Sammy Sullivan
{{Short description|American rugby player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| honorific_suffix = OLY
| image = Sammy Sullivan (240802-A-QG562-1009) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Sullivan at the 2024 Summer Olympics
| full_name = Samantha Sullivan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|5|22|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
| height = {{cvt|1.63|m|ftin|order=flip}}
| weight = {{cvt|65|kg|lb|order=flip}}
| ru_position =
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =2022–
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 ={{ruw7|USA}}
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =2
{{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{USA}}
| branch = {{Army|United States}}
| rank = {{Dodseal|USAO3|25}} Captain
| serviceyears = 2020–present
}}
| medals =
{{MedalSport|Women's rugby sevens}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalComp|Olympic Games}}
{{MedalBronze|2024 Paris|Team competition}}
}}
Samantha "Sammy" Sullivan {{post-nominals|list=OLY}} (born May 22, 1998) is an American rugby sevens player. She competed for the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, where the team earned a bronze medal.{{Cite web |last=Cahill |first=Calder |date=September 1, 2022 |title=Women's Eagles Sevens target podium chase as roster is named for the Rugby World Cup Sevens |url=https://eagles.rugby/news/womens-eagles-sevens-roster-set-for-rugby-world-cup-sevens-as-the-usa-land-in-south-africa-202291 |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=eagles.rugby |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2024 |title=2024 Olympics: U.S. women's rugby sevens wins first bronze medal, stunning Australia with try as clock expires |url=https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/2024-olympics-u-s-womens-rugby-sevens-wins-first-bronze-medal-stunning-australia-with-try-as-clock-expires/ |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Sullivan spent four years at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, where she played on the Women's Rugby team for three and a half seasons. Her spring 2020 7s season was canceled due to COVID-19. Sullivan played both 7s and 15s rugby as an Army Black Knight.{{Cite web |title=Sam Sullivan - 2019-20 - Women's Rugby |url=https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/womens-rugby/roster/sam-sullivan/15384 |access-date=October 11, 2023 |website=Army West Point |language=en}}
Early life
Sullivan was born in Tacoma, Washington, to Michael Sullivan, a U.S. Army colonel, and Cindy Sullivan, a math teacher.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-13 |title=Women's rugby star holds strong family ties to Yakima, U.S. Army |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/sports_watch/womens-rugby-star-holds-strong-family-ties-to-yakima-u-s-army/article_18475e26-5521-11ef-8dbf-0f9b53e0dac3.amp.html |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Yakima Herald-Republic |language=en}} Growing up, she spent time in Germany, Kentucky, California, and Hawaii, but considers Fayetteville, North Carolina, home. She has a twin brother.{{Cite web |last=Nieberg |first=Patty |date=2024-07-30 |title=An Army officer is one of the stars of the U.S. women's Olympic rugby team |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-captain-womens-rugby-olympic-medal/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Task & Purpose |language=en-US}}
After graduating from Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Sullivan enrolled at West Point in the fall of 2016.[https://eagles.rugby/players/sammy-sullivan/1527 Sammy Sullivan | Player Profile | USA Eagles]. USA Rugby National Teams. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
Rugby career
= College career =
Sullivan joined the rugby program at the start of her freshman year at West Point and became a starter just three games in. Sullivan played rugby 15s in the fall and rugby 7s in the spring.
During her time as a Black Knight, Sullivan earned many accolades, becoming a 3x NIRA 15s All-American (2017, 2018, 2019), 2019 Prusmack Award winner, 2019 Collegiate Rugby Championship Tournament MVP, and a HSBC All-Academic Team honors, (2019–20).{{Cite web |title=1LT Samantha Sullivan :: WCAP |url=https://www.armywcap.com/soldier-athletes/olympic-sports/rugby-sevens/1lt-samantha-sullivan |access-date=October 11, 2023 |website=www.armywcap.com}} Sullivan became the first-ever rugby Army Athletic Association Award (AAA) recipient.{{Cite web |title=Sam Sullivan - 2019-20 - Women's Rugby |url=https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/womens-rugby/roster/sam-sullivan/15384 |access-date=October 11, 2023 |website=Army West Point |language=en}}
= National Sevens career =
2022 saw Sullivan make her XVs USA Rugby debut in 2022 Pacific Four Series against Canada, her USA Sevens National Team debut during the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town,{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2022 |title=USA names rosters for Sevens World Cup |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2022/09/01/usa-names-rosters-for-sevens-world-cup/ |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=Americas Rugby News |language=en-US}} and her World Rugby Series debut at Dubai Sevens in December. At the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens, the team lost to France in the bronze medal match and finished fourth overall.{{Cite web |last=Kortemeier |first=Todd |date=September 11, 2022 |title=U.S. Women Finish Fourth, Men 11th At Rugby World Cup Sevens |url=https://www.teamusa.com/news/2022/september/11/us-women-finish-fourth-men-11th-at-rugby-world-cup-sevens |access-date=September 23, 2022 |website=teamusa.org}}{{Cite web |last=Cahill |first=Calder |date=September 11, 2022 |title=USA Women's Sevens fall just short of bronze at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 |url=https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-womens-sevens-fall-just-short-of-bronze-at-rugby-world-cup-sevens-2022-2022911 |access-date=September 23, 2022 |website=eagles.rugby |language=en}}
Sullivan totals seven total caps with USA Rugby, 6 (7s) and 1 (XVs).
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sullivan was on the bronze medal-winning team for the United States.
= Premier Rugby Sevens =
2021
Sullivan played in the inaugural Premier Rugby Sevens season, suiting up with the Southern Headliners. Sullivan and the Headliners went 3–1 at the Championship Tournament, falling 28–14 to the Loonies in the Finals.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.prsevens.com/history |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=www.prsevens.com |language=en}}
== 2023 ==
Sullivan joined the Pittsburgh Steeltoes during the program's inaugural season.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CteE8IdAMOM/?img_index=1 |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=www.instagram.com}} Sullivan and the Steeltoes participated in two tournaments throughout the summer as they were eliminated from advancing to the championship.
Sullivan opened the season tallying one try in the Eastern Conference Kickoff in Austin, Texas. The Steeltoes placed third at the first tournament of the year after falling 21–19 to her former team, the Headliners in the first round. The Steeltoes edged the Texas Team, 22–0 to clinch third place.
The Steeltoes hosted the Eastern Conference Finals at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 23.{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2023 |title=Pittsburgh Steeltoes Host First Eastern Conference Here For New Rugby League |url=https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/things-to-do-pittsburgh-steeltoes-host-first-eastern-conference-here-for-new-rugby-league/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Pittsburgh Magazine |language=en-US}} However, the Steeltoes struggled to pull ahead at their home tournament as they finished in fourth place. The Steeltoes lost to the New York Locals, 22–14 in the knockout stages and then 29–0 to Texas in the third-place matchup.{{Cite web |last=Santa |first=John |date=July 24, 2023 |title=Pittsburgh Steeltoes men's team wins Premier Rugby Sevens Eastern Conference final title, advances to PR7s Championships |url=https://www.unionprogress.com/2023/07/24/pittsburgh-steeltoes-mens-team-wins-premier-rugby-sevens-eastern-conference-final-title-advances-to-pr7s-championships/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Pittsburgh Union Progress |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Sullivan lives in Chula Vista, California, with her husband Josh Schnell, whom she married in August 2024.{{Cite web |title=US Olympian Sammy Sullivan says Army service helped her win bronze medal for rugby {{!}} Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/us-womens-rugbys-sammy-sullivan-army-service-bronze-medal.amp |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=www.foxnews.com}}{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C-laKQ6Np1O/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA== |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=www.instagram.com}} She is a LEGO enthusiast, crediting the toy with helping her mental health while training for the 2024 Olympics.{{Cite web |title=We Talk LEGO with Olympic Medalist Sammy Sullivan |url=https://nerdist.com/article/olympic-medalist-sammy-sullivan-interview-lego/?amp |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Nerdist |language=en-US}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Team !Season !GP !Tries !Points !Tackles !Carries |
| Pittsburgh Steeltoes
|2023 |4 |1 |5 |10 |5 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://usa.rugby/players/sammy-sullivan/2133 Sammy Sullivan] at USA Rugby
- {{Team USA|new_id=sammy-sullivan}}
- {{Olympics.com}}
- [https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/sammy-sullivan_1950504 Sammy Sullivan] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
{{USA Women's 2024 Summer Olympics Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Sammy}}
Category:American female rugby union players
Category:United States international rugby sevens players
Category:Sportspeople from Fayetteville, North Carolina
Category:Rugby union players from North Carolina
Category:United States Military Academy alumni
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Army Black Knights athletes
Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:American military Olympians
Category:Female United States Army officers
Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in rugby sevens