By Justin Rutledge | 2.15.16
A staple of any rugby team’s schedule of off-season shenanigans is the annual awards banquet. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with the brothers and sisters from the club you might not have seen in awhile. It’s an opportunity to put on the fancy pants and relive the highlights of the recent season. It’s a chance to recognize the players, coaches and members who are the best at what they do; a chance to honor the members and loved ones for all that they do. The Cleveland Crusaders had their inaugural awards banquet, the Feast of the First Crusade, and it was an event to be seen.
On January 30, the team took over the River Room at Windows on the River to relive the year that was 2015. For many clubs, the first year is one full of growing pains. That was not the case for the Crusaders, and that was evident at the Feast. Following an early cocktail hour and dinner, Master of Ceremonies Mark Staron II started the formal presentation of the evening, the Roast of the First Crusade. After some initial comedy the club’s Officers were recognized and the Heads of State took the floor to address the room. Head Coach, Donnie Harbert, and the club’s Vice President, Terry Kilbane, spoke from the heart – and from notes on a smartphone – to address the men and women at the tables in the room, saying that without the players, supporters and loved ones the club could not have had the success it had achieved so far. After Harbert and Kilbane made their addresses, the coaches and captains were honored for their guidance and leadership during the season.
The main portion of the Feast kicked off at 8:00pm with the Team Awards. Nick Musarra and Jason Geanuracos were praised for their offensive contributions to the club in 2015, while Tyler Best and Mark Staron II got recognized for their stand-out efforts on the defensive line. The two that stood out for their on-field contributions were Nick Viviani and Andrew Little, who received Most Valuable Player honors that evening. These two players were instrumental in facilitating the club’s success in 2015 and their teammates made sure their contributions were recognized.
Before the lights got turned down and the music got turned up, the Crusaders had two more awards to hand out. The recipients of these awards were being praised for their long-standing dedication to the sport and development of the team. Kritter Regan received the Lionheart Award and Steve Burke was given the Honorable Crusader award. Both men were integral in shaping the culture and climate of the club while working in conjunction with the other Officers and other members operating behind the scenes all year.
The evening closed with everyone taking to the dance floor, where players put on their best displays of dancing and singing until the lights came up. The evening concluded with cocktails and games at the Old Angle Tavern.
The Crusaders’ spring season kicks off with a pilgrimage to Savannah, GA for the annual tournament. The club will enter two teams in competition in the hopes that both will bring home hardware. Keep track of all the action with the club’s Twitter account and revamped Instagram feed. Remember, the best way to bring in spring in 2016 is to #JoinTheCrusade.