Men’s Rugby since 2010 under Coach Farrell. Coach Light has a lifetime of rugby behind him, including 20 years as a scrum half. Light was a varsity letterman with the crew team at Syracuse University, however also played on the Syracuse University men’s rugby team. Following graduation, Light continued his participation with the Syracuse Rouge’s (town of Syracuse rugby team), where he did a New Zealand tour that was highlighted by an All Black’s training session. He continued to play while attending Cornell Business School, as well as played for the San Francisco Rugby Club. Light ended his rugby-playing career by playing for the Kenya Harlequins RFC, which included a rugby tour of Ireland. Light is a level 200 USA rugby certified coach, and possesses a true love for the game.
Coach Light is the child of two Ithaca graduate’s, and is currently retired from working 34 years in international business and project management providing humanitarian aid with organizations such as the UN, primarily in Eastern Africa. Light is married with 2 children, and enjoys playing Jazz trumpet in his band (check them out at The Nines in Cornell!).
Vincent Manta
(Backs Captain)
Jack Heismeyer
(Fowards Captain)
Vincent Manta began playing rugby in his freshmen year in 2013 at Ithaca College. Manta began playing as a wing as a freshemn. Throughout his three years here at Ithaca College, Manta has played scrum half and flyhalf in the back line, but his home has been as the team's scrum half. Whether it be 15s or 7s, Manta is there to distrubute the ball to the person running and calling for it.
Manta is in his junior year at Ithaca College. He is a Art History major with a concentration in museum studies.
He is to grauated in the spring semster of 2017, and he plans on playing this sport until his body will not let him anymore.
Jack Heismeyer began playing rugby his freshmen year in 2012 at Ithaca College. Heismeyer started playing flanker when he first started, but he graduated to hooker. Over the course of his four years at Ithaca College, Heismeyer has not only played every foward position possible, but he has also left the pack and played scrum half and wing for the Bombers.
Heismeyer has done more with rugby than just played the game over the course of time here. He is a certified 200 level coach. Heismeyer has coached the Ithaca College Men and Women's club rugby teams, and also the Ithaca area Women's club - the Ithaca Avengers.
Heismeyer has traveled to Las Vegas to play 7s as well as play 15s in Ireland.
Along with rugby, Heismeyer is studying Television-Radio with a concentration in media production.
Post graduation, Heismeyer plans to finsih his class in order to become a certified referee. He also plans to coach a high school or higher team later on in life.