2023-24 William V. Campbell Memorial Scholarship Recipient: Patrick McCann
Encouraged by his football coaches to try a new sport. Patrick McCann began his rugby career during his freshman year at Xavier High School in Garden City, New York. He helped Xavier High School Rugby complete an undefeated season and also to a handful of appearances in the High School Rugby National Championships.
“In my experience as rugby coach, Patrick is the exact type of player that programs strive to produce and are paramount to the continued successes of any team. His commitment to the program was evident in his dedication to all aspects of practice and training expected in a highly competitive atmosphere. Patrick has always been a player that one can depend on. Malleable to any position he's asked to play and dedicated to putting his best performance out on the pitch at a moment's notice. His selfless nature and humble attitude would time and time again prove to reinforce his dedicated work ethic both on and off the pitch. It was that down-to-Earth attitude that made him a beloved player among the coaching staff and the players he shared the pitch with,” said Ski Bailey, Xavier Rugby Varsity Assistant Coach.
McCann graduated from Xavier High School with a 3.8 GPA. He was a dual sport athlete, also playing for the Xavier High School football team. He was involved in several extracurricular activities such as the National Honor Society, the Xavier Irish-American Society, and volunteering in his parish’s special needs program and with Habitat for Humanity.
He will continue his athletic and academic career at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is determined to help Holy Cross win a small college national championship. After college he would like to become involved in a local men’s team. While he is uncertain about his career plans, he is passionate about partaking in service trips around the world, “I want to use what I have learned in rugby, and apply it to all aspects of my life,” said McCann.
