For many club sports athletes at ASU, the summer was a time to rest and relax. But for two players of the Australian Football Club, the summer provided the opportunity to represent America as members of the U.S. National Team.
Business freshman Darren Kelley and secondary biology junior Rob Lutostanski spent their summers playing with various footy teams. The most prominent of them all was the American Revolution, the top Australian football team in the nation.
"It was intense," Kelley said. "Even though it wasn't publicized, it was great playing for my country."
The Revolution defeated Canada's national team, the North Wind, 9.9.63 to 7.9.51 on July 31 in Toronto. Kelley had one goal and two behinds in the game, while Lutostanski added two behinds.
It was the first appearance on the national team for both players.
"It's a very special feeling putting on a jersey that says USA," Lutostanski said.
The journey to the national team was not quick or easy for Kelley and Lutostanski.
Kelley, who attended Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe, joined the Air Force after graduating in 1997. After getting out of the service in December, he began attending ASU.
"I would have to say that fighting for my country in the Air Force and playing for the U.S. in Australian Rules Football are my two proudest accomplishments," he said.
Kelley said he was introduced to the sport while stationed in Australia. Eight months ago he learned about the sport on campus and quickly joined.
"I like the pace of the sport and the camaraderie between the players," Kelley said. "It's got roughness, friendship and a high skill level. It's everything tied into one. It's so much fun."
Lutostanski, a 1999 graduate of Corona Del Sol High School, said he learned about the sport while recovering from a football injury he received while playing at Mesa Community College.
"It takes the most skill and athleticism of any sport," he said. "You've got to put your ego aside and just go out and play."
Lutostanski has been playing for two years now. At 22, he is the youngest player on the national team.
Last year, Lutostanski played for the Chandler Outlaws of the Arizona Australian Football League. He scored 14 goals in nine games during the season. He will serve as his team's captain this year.
Kelley played for the ASU Australian Football Club last year. He had 11 goals in six games for the Sun Devils and was also voted the league Rookie of the Year.
Both players were selected to the national team based on their play in the East vs. West All-Star Tournament held on June 12 in Atlanta. Their team, the West squad, lost to the East 9.11.65 to 9.7.61.
Kelley said the East won the game by scoring a goal in the final 10 seconds.
"We were leading for the entire game," he said. "But, the humidity and running our tails off finally caught up to us in the end."
And the list goes on.
Kelley and Lutostanski also played over the summer with the Arizona Hawks, Arizona's All-Star team. The team went 5-1-1 in games in San Diego and Denver to capture their first Western Regional title.
One highlight of the tournament was a victory over the Denver Bulldogs, 4.4.28 to 0.2.2. It was the first time Denver had been beaten on their home field in more than three years.
It was Kelley's first stint with the Hawks and Lutostanski's second.
"It was a great experience," he said. "It solidified a lot of friendships for me. I really got to know a lot of people."
For Kelley, it was a time of adjustment.
"You're playing with guys you've always played against in the city league," he said. "It's hard, but you have to become a team instantly."
Kelley and Lutostanski are currently practicing with the Hawks, preparing for the U.S. Footy National Championships that will be held in Atlanta on Oct. 9-10.
Kelley said he liked the team's chances in the tournament.
"We have a really strong team," he said. "We all have the same mindset on the field and off the field; we're all supporting each other. You know someone is going to be there to protect you; they've got your back."
Kelley and Lutostanski are also working at cementing their places on the American Revolution national team. They want to be two of the 35 players selected to represent the United States in the International Cup in Australia next August.
The Cup is played every two years. Australian Rules powerhouses such as New Zealand and Australia will be participating, as well as close to 20 other countries including Japan, Samoa and Ireland.
Lutostanski said their chances for making the team were very good since they had already started for the squad in Canada.
"We would have been happy playing on the developmental squad over the summer," he said. "But then we found out that we were starting on the real team and we were thrilled."
Kelley added that their selection to the Revolution was a big surprise.
"It was a shock we were selected to start the game," he said. "We were picked over guys that had been on the team for three or four years."
Kelley said the ASU club team was also trying to raise the necessary funds to participate in the first National Collegiate Australian Rules Football Invitational. The tournament will be held the second weekend of September in Nashville, Tenn.
Other teams currently scheduled to participate in the tourney include North Carolina, North Carolina State and Vanderbilt University.
Lutostanski said ASU would fare very well in the invitational if it can raise the money to play and get enough players to make the trip.
"If we go, we'll win the tournament," he said. "We are getting better and making a name for ourselves in the sport. People now know our names and who we are."
The first game of the season for the ASU club team is currently scheduled for Oct. 23.
To achieve his goals, Kelley said he was trying to improve his game a little each day.
"Without getting better each day you're not going anywhere," he said. "You have to improve inch by inch; yard by yard."
Both Kelley and Lutostanski said the summer was a time they would never forget.
"I have no regrets," Lutostanski said. "It's all about getting out there and having a good time, representing your country as best as you can."
"We've paid for everything out of our pockets all summer long," Kelley added. "It's all our own expense. It's all for a love of the game. I wouldn't change it for anything."
Reach the reporter at Jeremy.a.cluff@asu.edu.