Their friendship began as children when they played youth sports together — football with the Naperville Chargers and lacrosse for Fox Valley.
Their relationship took on additional meaning when the two Naperville, Illinois, residents committed to play football at the rival service academies.
Rhattigan, a three-year letterman at Neuqua Valley High, was first to pull the trigger with a verbal pledge to West Point. West, a three-year letterman at Montini Catholic, soon followed suit for Navy.
“I remember when Jon decided to attend Army. I was being recruited by Navy at the time, so I reached out to get some thoughts on why he chose a service academy,” West said.