The Albino Rhino

O’Dea senior Brady McHugh, also known as the “albino rhino”, is a force to be reckoned with. Though O’Dea does not possess a rugby team, McHugh has found ways outside and inside of his school to succeed.

The lack of school rugby did not prohibit his ability to play though. McHugh is the captain of the Eastside Lions Rugby Club and plays alongside fellow O’Dea students Lawson Barton, Save Lotawa and Logan Shea. He also plays for the PNW Loggers and the Washington Academy of Rugby.

McHugh has signed to play Division One rugby for Mount St. Mary’s University. It was never an easy path though. He was constantly told that he was not naturally athletic enough and adding onto O’Dea not having a team, it created a challenge he was not going to back from.

He took the criticism from coaches that he was not athletic enough personally. He devoted his off season to the weight room where he recently maxed squat at 385 pounds, bench at 280 pounds, and clean at 275 pounds.

“Weightlifting and rugby go hand and hand like bread and butter, it is nearly impossible to be good at one without being proficient in the other,” McHugh shared.

His success in the weight room truly does translate onto the pitch. It did not happen overnight, but it did happen fast. McHugh has only played rugby since his freshman year and without his drive and commitment to the weight room, he would be far behind his opponents.

The weight room was only part of his success. Even though that O’Dea did not have a rugby team, the school still had strong support in his career.

“The O'Dea strength and conditioning program has been massive for the athlete I am today. Coach P [Coach Paxton Paynter] is truly one of my favorite people I've ever met and by far the person I look up to the most in the O'Dea faculty,” McHugh said.

McHugh gives major credit to Paynter in shaping him into the person he is today: both mentally and physically.

He shared that Paynter is “one of my biggest inspirations in my life.”

McHugh has been proven to be a hard worker and it has led him to be in the position he is in today. He goes off to Mount St. Mary’s this upcoming year and he already has made big goals for himself.

“I hope to be an ‘A – Team’ starter by the end of my freshman year and to lead the team in tackles per game and rushing yards by a forward in either my sophomore or junior year at Mount Saint Mary's U,” McHugh mentioned on his goals.

With his determination in both the weight room and on the pitch, it seems very in reach for the albino rhino.

His goals do not stop at the college level though, his priorities are straight in what he wants to accomplish. This includes the want to sign a professional contract “somewhere on the planet” and ultimately wanting to represent team U.S.A in World Rugby.

It seems for McHugh that his life began his freshman year when he made the decision to try out a new sport. He urges the importance for athletes to get out of their comfort zone and try new things as they will never know where it will take them. For him, it has taken him to a Division One scholarship and a road paved with hope.