Relic of Mount Anthony: Remembering the 2006 SVC Mud Bowl Rugby Tournament

Front view of the grey heather 2006 SVC Mud Bowl Rugby Tournament t-shirt, featuring an oval collegiate logo with bold "XXL" block lettering.

There is something undeniably nostalgic about pulling an old piece of college memorabilia out of storage—especially when it carries as much character as a grey heather t-shirt from two decades ago.

This particular shirt takes us back to April 2006 and commemorates one of the most spirited athletics traditions at Southern Vermont College: the Mud Bowl.

The Front: Oval Logo Simplicity

The front graphic keeps things clean and classic with a traditional oval border print. Styled in bold serif block lettering, it reads:

• SOUTHERN VERMONT COLLEGE

• XXL (boldly featured right in the center)

• MUD BOWL 2006

The oversized "XXL" badge front-and-center gives it that distinct mid-2000s tournament look.

The Back: The Participating Squads

The back of the shirt reveals the tournament lineup, capturing a snapshot of regional rugby rivalries and campus turnout for that year's matches:

• Castleton State

• Lyndon State (Men & Women)

• Southern Vermont College (Men, Women & Alumni)

At the bottom of the design, a small sponsor credit notes: “Shirts Courtesy of Campus Customs.”

The Alumni Warthogs Return

According to local coverage from The Bennington Banner leading up to the event, the 2006 tournament brought back a solid roster of former players for the Alumni Warthogs squad. 

The alumni lineup featured returning graduates and familiar faces including Joe "JL" Lynch '05, Nate Ensel '04, Carlos Gutierrez '06, Chris Malavarca '05, Pete "Hands Behind the Back" Moschak '05, Ryan "Peppers" Peters '05, Tim Travis '04, Joe Welch '02, and Rob Wise '05, alongside Tim Folley, Sean Hughes, Ben Jones, Matt Perry, and Matt Willey.

To help fans catch up with returning graduates, a dedicated Warthog tent was set up along the sidelines alongside event concessions, refreshments, and these commemorative tournament t-shirts.

Shared Memories

Did you play in the 2006 Mud Bowl or hang out at the Warthog tent that weekend? Drop a comment below with your favorite memories, match stories, or pictures from the pitch!

Back view of the grey 2006 SVC Mud Bowl t-shirt listing participating teams Castleton State, Lyndon State, and Southern Vermont College, along with a sponsor credit for Campus Customs.

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Southern Vermont College Mansion, Bennington Glass