Cal Welcomes 10 Freshmen to Rugby Program
Cal Welcomes 10 Freshmen to Rugby Program
(Cal Varsity Rugby Release)—The University of California rugby program welcomes ten new student-athletes to the roster for the 2022-2023 season, the 141st season for the Golden Bears.
Cal Varsity Rugby is the winningest Intercollegiate Athletics team on Berkeley’s campus, having collected 33 of the school’s 100 national-level championship titles since 1980. This upcoming academic year also marks Jack Clark’s 40th season as Head Coach of the Bears.
“It is an incoming class of high character individuals,” Clark said. “For their age they are obviously good players, but it’s noteworthy how many are captains of their teams and viewed as leaders of their schools. We believe these boys are a good fit for our university and team. They can count on all of our support.”
All ten newcomers were Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendees and eight are US passport holders. Five recruits come to Berkeley from across California, with the other five hailing from beyond the Golden State. Two of those come from Virginia while the other three are internationals, joining the team from Hong Kong, London and the Philippines. This freshman class brings a wealth of leadership skills, academic excellence and athletic talent with them to Strawberry Canyon, and they are looking forward to suiting up in the Blue & Gold come fall.
Caden (“Cade”) Crist
San Diego native Cade Crist comes to Berkeley from Torrey Pines High School. The 6-1, 212-pound hooker was team captain for both the Falcons rugby team and the football team. Crist was a member of the school’s rugby team when they were crowned the So Cal champions and state championship runners-up. He was also named a three-time scholar athlete at Torrey Pines High School.
The US passport holder was a member of the 2021 Tier Two National Champion club team, the San Diego Mustangs, which is coached by Cal rugby alumnus Ramon Samaniego. A Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, he was also a member of the club’s winning SoCal Championship teams in 2016, ’17 and ’18. Crist is spending part of the summer with the US national U18 team, competing abroad in the Corendon Summer Tour.
Outside of his athletics, Crist spent time volunteering with the Sudanese Refugee Center in his community. He is also an avid fisherman and surfer in his free time.
Crist’s father, David, is the chief financial officer of a food service company and obtained his degree from San Diego State University. Mr. Crist played rugby for the Aztecs from 1985-1987 and was a member of the 1987 National Championship winning team. Prior to their victory over the Air Force Academy in the ’87 final, Crist and the Aztecs defeated Cal in the Pacific Coast Championships. Cade’s mother, Aimee, is a West Virginia University alumna who now works as a consultant.
“It feels amazing to be a part of the Cal rugby family, especially knowing their long history of winning. I am more than excited to help keep that winning culture alive,” Crist said. “Over the next four years, I look forward to graduating from the number one public university in the country, as well as making new friends on and off the pitch.”
Byron Finley
Byron Finley, coming to Berkeley standing at 6’6 and 257 pounds, is from Larkspur, Calif.. The US passport holder attended Redwood High School, the same school that produced rugby international and Cal rugby alumnus and assistant coach, Jake Anderson.
At Redwood, Finley served as co-captain of the varsity football team and excelled as a defensive tackle and guard on the gridiron. There, he received the Principle’s Award for significant contribution to his school’s athletics program. He was also granted the Myles Kawashima Student Athlete Scholarship, the Giant Award and The Redwood High School Foundation Scholarship Award which were all presented in recognition of his outstanding commitment to both academic performance and the community.
Finley played rugby for the Marin Highlanders club team, coached by John Vantress, which fellow Cal rugby team members Ryan Marshall, Griffin Rudy, Alex Aguero, and Jafer Snipes also played for prior to joining the Bears’ roster. Finley, a Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, was named man of the match several times while playing for the Highlanders. He also spent time volunteering as an instructor at rugby camps for beginner and intermediate levels. Finley’s passion outside of athletics is photography.
Finley’s mother, Cynthia Green, is a client associate for Wells Fargo Advisors.
“It’s the best feeling in the world taking the next step in my athletic career,” Finley said. “I am really looking forward to being a member of the UC Berkeley community and all that it has to offer.”
Michael Freeman
Bay Area local Michael Freeman comes to Cal rugby from Danville. The 5’11, 175-pound scrumhalf/flyhalf joins his brother, Luke, on the Cal roster, who has been a starter for the Bears.
Freeman, a two-time Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, was the varsity rugby team captain for De La Salle High School, where he was named the Most Valuable Player in 2022 prior to being named Most Valuable Back in 2020. His team was crowned the Single School California State Champions and the Nor Cal Premier Cup champions.
The US passport holder also played football for four years for the Spartans as a wide receiver and safety. The De La Salle to Cal rugby pipeline remains intact, with Freeman joining fellow Spartan alumni and current Bears Luke Freeman, Michael Puckett, Jon Puckett, Lance Hackett, Clayton Seastrand, and Matt Vranesh in Strawberry Canyon. In high school, he was involved on campus as a member of the finance club.
Freeman’s father, Rick, is a fire captain who attended Occidental College, where he played both football and rugby. His mother, Tammy, was a swimmer for the Trojans at USC and now owns a car dealership.
“I am extremely excited to become a member of the Cal rugby team,” Freeman said. “After watching my brother play for the team over the past four years, I knew that this is the place I wanted to be. I am looking forward to joining the brotherhood of the rugby team and learning from some of the best coaches in the country over the next four years.”
Miles Malone
Miles Malone is a 6-5, 230-pound lock/No. 8 who comes from Alexandria, Va. He attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C. where he played rugby for the Eagles all four years of high school. Gonzaga College High School were runners-up in the Single School National Championships in the 2021-2022 season.
Malone, a Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, was a captain of the Eagles rugby team his senior year. The US passport holder also earned First Honors for his academic successes in his high school career. Beyond his academics and athletics, he was a member of the creative writers club on campus and a member of the school’s grill club.
Additionally, Malone spent time volunteering in the community at two different charitable organizations in his hometown. He was a part of The Campus Kitchen Project, which is a student-led organization that uses sustainable methods of fighting widespread hunger. He also volunteered with the So Others Might Eat (SOME) organization, which fights poverty and homelessness in the nation’s capital by providing a variety of different community services to those in need.
Malone’s father, Owen, is an architect who attended James Madison University, while his mother, Ashley Chappell, is a government analyst and alumna of UNC Chapel Hill.
“It feels great to be a member of Cal rugby,” Malone said. “I’m looking forward to playing at the highest level of rugby possible and training like a professional.”
Oli Newall
Oliver (“Oli”) Newall hails from London, England. The 6-1, 192-pound center/fullback played rugby for the Harrow School’s first XV. The Harrow School, now celebrating its 450th year, has produced numerous rugby internationals. Current starter for the Bears, Will Shankland, is also an alumnus of the Harrow School’s starting XV.
At the Harrow School, Newall was a multi-sport athlete, and was named captain of the Gym Society. He played cricket all four years in school and was a national U16 cricket T20 finalist. He also earned a gold medal in the National Independent Schools U18 judo competition in the 81kg division and, prior to that, was also an awarded competitor in javelin and shot put events.
Recognized for his leadership and service both on and off the pitch, Newall was selected as a Head of House for the Harrow School. He also volunteered as a mathematics tutor for the Shaftesbury Enterprise Lumina Tutoring Program, which provides services to children suffering from distressing home environments. The Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee also collected great academic achievements in high school, most notably as the winner of the St. John’s Classics essay writing competition and as a student-lecturer for his school’s Classics Society.
Newall’s father, Jamie, obtained a Master’s in Law from Cambridge University and now works as a strategic consultant and as a member of the board of directors for three listed companies. His mother, Sacha, is an alumna of Exeter University, where she studied modern languages, and now is the founder and CEO of the UK’s biggest fashion rental company, MyWardrobeHQ.
“It is really exciting to be joining such a prestigious rugby program that also has such an incredible group of supporters,” Newall said. “I am really looking forward to working with such an experienced squad of players and coaches. In addition, it is very inspiring to see the array of leading academics who teach at Cal, and I’m excited to have the chance to study under them.”
Jack Openshaw
Fellow international, Jack Openshaw, is a 5-11, 190-pound half-English, half-Filipino flyhalf from Hong Kong. The Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee graduated from the Chinese International School where he played both rugby and soccer. He received academic commendation for every semester of his high school career.
Openshaw also played rugby for the Valley Fort Rugby Football Club, one of the oldest youth rugby clubs in Hong Kong. There, he was voted MVP for the U19 Team in the 2020-2021 season. He was then promoted to the men’s team in the 2021-2022 season. Openshaw was also selected as a member of the U19 HK National Squad in 2021-2022.
Off the pitch, Openshaw engages in numerous extracurricular activities. He was the sports editor of his school’s bilingual magazine, “Xiaohua”, where he edited pieces in both English and Mandarin. He also plays guitar and performs in a band featuring all-student musicians. An active participant in community service, Openshaw tutored children of various ages in English. He also co-founded a charity called Techcycle, which collects used devices and sends them to impoverished communities in the Philippines.
Openshaw’s father, Michael, attended Leeds University where he studied Business and Chinese, while his mother, Patricia, attended Cornell University to study Psychology. Both are now practicing lawyers in Hong Kong.
“I am very excited to play rugby for Cal,” Openshaw said. “It’s a privilege to be a part of this program, and I’m looking forward to improving as a rugby player and winning some games. I’m also most looking forward to joining a brotherhood that will give me life-long friendships, and to compete in locations across America.”
Cormac Saint
Cormac Saint is a 6-0, 165-pound scrumhalf coming to Berkeley from Rescue. He graduated from Ponderosa High School, where the US passport holder was a multi-sport athlete. He played football for all four years of high school, soccer as a freshman and sophomore and he was also a member of the ski and snowboarding team for one year. He earned the Ponderosa Academic Letter, which commends high GPA, all eight semesters of his high school career.
Saint, a Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, also played rugby for the Motherlode Rugby Football Club, where he was named Motherlode MVP. A leader on the pitch, Saint was captain of his team at Motherlode RFC, the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy 2022 7s team captain, and the Nor Cal All Stars team captain in 2018-19. Saint is spending part of the summer with the EIRA on their tour to Spain, joined by rising sophomore at Cal, Dougie Brown. He most recently captained the U18 side in their match against the team from Spain in early July.
Off the field, Saint was an active member of the community. He was a member of the Ponderosa Link Crew, which helped orchestrate the school’s orientation programs for new students. He was also a part of the Cameron Park Fire Explorers, where he learned firefighting skills and volunteered at the local fire station on weekends.
Saint’s father, Tony, attended both Cheltenham University and Gloucestershire University and is now a cybersecurity director at Intel. Mr. Saint also played rugby for the Lydney Rugby Football Club in Gloucestershire. Cormac’s mother, Nicky, is an alumna of Cheltenham University and is now an executive assistant for Summitview Child and Family Services. She played rugby for the Lydney Ladies Topcats RFC team.
Both of Saint’s older brothers also play collegiate rugby in the US, one for Sacramento State and the other for Arizona State, while his sister was a Motherlode RFC team member and is now a national snowboarding champion.
“It has been my goal to join Cal rugby since I was exposed to the sport in the US, and to be a part of the team now is a massive honor and privilege,” Saint said. “I am looking forward to being a part of this program that has such a great history, and I am excited to have an environment to learn and develop in over the next four years.”
Rand Santos
Rand Santos is a midfielder who comes to Berkeley standing at 6’3 and 210 pounds. The three-time Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee and US passport holder comes from Manila, Philippines where he attended the International School of Manila. There, he was a multi-sport athlete, competing in varsity-level rugby, soccer, basketball, and baseball. Santos achieved Academic High Honors as a student as well as being a campus leader. He was awarded Most Outstanding Freshman Athlete in his first year, and later also named captain of the school’s rugby team.
Santos was a two-time varsity top point and try scorer at his high school and earned the gold and silver medals at the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools tournament. He played rugby at the club-level for the Makatai Mavericks, who were crowned the Philippines Men’s Premiership champions and where he was named team MVP. Additionally, he was most recently selected to captain the US U18 squad on their tour to the Netherlands this summer.
Outside of his athletic involvement, Santos was also a co-founder of the Makati Mavericks Sports Outreach Foundation and president of the American Cultural Club at his high school. He was also on the leadership team of the school’s investment club and a member of the volunteer outreach organization Promoting Real Education in the Philippines (PREP).
Santos comes from a long line of ruggers and former Golden Bears athletes. His mother, Bonnie, attended Cal, and his father, Rick Santos is a Cal rugby and football alumnus. Mr. Santos was a starting prop on the 1988 National Collegiate Championship winning squad under current Cal head coach Jack Clark. He then played for the London Harlequins while obtaining his master’s degrees from the London School of Economics and later for Oxford, where he played rugby in 1991 and ‘92. He also played for the Olympic Club and the Hong Kong Rugby Football Club. Mr. Santos is now the president and secretary general of the Philippine Rugby Union, alongside his duties as chairman and CEO of his own real estate company.
Rand’s uncle, Rob Santos, also played collegiate football and rugby for Harvard. Rob Santos played for the Crimson against Cal in the National Collegiate Championship Semifinals in 1993. He then played rugby for the Hong Kong national team, where he faced the US national team which, at the time, was coached by Jack Clark.
Rand’s uncle on his mother’s side, Bruce Beagle, also played rugby at Cal, while his uncles Bit Beagle and Greg Beagle played baseball and football for the Bears, respectively.
Rand’s older brothers are also a part of the rugby lineage of the Santos family. Ryan Santos is the current captain of the Harvard rugby team, while Reed Santos is the current captain of the Babson rugby team.
“I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to join the Cal rugby team,” Santos said. “Cal is the gold standard for collegiate rugby in America, and I am excited to contribute and learn from the best in the country. I am also looking forward to immersing myself into the Cal community. It comes with great honor to join the class of 2026 at the number one public university in the country. Over the next four years, I hope to grow as a student-athlete and build upon my passions at such a prestigious university.”
J.P. Vinter
John (“J.P.”) Vinter is from Great Falls, Va. where he attended Gonzaga College High School alongside fellow recruit Miles Malone. The Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee joins the front row at 5’11, 230 pounds. A multi-sport athlete, Vinter played on the school’s top rugby team, in addition to football and wrestling. The school’s rugby team were the runners-up in the 2022 Single School National Championships.
Vinter held a number of leadership positions at Gonzaga College HS. He was a captain of the rugby team in his senior year, a member of the student Booster Club and a student government officer. Vinter was also a founder and vice president of the Native American Cultural Appreciation Club at his school which, through their fundraising efforts, raised over $2,000 for the St. Joseph’s Indian School. The US passport holder also earned first academic honors all four years of his high school career.
Vinter’s father, Mike, attended Virginia Tech and is now a Senior Vice President at Space and Aviation Insurance. His mother, Boni, is a real estate agent and an alumna of the University of Maryland.
“Being part of Cal’s rugby program is exciting and an honor,” Vinter said. “I look forward to working towards carrying on the legacy of the greatest rugby program in the United States. I am also looking forward to playing some challenging games against hard competition, and living in the California weather.”
Solomon Williams
Solomon Williams is a 5’8, 175-pound scrumhalf from Carlsbad. The US passport holder recently graduated from Carlsbad High School.
Williams, a two-time Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, played club rugby for Thunder Rugby. He was a co-captain of the Tier One National Championship winning U18 Thunder team in 2021. Williams is spending part of the summer alongside fellow recruits Crist and Santos on the Corendon Summer Tour as a member of the USA Eagles U18 traveling squad.
Outside of his athletics, Williams was involved in many extracurricular activities on his high school campus, including serving as president of the rugby club and as a member of student government. He was also a part of the Carlsbad High School Television club. With this club, Williams built his passion for filmmaking while also giving back to the community by producing films for local nonprofit organizations and elementary schools.
His father, Josh, attended George Washington University and is now a researcher. His mother, Veronica, is a chief technology officer who obtained her degree from CSU Long Beach.
“I am honored to be a member of Cal rugby. It has been a dream of mine since I was about seven or eight years old,” Williams said. “I am grateful to Coach Clark and Coach Billups for giving me this opportunity. I am looking forward to, over the next four years, getting a world-class education while playing and being a part of a nationally recognized rugby program.”
