Mike Drill - Club Founder

MIKE DRILL

Club Founder

Mike Drill founded the Downingtown Rugby Club in 1996. Mike was a former player for Millersville University. After beginning his teaching career at Downingtown Middle School, Mike began to introduce rugby to some of his football players as a way to stay in shape. The students liked the sport so much, Mike was encouraged to start a squad and begin competing as Downingtown Rugby Football Club. Mike retired from coaching and as the Board President in 2019. The Downingtown Rugby community continues today, thankful for Mike's 20 plus years of dedication, effort and sacrifice. Many alumni players continue to sing the praise of Mike's dedication to advancing youth players as quality competitors and quality people.

COACHING STAFF

Ehren Murphy - Head Coach (HS Boys)

EHREN MURPHY

Head Coach (HS Boys)

(profile coming soon)

Oliver Snow - Head Coach (HS Girls)

OLIVER SNOW

Head Coach (HS Girls)

Oliver joined our DRFC high school girls team coaching staff in 2020 as an assistant, and took over head coaching duties in the summer of 2022. He began his rugby career in 1997 with the Brandywine Rugby Club. A family affair, his father played rugby in the 70’s for the Philadelphia Rugby Club, and his brother played for West Chester University and at Brandywine as well. He played regularly for about the next 4 years, starting at wing, before eventually becoming a member of the forwards as a second row. Oliver joined the U.S. Army in 2001, and while being on active duty during the war, tried out for the All-Army Rugby Team in Ft. Lewis, WA. He was selected to the team and was a member of the 2003-Armed Forces Championship Team.

123F3900-BD7E-45C0-B775-726E53A0E5FC

Adriana “Adri” Zeiders

Assistant Coach (HS Girls)

Adriana “Adri” Zeiders began playing rugby in 2013 with the Hempfield Knightmares Rugby FC. There she played as a forward in the many positions of the pack. Adri graduated from Hempfield High School in 2013 and attended West Chester University where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. While at WCU, Adri found herself in the back line, mainly playing as inside center. During her college rugby career, Adri was selected twice to play on the USA Junior All-American team in their matchups against Canada. After graduating in 2017, Adri joined the West Chester Borough Police Department as Police Officer. She continued to play rugby after college with the Phoenixville Women’s Rugby Club, where she still plays today. In 2020 Adri enlisted with the United States Army Reserve and completed vigorous training to become a Civil Affairs Specialist. Adri is also as an assistant coach for the women’s rugby team at WCU. In her downtime Adri enjoys spending time with her wife and their dog, Maverick.

Rosato-1920w

Jim Rosato

Assistant Coach (HS Girls)

Jim started playing rugby in 1975 at Conestoga H.S. After high school he joined the infamous Philadelphia Rugby Club, he then attended Ohio University where he was the captain from 1977-1979. After college he went back to play for Phila Rugby and was selected to the Mid-Atlantic All-Stars from 1980-82.  Jim joined the Old Gaelic Rugby Club in Harrisburg for a few years before the birth of his second child. For the past 20 years he has played for the vaunted Cardinals Old Boys Club, playing in a couple tournaments a year.

Jim's coaching career started here at Downingtown in 2002 when his daughter started playing.  He started the middle-school rugby program at DRFC and coached them, from 2002-'04. He helped with the Downingtown HS boys team from 2004 to '06 and has enjoyed watching his daughter and sons play rugby at Penn State, even as recently as the fall of '23 where he traveled to Grenada to watch his son Jim play for Atlantis. He has been an assistant coach with DRFC HS Girls since '23.

Shindledecker

Bayla Shindledecker

Assistant Coach (HS Girls)

Bayla Shindledecker started playing rugby in 2014 for Kiski Valley Rugby Club. She played all four years of high school in the forward pack and was on the PA all-state high school team in 2016. Bayla graduated from Saltsburg High School in 2018 and moved across the state to start her collegiate career at West Chester University. Bayla quickly became a freshman starter at WCU, playing lock and flanker. She was also a starting prop for the WCU women’s rugby 2019 National Championship team. Bayla continued to grow within the sport as she spent a few weeks at ARPTC in 2021 and played on the Young Glory Mid-Atlantic Women's U23 team in 2022. Bayla served as the forwards captain for WCU women’s rugby for the 2021-2022 year and the fall season of 2022. Along with rugby, Bayla was a member and served on the executive boards for the Abbé Society and A Moment of Magic at WCU. Bayla graduated with her bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2022 in Communications Sciences and Disorders with minors in Special Education and Deaf Studies. She is currently continuing her education at WCU for her masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology and will graduate this summer.

Bitsy

Elizabeth "Bitsy" Cairns

Assistant Coach (HS Girls)

Bitsy Cairns was born and raised in Lionville and began her rugby journey in 2010, joining the Downingtown Rugby Football Club. Following in both of her older sister’s footsteps, she played 2 seasons in her hometown before continuing her career (and studies!) at Penn State University . While at Penn State she earned 4x Collegiate All-American honors and got to represent the USA u20 team before earning her first cap with the US Womens National Team in 2015. She continued to train/compete with Life West’s Women’s Premier League team in the San Francisco Bay Area, while she completed her Doctorate in Chiropractic. In 2017 she earned a reserve position with the USWNT for the 2017 Rugby World Cup, and after 4 more years of hard work made the squad for the Rugby World Cup in 2022. The sport has brought her all around the country and globe in the past couple years, but in 2023 she made her way back to where it all started in Downingtown. She is excited to give back to the community that introduced her to this great sport!

123-1 (2)

CHRIS LOVELL

Coach (Junior Boys)

Coach Lovell has been involved with rugby for over 53 years as a player, coach and supporter. Started coaching for DRFC Juniors in 2006 and had 2 sons playing for the club. During his first period of coaching, he coached the forwards on DRFC State Championship side before taking time off to watch his youngest play rugby at University of Delaware. He was happy to return to coaching as the head coach for the 2022 season and is looking forward to building the youth program back to strength.

When not coaching, Chris has his own healthcare consulting practice and spends time with family and friends and his Portuguese Water Dog Monty.

image_50424065

DAVE MISCAVAGE

Coach (Co-ED Youth)

Dave started playing rugby at Drexel university where he played in the front row for four years. After graduating, Dave joined the Schuylkill River Rugby Men's team where he played for two years. Dave got involved in rugby again in 2018 by coaching at the youth level and has coached youth teams every year since. Dave joined Downingtown rugby as a coach in 2024.

CLUB BOARD MEMBERS

Matt Snyder - Club President

MATT SNYDER

Club President

Matt took over the reins of the club when the founder, Mike Drill, retired in 2019. Having never actually been a rugby player, Matt brings experience from leadership of other not-for-profit, volunteer organizations and passion as a fan of the game. He became involved with administration of the club while his son was a player and stayed to manage the program through the challenging COVID years. His focus is on the player experience and development of the next generations of rugby players in the Downingtown area. Matt is preparing a club operations manual for reference and guidance to current and future club leadership.

Other

NICOLE WARNER

Club Vice President

(profile coming soon)

Tara Photo

TARA DOSTALIK

Club Secretary

My son is currently playing for the Jr Team, but started playing with Rookie Rugby in 4th grade. I am still learning the rules of the game after 5 years of attending every match my son has played! In my spare time I enjoy reading ( Rugby for Dummies), mountain biking and spending time with my family and friends!

image000000

KELLYANN MORDOSKY

Club Treasurer

Kellyann has taken over the reigns as club treasurer. She and her husband, John, have two children that have played rugby for DRFC. Her son Tyler is now an alumni and her daughter Erin currently plays with the HS Girls team.

image_50437889

Fundraising Coordinator

Christine Sledd has been with DRFC since 2022. Her son, Mason, is currently on the Juniors team. Our motto of "Strength through Unity" is so valuable in shaping our players lives. She is excited to help raise funds to better an already incredible program!

 

 

Other

(Currently Vacant)

Social Media Coordinator

 

Other

(Currently Vacant)

Marketing Coordinator

 

John Ahern - Board Member (at large)

JOHN AHERN

Board Member (at large)

John is a former Club Vice President, and has been with the club since 2010 when his son Jonathan (Curly) began playing in middle school. John helps coordinate the management of the club's TeamSnap application and website, and also supports other ancillary board activities. One of John's hobbies is rugby photography, and he enjoys capturing action shots during matches and sharing them with players and their families.

Addy McKerns - Club Treasurer

ADDY McKERNS

Board Member (at large)

Addy’s son and daughter both play at the high school level for Downingtown Rugby. Ever since her kids got a taste of rugby in 3rd grade during rookie rugby camp, they were hooked. She says, "The program is nothing but outstanding." Coaches are supportive and knowledgeable. Addy says her favorite part about the club is that “we are a family on and off the field”.

WIN_20230418_17_52_51_Pro (2)

WES WARNER

Board Member (at large)

Wes Warner began playing Rugby in 1993 for the University of Houston-Clear Lake Hurricanes where he played Prop for 4 years.  After a lengthy departure from the sport following graduation, Wes was re-introduced in 2012 when his Daughter joined DRFC in her Freshman HS year.  Wes originally joined the Board in 2019 as Secretary and now has 2 boys playing for the club on the Boys HS as well as Junior teams.