Poughkeepsie, NY - Finally, a day worthy of a 7s Tournament! It was sunny, it was dry, the breeze was light and warming and when it dropped it was quite definitely warm! Over the past 4 years there has not been a 7s event that even came close to this perfect. Usually, the players were shivering or wet or both!

The Vassar men fielded two 7s teams, as did the visitors SUNY-New Paltz, and the Brewers went undefeated in the 6 games played. Yes, the first match-up was tied but every other game was won. It was good to finish the Spring season on a high note and there were some truly memorable contributions.

Game 1
Vassar College Men B  17 v 17 SUNY-New Paltz Men A
Tries: Tony Mwangi (2), McCarthy Barber (1).
Cons: Sawyer Bivins (1).

This game belonged to the Vassar speedster Tony Mwangi. The Vassar B-side 7, bolstered by two first year players in Sawyer Bivins and McCarthy Barber, almost pulled a rabbit out of the hat and upset the New Paltz A-side 7. In fact, Bivins had only to knock over the conversion directly in front of the posts at the very end and it would have been a remarkable comeback 19-17 win. 

Vassar had jumped ahead 7-0 when the fleet footed Mwangi showed real pace to go down the right wing and score. Even more impressive was the work rate and tackling as Mwangi chased down what looked a certain try after New Paltz had tied it up at 7-7. Teammate McCarthy Barber swooped in and made it 12-7 and it looked like Vassar was going to take game 1. But New Paltz rallied and eventually took the lead 17-12. Time was about to expire when that man Mwangi got the ball on the left touchline and he burst through with a full 75 yards to run. The cover defense looked like it was going to run him down but somehow, some way Mwangi found the gas pedal and scooted away... 17-17 with the conversion to come. But alas the drop kick was unsuccessful and the game finished a tie 17-17.

Team: 1 Sawyer Bivins 2 Mohammad Al-Sheabani 3 Max Czekaj 9 Phil Knowlton 10 McCarthy Barber 12 Ken Kabeya 14 Tony Mwangi. 
Subs: Gabe Slavin, Samia Jaman, Rhese Fine, Caleb DiBartolo, Phil Knowlton.

Game 2
Vassar College Men A  49 v 5 SUNY-New Paltz Men B
Tries: TJ Usher (2), Rhese Fine (1), Eli Schair-Rigoletti (2), Miles Yum (1), Kiran Mullen (1).
Cons: Kiran Mullen (5), Kaiden Tocher (1) & Eli Schair-Rigoletti (1).

The Brewers quickly went to work on the New Paltz B-side 7 and did  what one would've thought the New Platz A-side 7 would've done in game 1. Vassar controlled this match from start to finish and in the process scored 7 tries.
It was not all perfect and pretty but the team moved the ball well enough and found the gaps in the Hawks defense. Kiran Mullen looked dangerous with the ball in hand and TJ Usher was back to his confident best. The balance in the forwards was such that Finn Smith was offloading in contact and Miles Yum defensively solid.
Senior Eli Schair-Rigoletti cut nice lines and collected his brace.

Team: 1 Finn Smith 2 Kaiden Tocher 3 Miles Yum 9 TJ Usher 10 Kiran Mullen 12 Eli Schair-Rigoletti 14 Rhese Fine. 
Subs: McCarthy Barber, Sawyer Bivins, Ken Kabeya, Max Czekaj, Phil Kowlton.

Game 3
Vassar College Men B  17 v 7 SUNY-New Paltz Men B
Tries: McCarthy Barber (2), Sawyer Bivins (1).
Cons: Sawyer Bivins (1).

In the JV battle of the day it was the Brewers who prevailed and having had such an impressive first game this was a very satisfying win. Bivins and McCarthy were the players that crossed the whitewash but it really was a full team effort. The big physical presence of Max Czekaj and Caleb DiBartolo paid dividends and apart from some bunching on defense the team looked very comfortable. The result meant that a win and a tie would see the team finish as the second seed if the final game went to form.

Team: 1 Max Czekaj 2 Ken Kabeya 3 Caleb DiBartolo 9 Phil Knowlton 10 Sawyer Bivins  12 McCarthy Barber 14 Tony Mwangi. Subs: Gabe Slavin, Samia Jaman, Rhese Fine, Mohammad Al-Sheabani.

Game 4
Vassar College Men A 19 v 5 SUNY-New Paltz Men A
Tries: TJ Usher (2), Rhese Fine (1).
Cons: Kiran Mullen (2).

At the Tri-State 7s Championship a few weeks ago SUNY-New Paltz was unlucky not to get a semifinal berth so this game took on real meaning. A win for Vassar A would give them the top seed and secure Vassar B's second place slot. It would set up a repeat of round 1 and with the winners advancing to the final it would be an all-Vassar affair.

TJ Usher had not put a foot wrong all day and he picked up 2 tries while first year Rhese Fine scored another. But the match got off to a poor start for the Brewers as they conceded a try and it was 5-0 to the Hawks. But New Paltz would not score again in the match after that opening 2 minutes while Vassar would score 3 times. This was more a testament to the hard work on defense and the continual harassment of the New Paltz ball carriers.

Team: 1 Finn Smith 2 Kaiden Tocher 3 Miles Yum 9 TJ Usher 10 Kiran Mullen 12 Eli Schair-Rigoletti 14 Rhese Fine. 
Subs: McCarthy Barber, Sawyer Bivins, Ken Kabeya, Max Czekaj, Tony Mwangi.

After the first 4 games, with each team having played 2 games, the standings were based on 3 points for a win, 2 for a tie and a bonus point for scoring 4 tries or more in a single game or losing by 7 points or less.

The number 1 team then played the number 4 team and the number 2 the number 3.

Could the Vassar B-side 7 go one better and beat SUNY-New Paltz A? Could the New Paltz B-side upset Vassar A? A final would only be necessary if one Vassar team and one New Paltz team were winners.

Game 5
Vassar College Men A 34 v 0 SUNY-New Paltz Men B
Tries: Eli Schair-Rigoletti (1), McCarthy Barber (1), TJ Usher (3), Kiran Mullen (1).
Cons: Kiran Mullen (2).

The Vassar A-side 7 was determined not to be upset and grabbed this opportunity continuing where they had left off earlier in the day. The Brewers scored 6 tries and shut out the feisty but outgunned New Paltz team. Schair-Rigolettin went over untouched. Usher scored a hat trick and at the center of it all was Mullen pulling the strings. 

Thoughts now turned to the Vassar B 7 taking on New Paltz A and the question being posed was would there be a 7th game? The answer was only if New Paltz was to win!

Team: 1 Sawyer Bivins 2 Kaiden Tocher 3 Ken Kabeya 9 TJ Usher 10 Kiran Mullen 12 Eli Schair-Rigoletti 14 McCarthy Barber. 
Subs: Rhese Fine, Tony Mwangi, Finn Smith, Mohammad Al-Sheabani, Gabe Slavin.

Game 6
Vassar College Men B  15 v 10 SUNY-New Paltz Men A
Tries: Caleb DiBartolo (1), McCarthy Barber (2).

This was a nailbiter from start to finish! It started in dramatic fashion as Caleb DiBartolo immediately sprinted right up the middle of the field, slicing through the defense and Vassar led 5-0. The New Paltz response was immediate and 5-5 kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Vassar lost Phil Knowlton who had played very well in the earlier games so Gabe Slavin went into the fray. 

The Brewers had gone with a big pack in Max Czekaj, Miles Yum and Caleb DiBartolo with a clear message to run hard and  be direct. They did not disappoint. But it was the silky running of McCarthy Barber that led to the next try and a 10-5 Vassar lead. Vassar went further ahead 15-5 and one felt that if the team could just maintain possession New Paltz would be done and dusted. But the Hawks scored and then calamity befell the Brewers as Max Czekaj was yellow carded for the final minutes! Vassar led 15-10 but New Paltz had the ball and with it could win the game. Desperate defense ensued and then as time expired a knock-on sealed the visitors fate! Joy and relief in equal parts engulfed the field but it was all smiles from the entire Vassar squad.

Team: 1 Max Czekaj 2 Miles Yum 3 Caleb DiBartolo 9 Phil Knowlton 10 McCarthy Barber  12 Mohammad Al-Sheabani 14 Tony Mwangi. 
Subs: Gabe Slavin, Samia Jaman, Rhese Fine, Sawyer Bivins.

Next: Saturday May 2, 2026 Vassar College Men v Vassar Alum XV at Vassar Farm KO 1:00 pm