Bowling Green, Ohio - The Bowling Green Falcons concluded their season on December 13th as they finished Runners-Up at the 2025 NCR D1-AA National Final following a hard-fought 21-15 defeat to the University of Tennessee. The match capped off an eventful season for the Falcons. The Fall included some standout victories, which included a 96-7 win against Ohio University, an 85-0 win over the University of Pittsburgh, a 53-8 win over Western Michigan, a 55-3 win over Babson, a 71-24 win over Virginia Tech, and a 26-21 sudden-death overtime victory against the University of Louisville. Throughout the Fall season, the Falcons went 5-1 in the MAC, 1-1 Non-Conference, 1-1 in the MAC Tournament, 3-1 in the National Tournament, finishing both the 2025 MAC and National Runners-Up with a 10-4 Overall Record.

While the final match against Tennessee did not end with the Falcons getting their second National Championship Title since 2018, it became clear that Co-Captain Phil Tracey has played himself into NCR D1-AA Player of the Year contention. The Falcons only managed two tries against Tennessee, the first being after an offload by Center John-Luke Weiler, which led to a 35m line break from Phil Tracey, who scored in the corner, bringing it to 7 all. The second try from the Falcons once again came from Tracey after he plowed through 4 defenders around the 55-minute mark to close the gap to 14-12. Ultimately, the efforts of Phil kept BG in the hunt for their ring.

Phil's 22
While Phil managed two tries during the national final, they were only two of his 22 tries throughout the fall. Even going into the National Final, Phil was far ahead of his other teammates as the clear BG try leader of the Fall. For Phil, the season began in Buffalo, New York, where he scored two tries alongside Flanker Colton Crabiel to give the Falcons 40 of their 48 points in their season opener and 48-7 win over the University at Buffalo. The following weekend, BG was in Cincinnati for their MAC opener, where Phil scored one of four tries for the Falcons in their 26-10 win over the University of Cincinnati. The next match for Phil and the Falcons was their home opener against Ohio State. While BG fell short in a 36-8 loss to the Buckeyes and Phil did not score, he was now at three tries in three matches. BG took their second loss of the Fall, 32-22, to Louisville at home in the MAC. However, Phil returned to scoring ways with another brace, his second of the season, bringing his tally to five tries in four matches. After the loss to Louisville, BG went to Avon to face Ohio University. With an all-around performance seeing 12 BG Ruggers combined for 16 tries in a 96-7 victory, Phil again found himself with a try. His tally was now up to six. The team's ability to score continued the following week in an 85-0 win against the University of Pittsburgh. Phil scored two of the team's 12 tries, making it his third brace and eighth try in six matches. Bowling Green was awarded a 28-0 victory against the University of Dayton following a match cancellation. Although no individual got credit for the points scored against the Flyers, it did not slow Phil's scoring run. The next week, BG faced Western Michigan in their final MAC regular-season match. Phil led the team in tries, scoring a hat trick in the dominating 53-8 victory over the Broncos. This match marked Phil's first hat trick of the season, and his 11th try in seven matches. With the regular season over, Phil had managed nine tries in six MAC Conference matches and two tries in two non-conference matches.

With the postseason on deck, Phil could not stop scoring. BG and Western Michigan squared off in the semi-final of the MAC Tournament. Although BG made it harder on themselves than the week prior, Phil scored four of the team's six tries, seeing his tally rise to 15 in eight matches. With the Final of the MAC Tournament not panning out how the Falcons imagined, was still able to hold his head high after the 32-22 loss as he scored another try, making his season total 16 in 10 and his fifth of the MAC Tournament. Although BG finished as runners-up in the MAC, they earned a Play-In spot in the 2025 NCR D1-AA National Tournament. Their run to the National Final began with a 55-3 win in Niagara Falls, New York, against Babson, where Phil got his first try of the National Tournament. The next match, Phil got his fourth brace of the season in a 71-24 Quarter Final victory over Virginia Tech in Butler, PA. Phil was just shy of 20 tries on the season with 19 in 12. Phil found his 20th try of the season after Thanksgiving break in the Semi-Final against familiar rivals Louisville during the team's 26-21 sudden-death overtime victory, which punched their tickets to Houston for the second year in a row. As mentioned in the beginning, Phil closed out his season with two tries against the University of Tennessee, for his fifth brace of the year and 22nd try. Phil finished the year with 22 tries in 14 matches, a return of 1.57 tries per match, five braces, 1 hat trick, 1 four try match, a record of 10-4, and both a MAC and NCR D1-AA National Runners-up medals. Clearly earning his Player of the Year Nomination.

"I personally was ecstatic about how my season went. I mean, I have never been a player who is consumed by individual goals. I joke around a bit with the team, but at the end of the day, I really just want the team to succeed, and I am very lucky to have a team that puts me in places where I can individually thrive to help the team. Overall, it's probably one of my favorite seasons that I've personally had," said Phil Tracey.

Scoring Breakdown:
Buffalo - 2 Tries, 1st Brace

Cincinnati* - 1 Try

Louisville* - 2 Tries, 2nd Brace

Ohio University* - 1 Try

Pitt* - 1 Try

Western Michigan* - 3 Tries, 1st Hat Trick

Western Michigan# - 4 Tries, 1st 4 Try match

Louisville# - 1 Try

Babson! - 1 Try

Virginia Tech! - 2 Tries, 4th Brace

Louisville! - 1 Try

Tennessee! - 2 Tries, 5th Brace

* MAC Conference

# - MAC Tournament

! - NCR D1-AA National Tournament

Additional Awards
Before Phil was announced as NCR D1-AA Player of the Year, he was named in the MAC's 2025 All-Conference First XV as well as in the Goff Rugby Report D1AA Fall Hot 100: Loose Forwards. After the season concluded, Phil was also selected to participate in the NCR All-Star weekend for the Great Lakes Thunderbirds over the weekend of January 17th and 18th in Atlanta, Georgia. The Great Lakes Thunderbirds are the all-star selections from Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, and Michigan. Phil was one of seven D1-AA and one of four from the MAC selected for the Thunderbirds. The team featured players from D1-A programs such as Wheeling, Indiana, Marion, Walsh, Rio Grande, Aquinas College, Indiana Tech, and St. Thomas More. The other D1-AA schools featured were Kentucky, Louisville, and Cincinnati.

"This is my second all-star weekend. My first one was two years ago, and it was back when it was being hosted in Houston. However, this weekend was really fun. I got to meet a bunch of guys from a bunch of different schools that I had previously met, along with some old teammates that I played back in my first time being with the team, said Phil Tracey. "It was really fun, the competitive atmosphere was great, and being down in Atlanta was a good breath of fresh air. We came a little bit short of first place at the tournament, but the team was playing at a really high level. It was a good time hanging out and competing with a lot of guys that I've previously butted heads with."

NCR D1-AA Men's Player of the Year
After all of Phil's hard work, and what we can only imagine to be a simple decision for the selection committee, Phil was named NCR D1-AA Men's Player of the Year following the conclusion of the NCR All-Star Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. When asked about winning the award, Phil said… 

"It's a very sweet feeling. I've put a lot of work in for a while, and when I was at Lindenwood, I felt like I was getting underutilized and not really appreciated. Whether that was a fault of my own or anybody else's, who's to say? However, being able to come here and really flourish in the community and in the team that I've found myself part of has been an honor, and being able to get this award, not only for myself, but for my teammates and for the club. Being a part of BG History is a very special feeling."

About Phil Tracey
Phil Tracey is from Dayton, Ohio, and began his rugby career playing for Dayton Northern Force, his local High School club team. He is currently working to complete a major in Environmental Policy and Analysis with a specialization in restoration. However, Phil has not always been a Falcon. Before he arrived in Bowling Green, Phil committed to Lindenwood for Rugby.

"I was between a couple of different schools coming out of high school, but Lindenwood obviously grabbed my eye, being predominantly a big powerhouse in a top division of rugby, and I really wanted to go there to further my game and my understanding of how to play at a higher level. It was very competitive and very focused, said Phil.

However, while Phil made the tough choice about his stab at a college rugby career, he found himself not completely satisfied at Lindenwood.

"It was kind of missing the brotherhood aspect, in my opinion. They obviously have great coaches and great guys on the team, but I personally never felt like I fit in there, and I kind of just wanted out," said Phil. "I wanted a new scenery and a new brotherhood."

As we know, the story ends with Phil deciding to transfer to Bowling Green. Phil wasn't only motivated by the opportunity to play rugby at Bowling Green. He had been in conversations with BG Rugby's Director of Rugby, Roger Mazzarella, since his sophomore year in High School. Phil's sister, Morgan, went to Bowling Green, so Phil was already familiar with the club and some of the team's current members.

"In the end, I just decided to take the leap and make that change. It's really been a blessing, I couldn't ask for a better place to land," said Phil Tracey.

What will Phil Do Next?
Phil still has another semester left before he completes his degree in Environmental Policy and Analysis with a specialization in restoration. There are plans for Phil to remain on the Falcon's roster and make another push for the National Title. However, it is all dependent on whether he still retains eligibility based on the NCR Eligibility rules. Regardless, Phil's plans expand much further than just another semester of school and rugby at Bowling Green. Phil said that he is "looking to play professionally in some sense, whether that's professionally here with the MLR, Semi-Professionally overseas, or in any other aspect. I would just like to play at the next level if I can."

Phil's Message to the Team
"First off, I just want to thank all of the seniors who have helped us in the last four years of their career, or fifth and sixth years in some cases," said Phil Tracey. "I just want to thank all those boys for everything that they've given the club. We've got a lot of guys graduating, so my main comment would just be "take it from here."

Phil's Message to High School Prospects
Phil began his Rugby career in High School, playing for Dayton Northern Force under Ohio Rugby. He is one of many BGSU players who have played High School Rugby in Ohio. However, he has the unique experience of playing at both Lindenwood, a CRA D1-A Varsity program, as well as at Bowling Green, an extremely competitive NCR D1-AA Club team. Phil is in a unique position to be able to speak on his experiences of not just making the jump from high school rugby to the top of varsity and competitive club collegiate rugby and the decision process, but also the decision to transfer between the two.

"I'd say the best advice that I can give is go where you feel you need to go for your rugby career. If you feel you need to go somewhere to learn more, go somewhere to learn more. If you feel you need to go somewhere to stand out immediately, pick that place. In terms of BG, with the coaches and the team that we have now and going into the next couple of years, I think that we're a great option for both of those and any aspect," said NCR D1-AA Men's Player of the Year Phil Tracey. "There is a great family community here, through the coaches and their families, to the alumni and all the players' families. Everyone really gives it their all, and you can really get the sense of the community here at BG. Not to mention the pretty high level of rugby between our last two seasons and the results that we've had for those, and hopefully the continued success of the program."