TANNER WILLIAMS
Special to The Leader
After serving any kind of military tour, reintegration into the “real world” can be a trying process. You often hear stories of soldiers who cannot quite get back on their feet, to the point where many of them choose to re-deploy.
Passing up the safety and security that comes from being home to return to the dangerous uncertainty of war may seem like an inexplicable decision to those who have never served, but, in reality, a change so drastic can be physically, mentally and emotionally overwhelming.
Jeremy Lilga, a sophomore criminal justice major here at Fredonia, is currently taking that challenge head on.
As a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, Lilga served a four-year combat tour, primarily in Afghanistan, immediately following high school.
While Lilga enjoyed his time that he spent overseas, and looks back upon it fondly, he had always intended to use his time in the military as a stepping stone, of sorts.
“I always wanted to go to college; I just wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do. I had a few friends in the Marine Corps and it seemed like I’d fit well,” Lilga said.
Being unsure of what to do, or what you want to be, following high school is not at all uncommon. But Lilga, a motivated, hard-working person, did not want to fall into a cycle of uncertainty and indecision.
“The last thing I wanted to do was get caught up and waste time. I felt like if I just took a year or two off after high school, that I might have gotten lazy or lost my drive. Joining the Marines was a perfect way to stay focused and disciplined,” Lilga said.
Lilga, a three-sport athlete throughout his time at Eden High School, knew that he’d have to find a sport to play when he chose to attend Fredonia. His older brother and Fredonia alumnus, Justin Lilga, spent a lot of time persuading him to join the school’s rugby team, and he eventually succeeded.
“I pushed Jeremy not just because I had played for Blackhorse [the school’s rugby club], but because I knew he’d be great at it,” the elder Lilga said. “Rugby’s not for everybody, but [Jeremy] has the size, the speed and the mentality for it. It made too much sense.”
Ultimately, Jeremy followed his brother’s advice and showed up to the first day of practice in August of 2016. Having been a captain for his sports teams in high school, and also because of his standing as an “older” freshman at the age of 23, Lilga felt like it was right to try and assert himself as a leader — something that both older and younger players were very receptive to.
“I wrestled against [Jeremy] in high school, so I had always known about him and his fire,” said senior captain Zach Buckley. “I was really happy to see him come aboard and even happier to see him step right up as a leader. We don’t really see many rookies willing to come in here and put themselves out there like that.”
Though he had never played rugby, Lilga’s background as a football player and wrestler made for a smooth transition. On top of that, his persistent studying of the game, whether through YouTube videos or observing Blackhorse’s more experienced players, allowed him to pick up the mental side of the game rather quickly as well.
“Rugby had elements of the sports that I had already played, and I think that’s what drew me to it. I wasn’t really worried about being inexperienced because I know how I am as a learner and as an athlete,” Lilga said.
Lilga, who became a full-time starter early on in his rookie season, has contributed greatly to the team’s recent success. This past fall, with Lilga serving as one of three co-captains, the club won their first playoff game since 2008.
So, how, if at all, do rugby and the Marine Corps relate?
“Rugby is all about the men beside you,” said Lilga. “You play your heart out for them and hope they’ll leave it all out there for you. Things are easy when all 15 guys are at their best. If just one person isn’t giving it their all, the other 14 will feel it.”
While rugby isn’t exactly a matter of life and death, the comparison between rugby and the Marine Corps, based upon the idea that the best possible result can only come about when any individual agendas or egos are thrown out of the window, makes a whole lot of sense.
Based upon what Lilga said, it’s clear that the relationship between the two goes far beyond strategy and approach.
“I found brothers overseas. People I went through a lot with, people that I still talk to everyday. I’ll never forget any of them and I am thankful for that. We wouldn’t have gotten through all of that without each other,” Lilga said. “I think I’ve found the same thing here.”