John Vakiener

Prop

1975-Present Day

My Rugby Life

When did you first learn about rugby?

As a senior in high school from a friend who took up the game at Vanderbilt.

1975 – Fall of my Freshman year at Lafayette College.

When I was at Cornell, we played the Aardvarks. Got a summer internship at Kodak in 1980, hooked up for summer 7’s, then full time after graduation in 1981.

Playing

  • Lafayette College ’75-’79
  • Cornell University ’79-’81
  • Aardvarks ’81-’91
  • Lafayette Old Boys ’80-’92
  • Rochester O40’s ’97-’06
  • Wild Oats O50’s/O60’s ’07-current

Coaching

  • Aardvark Player-Coach 1987-’88
  • Fairport Youth 2002 – 2019
  • Aardvark assistant ’18-current

Mostly prop, mix of tight and loose head, and season or two at flanker.

  • Upstate Rugby Union Select Side ’81-’87
  • NE Rugby U-25 vs. Australia University tour side ’82
  • Empire state games ’81 (Central Region) and ’82 (Western – champions),
  • Aardvark MVP ’84
  • 2 Renegades Summer 7’s Championships
  • 1986 UK tour to England and Ireland – I scored what I was told was first ever Aardvark try overseas vs. Waterford Glass in Ireland
  • Spring tours – DC, North Carolina, Hilton Head, Atlanta…
  • One of original benefactors contributing funds to purchase the land that became Aardvark Park
  • Incredible number of unforgettable teammates along the way, including Denby Blackwell, Rocco DiMarsico, Rick Caufield, Jon JY Young, Scott Schuman, Dave Voigt and many, many others

After our second child was born in 1991, I stepped away to watch my kids grow (and play sports).  I did not expect that hobby would continue through the youngest one finishing college sports in 2018, which in turn allowed me to return to the Aardvarks as a volunteer coach and administrator (President).

  • As a player, beating Buffalo in two summer 7’s finals,
  • 1986 UK Tour, and playing in the first matches at Aardvark Park in 1989.
  • As a coach, our first side going undefeated in Spring ’21, followed by 2nd side winning D4 EGU championship that fall.
  • As administrator, leading the work to sell perpetual easement for cell tower, resulting in a windfall for the club and AVP development.

Retired from paid employment  during 2020 Covid pandemic  Now splitting time between our home in Fairport and our vacation property on Keuka Lake.  Since I was ‘voluntold’ to be club president at 2018 AGM, that has become a time consuming labor of love.