Jalosuo (l) and La Mons (r)
The Winona State women’s rugby team has appointed Emilee Jalosuo and Kim La Mons as the new coaches for the DII Minnesota college program. Former head coach Josh Krzewinski and faculty advisor Roger Riley (who will remain in this post) led the Black Katts to the 2019 USA Rugby DII Fall College Championship in early December.
“The Winona State Black Katts program is already consistently strong and well organized,” Jalosuo considered goals. “Our plan moving forward is to maintain the program’s traditions as a well-organized club, and eventually build off of its already strong foundation by creating more high-level playing opportunities for the Black Katts, and see the girls reach their full potential. We’re placing our long-term goals high, and striving for excellence as rugby continues to grow in the U.S.”
Jalosuo is a 2013 Winona State alumna with an LAU all-star and Midwest Thunderbird pedigree. The Tomah, Wisc., native transitioned to adult rugby with the Twin Cities Amazons and featured in the 2019 Women’s Premier League all-star game. Jalosuo is a Level 200 certified coach and owner of EMForce LLC / MN Ice Cougars.
La Mons hails from the storied Fallbrook Rugby Club in southern California and has also represented collegiate LAU and the regional all-star teams, as well as the USA Rugby U20s. La Mons joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2015, served as player-coach for the Sharks 7s team at Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan, and then left the service in 2019. The veteran is now pursuing a degree in environmental science.
“Our focus for this spring will be getting to know our current group of players and further expand their development and skill sets,” Jalosuo added. “We will also focus on recruiting for the upcoming fall season by continuing to spread rugby awareness throughout the university, and by reaching out to current high school programs in Minnesota and surrounding states.”
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