From left to right: Erich Storti ‘23 MA ‘24, Marty Storti ‘85 MA’89 and Mario Storti ‘25. The Storti family has etched their mark on the Gael Rugby Nation.

SMC Legacy: The Storti family has etched their mark on the Gael Rugby Nation. From left to right: Erich Storti ’23 MBA ’24, Marty Storti ‘85, MA ’89, and Mario Storti ’25. / Photos provided courtesy of Storti Family & Club Sports

Storti Family Ruggers—An SMC Legacy

The Storti family has etched their mark on the Gael Rugby Nation. And for this year’s Rugby National Championship match, brothers Erich Storti ’23, MBA ’24 and Mario Storti ’25 will take their place on center stage.

by Rebecca Harper, Recreation & Club Sports | April 27, 2024

Saint Mary’s College has borne witness to generations of students who carry on the family legacy by being a Gael. As for the sport of Rugby, the Storti family has etched their mark on the Gael Rugby Nation. For this year’s Rugby National Championship match in Houston on May 4, brothers Erich Storti ’23, MBA ’24 and Mario Storti ’25 will take their place on center stage while their father, Marty Storti ’85, MA ’89, watches on from the stands.

Football at SMC: No 7 Marty Storti ‘85 MA ‘89 played football for SMC from 1981- 1985, baseball for two years, and rugby for two years. — Grit on the gridiron: No. 7 **Marty Storti ‘85, MA ‘89** played football for SMC 1981–85—as well baseball for two years and rugby for two years. */ Photos courtesy the Storti Family*

A three-sport athlete, Marty showed his speed and grit on the football gridiron, the baseball field, and the rugby pitch alike during his time as a student-athlete at SMC. In his first and second year of college, Marty was on the baseball team, before playing on the rugby team in his final two years. While competing in baseball and rugby during spring semesters, Marty was busy in the fall playing football for all four years of college. His teammates describe his athleticism as well-balanced, loaded with quick twitch fibers: speed and agility. Dave Kenney ’86 was a teammate for two years in rugby, playing in a forward position. What he saw was that Marty, coming to rugby with years of football under his belt, was not afraid to be tackled.

“Marty was one of the best athletes on the team,” Kenney says. He would zig-zag through everyone and could also run and kick the ball.” Now, with two sons on the pitch for the Gaels, “He is proud of Erich and Mario—he steps into the dad role to be supportive and positive, which can be hard for Marty sometimes.”

“Marty was one of the best athletes on the team. He would zig-zag through everyone and could also run and kick the ball. Marty was quite the athlete. He is proud of Erich and Mario—he steps into the dad roles to be supportive and positive, which can be hard for Marty sometimes.”
— Dave Kenney ’86

Break away with the ball: Marty Storti ‘85 MA ‘89 on the left dodges the defender while bringing the ball up the field. Erich Storti ‘23 MA ‘24 pictured on the right mimics his father's skills and escapes the defender. / Photos provided courtesy of Storti Family & Club Sports — Break away with the ball: Left, **Marty Storti ‘85, MA ‘89** dodges a defender while bringing the ball up the field. Right, **Erich Storti ‘23, MBA ’24** shows those same elusive skills and escapes a defender. */ Photos courtesy the Storti Family & Club Sports*

After college, Marty dedicated 30 years to working at SMC in various coach and administrative roles. Derek Holmberg ’99 played rugby for Marty; during the 1999 season, the team’s record was 13–1, with the only loss coming in the playoffs to BYU.

Holmberg’s fondest memory of Coach Marty was when Storti had to take the the pitch as a player while the team was on tour in Bermuda. “The travel roster was limited to 18, and four players sustained injuries,“ Holmberg says. “The opposing team was a Men’s Club, so there were no age restrictions.” To keep the numbers even at 15 players on the pitch, “Storti came in as the last remaining substitute.“ His skills as a player were quickly put to the test. “A defender ran towards Marty’s right side as Marty was attempting to kick with his right foot. He had to quickly turn and kick with his left foot to clear the ball 40 yards. It was pretty amazing, and none of us had seen that before.”

“The travel roster was limited to 18 and four players sustained injuries. The opposing team was a Men’s Club, so there were no age restrictions. Storti came in as the last remaining substitute. A defender ran towards Marty’s right side as Marty was attempting to kick with his right foot. He had to quickly turn and kick with his left foot to clear the ball 40 yards. It was pretty amazing, and none of us had seen that before.”
—Derek Holmberg ’99

Up and Under: Marty Storti ‘85 MA ‘89 pictured on the left kicks to clear the defense from Gael territory. Mario Storti ‘25 kicks for conversation points. / Photos provided courtesy of Storti Family & Club Sports — Up and under: Marty Storti, pictured left, kicks to clear the ball from Gael territory. Right, Mario Storti ‘25 kicks for conversion points. / Photos courtesy the Storti Family & Club Sports

Marty Storti was instrumental in onboarding Hall of Fame Coach Tim O’Brien, who has led the Men’s Rugby program for 22 years. And Storti continues to take pride in the team’s success under O’Brien’s leadership—sustaining and building a program recognized across the country. In the past decade, those successes include three national championships and a championship in rugby sevens.

That’s a pride Marty and his wife, Diana, both share when they see their sons take the pitch. “We couldn’t be happier that they chose to play rugby while attending Saint Mary’s,” Marty says. “Erich and Mario are in great hands. Diana and I feel blessed every time we watch them play on the field together.”

“We couldn’t be happier that they chose to play rugby while attending Saint Mary’s. Erich and Mario are in great hands. Diana and I feel blessed every time we watch them play on the field together.”
- Marty Storti ‘85 MA’89

Along with Marty and wife Diana cheering on Erich and Mario, the brothers will have sister Claire Storti ’21 rooting for them. She earned her bachelor’s in Accounting at Saint Mary’s, where she was also a pioneer of the SMC Stunt Team.

2019-2020 Stunt Team’s first victory: Claire Stori ‘21 pictured with her teammates on the SMC Stunt Team. / Photo Courtesy of SMC Stunt. — First victory: **Claire Storti ‘21**, far left with teammates, was part of the pioneering group to win in Stunt Team competition in the 2018–19 season. */ Photo Courtesy SMC Stunt*

Bond Between Brothers

Erich and Mario have stood together on the SMC field for the past three years, and this will be the final competition in their collegiate careers with both brothers on the pitch. Erich, the older of the two, is a captain on the team and plays Outside Center. His strength and stamina is admirable, and his leadership on and off the field have prepared the team for this final stage of the season.

Mario, who is in his third year at Saint Mary’s, also played with Erich in high school—on the De La Salle High School Rugby team while he was a freshman and Erich a senior. Mario is known as slippery on the field. He maneuvers through the defense as a shifty, skilled player.

Both Mario and Erich kick for the team, just as their father did while playing rugby at SMC. Mario traditionally takes the conversions, and Erich kicks to clear out of the back line, or for penalty advantages to move the ball forward.

Mario Storti ’26 is pushed into the try zone by Erich Storti MA ’24. / Photo by Rebecca Harper — Seamless teamwork: **Mario Storti ’25** is pushed into the try zone by brother **Erich Storti ’23, MBA ’24**. */ Photo by Rebecca Harper*

As the Storti brothers lace up their boots and don their team jerseys for the championship game on May 4, they will carry a feeling of family history on their shoulders. By following in their father's footsteps in the SMC athletic journey, they’ll be writing one more remarkable chapter in history for the Gael Rugby Nation.

And that Gael Rugby Nation is cheering on the team and sending luck to the Gaels as they compete against Navy in the Division 1 Collegiate Rugby National Championships.

Men's Rugby — Shared passion: Erich Storti prepares for a conversion kick while brother Mario's encouraging words bring a smile to his face. / Photo courtesy Club Sports

Texas, Here We Come!

Gaels are headed to Houston for the Rugby National Championships.

Stay up-to-date with the Championship Weekend Information & Resources page for ticketing, watch parties and more.

EXPLORE MORE: Learn more SMC Stunt & the 15 different Club Sports at SMC.