Rugby inks Ryan Packard of Bellarmine Prep

The Cal Maritime rugby team kicked off their 2021 signing announcements with Bellarmine College Prep's, Ryan Packard.

The San Jose, Calif. native is ready to join Head Coach Steve Hiatt's team this coming fall, but this isn't the first time Packard and Cal Maritime crossed paths.

He played AAU basketball in high school and came to the campus for a tournament. He remembers his experience vividly which came back into play when deciding schools to look into for college.

"When my junior year came around and I had to start looking at colleges, my counselor had recommended it saying to give it a look. So I did and saw they had a rugby program," Packard said. "I checked it out and contacted coach Hiatt and he was excited to meet me from the start."

The recruiting process alone was enough for Packard to realize Cal Maritime is a special place. "I've talked with a lot of other colleges but the thing that set Cal Maritime apart from the other ones in the recruitment process was how the coach was so nice to me and wanted what's best for me. All of the other colleges just said hey and that was it," the Bellarmine prep star added. "And every time I've talked with someone coming from here, they all said they loved the school and it rubbed me the right way. With that, I was thinking this might be the perfect home for me."

The phrase "Keelhauler Family" gets used in the Athletics and Physical Education Department, even as a hashtag in our social media. Staff and athletes often comment how a lot of teams and programs will describe themselves as a family but can be a bit more palpable at Cal Maritime due to it being a smaller university.

"I felt that Cal Maritime was the right decision for me in the end because from what I've heard about this school. It's all about togetherness, it's about brotherhood, it's about family and sticking together," Packard added. "I wanted that from a college to where I have that family bond. And I think I'll get it from here."

Cal Maritime Rugby reached the Elite 8 of the National Small College Rugby Organizations National Tournament in 2019, finished 4th in the NSCRO's National Rankings, and were 3-1 when the 2020 season was halted due to the coronavirus. The 2019 season was Cal Maritime's fourth top-five finish in the last seven years, and the 10th time in the past 11 seasons they've finished in the top 15. Maritime has also made two Final Four appearances (2012 & 2015) and finishing as a runner up in 2012.

The Keelhaulers were not able to take the pitch in the 2020-21 school year but will look to resume action in the 2021-22 year in the 7s and 15s format.