Andry-Tohy Rakotovololona is the September 2016 SISU Player of the Month! The senior from across the Atlantic has contributed to the team in multiple positions on the pitch and a variety of officer positions. Tohy is a natural leader who is one of Michigan Rugby’s most talented and knowledgeable players. One of the quickest players in the Big Ten, Tohy will be using his skills at inside centre but can easily make an impact anywhere in the backline. Tohy is an exceptionally hard worker who is always willing to help out the younger players and a great example of what it means to be a Michigan Man! Congratulations Tohy! Here is more about the Senior from England…

Name:
Andry-Tohy Rakotovololona
Height:
5’ 8”
Weight:
175lbs
Year:
Senior
Major:
Aerospace Engineering
Hometown:
Oxford, EN

Why Rugby?:
In my opinion, rugby has always been a sport that has brought you closer to your friends and created a family for you who you could rely on. Not to mention the full body workout you get from playing but there is something about rugby that has always allowed me to trust my teammates and achieve goals far greater than I could have imagined as a team. Rugby is really a sport of brotherhood and culture and the camaraderie you develop wherever you play will always be memorable.

What have you liked about Michigan Rugby the most so far?:
My favourite part about Michigan Rugby so far is the ability for your teammates and players to support you in whatever endeavours on and off the pitch that you have. When I grew up playing rugby back home, it was very much you had to make yourself a better person, you had to make your statement, you had force yourself to put in the extra work so that you could keep up on the pitch otherwise your coach would simply drop you if you made a mistake. Michigan Rugby has helped me to take a step further in that there is always someone to help you through a workout, there is always someone to help you understand concepts, there is always a teammate willing to be there for you if you’re feeling down in the dumps, at Michigan Rugby I have always had friends and family that have helped to make me a better person.
Most memorable moment on the pitch:
This is a tricky one but probably when Kat and I were able to execute a cross kick (Coco) against Notre Dame our Junior year as well as Coop’s reaction on the camera which was truly phenomenal in itself.

What’s your favorite rugby drill in practice? Least Favorite?:
Favourite drill…definitely team run through. I love seeing the finished products of our hard work during the week in the run through and also trying out any cheeky skills we picked up on the way.

What other sports have you played?:
Track & Field, Football (European), and Cricket.
In 5 years, what do you see yourself doing?:
In 5 years, having finished my MBA and PhD, I hope to see myself become a propulsion systems engineer at a Private Jet company such as Gulfstream or a space manufacturing company such as Blue Origin.

What’re some embarrassing childhood memories you can share with us?:
Parents realised that I needed glasses when I was 1 year old because I would walk and run into table legs.

Favorite place in Ann Arbor?:
Frita Batidos hands down.

Biggest fear?:
Disappointing both my grandmothers, always been supporting me since I was child.

Favorite food/meal?:
I love any rice based meal but my mother makes a delicious rice and lentils based meal with Toulousain sausages.

Any game day superstitions?:
Don’t think it’s a superstition but I always pray before a game and I like to take a piece of grass and mud on the field and rub it on my hands.

Favorite superhero and why?:
Tough between Ironman and Green Arrow because they are both great engineers who use the fullest extent of their technological prowess, as well as being billionaires in industry. They are actually both very charitable people which I also admire, always be prepared to give.

Best advice you’ve ever received?:
From Russell Crowe in Gladiator (Favourite Movie) “What we do in life, echoes in eternity”. I love this quote because wherever I go or whatever endeavour I engage in, I want to leave my mark and make the greatest memories so that I demonstrate the best of myself.