Photo courtesy of Quinnipiac University Athletics
The 10 colleges competing in the 2015 NCAA league have named the first class of NCAA rugby All-Americans.
Each program’s coaching staff nominated student-athletes, and the selectees were chosen on their performance over the course of the inaugural 2015 NCAA League championship fall season. The first All-American class recognizes 31 players from 19 states and three countries. Twelve seniors, six juniors, nine sophomores and four freshmen were selected. All 10 teams are represented, with champion Quinnipiac (6) and finalist Army (5) with the most representatives.
Several of the All-Americans are involved at higher levels of the game. Nicole Heavirland left Army West Point after the fall semester to become a USA 7s resident at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center. Saskia Morgan (Brown), Uzo Okoro (Brown), Yejadai Dunn (Dartmouth) and Valerie McGuire (Norwich) were all named to the 2016 Women’s National Team player pool. Hannah Bell (Norwich), Kat Ramage (Dartmouth) and Kayla Clark (AIC) were named to the 2016 national age-grade player pool.
The NCAA league will kick off its spring 7s series on April 2 at Quinnipiac University and culminate at the Varsity 7s Championship on April 30 at Army West Point.
2015 NCAA RUGBY ALL AMERICANS
Hannah BELL (Newberg, Ore.) – Norwich University, senior, flanker
Riley BLANKENSHIP (Lyndonville, Vt.) – Norwich University, senior, No. 8
Lydia BURNS (Boston, Mass.) – Harvard University, senior, scrumhalf
Addison CARVAJAL (Seattle, Wash.) – Bowdoin College, senior, fullback
Kayla CLARK (Olympia, Wash.) – American International College, sophomore, lock
Emily COLESWORTHY (Yarmouth, Maine) – Norwich University, senior, center
Claire COLLINS (Newton, Mass.) – Harvard University, junior, No. 8
Zye CRITTINGTON (Cocoa, Fla.) – Army, freshman, center
Sydney DOSSETT (Portland, Ore.) – Army, sophomore, flanker
Yejadai DUNN (Valley, Calif.) – Dartmouth College, senior, No. 8
Anne-Laurence HARVEY (Quebec, Canada) – American International College, freshman, center/fullback
Nicole HEAVIRLAND (Whitefish, Mont.) – Army, sophomore, flyhalf
Mason JOHNSON (Olympia, Wash.) – Quinnipiac University, sophomore, scrumhalf
Bridget KAHELE (Vancouver, Canada) – American International College, sophomore, hooker
Tiara MACK (Columbia, S.C.) – Brown University, senior, lock
Ilona MAHER (Burlington, Vt.) – Quinnipiac University, sophomore, center
Valerie MCGUIRE (Felts Mill, N.Y.) – Norwich University, senior, lock
Emily MIGNOGNI (Chatham, N.J.) – Sacred Heart University, sophomore, scrumhalf
Saskia MORGAN (Pawtucket, R.I.) – Brown University, senior, fullback
Maggie MYLES (Emmitsburg, Md.) – Quinnipiac University, junior, fullback
Miranda NORTHCOTT (Coatesville, Pa.) – West Chester University, junior, lock
Uzoamaka OKORO (Darien, Ill.) – Brown University, senior, center/wing
Tranelle PATTERSON (New Orleans, La.) – Army, junior, lock
Muneera PATTON (Buffalo, N.Y.) – American International College, senior, No. 8
Flora POOLE (Christchurch, New Zealand) – Quinnipiac University, sophomore, flyhalf
Kat RAMAGE (Roxbury, N.J.) – Dartmouth College, freshman, scrumhalf
Kirsten REDMON (San Antonio, Texas) – Army, junior, flanker
Lili RILEY (Doylestown, Pa.) – West Chester University, sophomore, center
Emily ROSKOPF (Pleasanton, Calif.) – Quinnipiac University, freshman, center
Tatjana TOELDTE (Boise, Idaho) – Dartmouth College, senior, flyhalf
Hailey WYATT (Breckenridge, Colo.) – Quinnipiac University, junior, flanker