Rugby arms Heun with life lessons for next chapter in Army

Playing rugby for Army West Point hasn’t just helped Luke Heun of Palmer become a better athlete, the experience has prepared him to be a better solider when he walks off the field.

Strategy, teamwork, toughness, persistence are life lessons he will take with him on to his next chapter in the Army.

“Many of the values that occur in leadership happen on the pitch every day,” he told me. “I’d have to say that I’ve improved more as a leader than in my ability playing rugby over the past years.”

Heun, of Palmer High fame, is a three-year starter for the Black Knights and one of the team’s most reliable scorers.

The senior wing and reigning All-Rugby East honorable mention selection has racked up 13 career tries with the 15s in the fall season and 7s in the spring season.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder wrapped up his career with the 15s tonight in West Point, New York, as eighth-ranked Army closed out its fall season with a 62-19 victory over No. 12 Air Force.

“After this game we’re gonna take some time off, get our bodies recovered, then return in the spring semester to get ready for Varsity Cup and 7s,” he said.

Over the years, his favorite memory has been beating Navy in each of the last two years.

Last spring, he scored against Navy during Collegiate Rugby Sevens Championships.

“An Army/Navy rugby is one of the most exciting things I’ve been a part of, so when we accomplished our mission the feeling was out of this world,” Heun said.