Aaron Young, the tighthead prop for the Milwaukee Barbarians, was recently selected to attend the US Eagles camp on 19-23rd of February, 2014 at Life College in Atlanta. This is a culmination of years of hard work beginning with his introduction to the sport as a freshmen at Northern Michigan University (The Moosemen) in 2002.
After graduating college and moving towards civilization, Aaron began playing with the Milwaukee Harlequins in 2008, and is a founding member of the Milwaukee Barbarians Rugby Club, a merger between the best rugby athletes the city has to offer. Under the tutelage of Mike Loader and Pat Sharpe, Aaron displayed a willingness to go the extra mile and excelled as the anchor of the Harlequins and then Barbarians scrummage platform. This scrum foundation has consistently set the standard for excellence in the set piece, and has become the cornerstone of a rampaging forward pack.
Nothing about Aaron says quit, and with his drive, determination and his infectious smile, he has battled through a few critical injuries to once again rise to the top of the table and become a standout amongst his peers. He was elected as the Most Valuable Forward in both 2010 and 2011, something not easily earned in the front row.
One of the goals of the Milwaukee Barbarians was to showcase the talent the Milwaukee rugby scene has to offer, and Aaron is hopefully the first amongst many Barbarians to have the US Eagle spotlight shone their way. Both during the season and in the off season Aaron pushes to improve himself, but also takes the time to push other Barbarians who regularly join him in the early morning hours to train. That says a great deal about not only his character, but his leadership and the team's vision to continue a rise to the top.
We hope everyone in the Wisconsin rugby community will join us in congratulating Aaron on this honor and wish him the best at the camp.