Nic Granchalek is our August Player of the Month. He had a great spring 7s season with the second side, and his hard work over the summer has earned him a starting lock spot on the top side for this fall’s XVs season.
Position: Lock
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 lbs
Year: Junior
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Evanston, IL
Why did you decide to play rugby?
I felt like I needed something competitive to do in college and my dad always thought I should play rugby so I decided to try it out.
What have you liked about Michigan Rugby so far?
I really like how the whole team operates as a single unit both on and off the field. It’s a really strong community.
Describe your most memorable moment on the field.
The whole Notre Dame game at Purdue sevens. I scored off of a restart, some kid tried to tackle me and ended up holding me like a suitcase, and all of us were out there playing more freely than I had seen before.
What’s your most favorite rugby drill in practice? Least favorite?
Favorite: lineout drills; getting lifted might be the best part of the sport.
Least favorite: The Wolverine; the Bronco is no problem but the Wolverine is something else.
[Editor’s Note: the Wolverine is a fitness test introduced at Michigan in 2021.]
What other sports have you played?
I played a whole bunch of sports when I was younger like basketball and baseball, but my main sport was lacrosse.
What do you see yourself doing in five years?
I honestly have no idea, I wish I had an answer.
What is an embarrassing childhood memory that you can share with us?
In kindergarten we were playing games on the school computers and I had to use the bathroom but I didn’t know you could pause the game. I really wanted to finish the game and I ended up wetting my pants in the middle of the class.
What is your favorite place in Ann Arbor?
Tomukun noodle bar; the ramen is top tier.
What is your biggest fear?
Snakes. I hate snakes.
What is your favorite food?
Either chicken parm sandwiches or Oreos, it’s a toss up.
Do you have any game-day superstitions? Explain.
I have to re-tie my boots after warmups. Outside of that I try not to have any superstitions because I feel like if I rely on certain things like that it makes me play badly.
Who is your favorite superhero and why?
Quicksilver from the X-men movies. I love his energy and super speed would be sick.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Everything has a solution you just need to figure out what it is.
Again, congratulations to our August Player of the Month, Nic Granchalek!
