Kevin Higgins Scholarship Winners 2011

The US Rugby Football Foundation, the USRFF, recently announced the award winners of the 2011 Kevin Higgins Scholarships. According to their website, "The $1,000 scholarships, named in honor of one of the all-time great U.S. centers, Kevin Higgins, are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have gone on to continue their education and rugby at the collegiate level."

This year not one, but TWO WGR players were awarded this prestigous award. They join Catholic Memorial alumn Amanda Pohle, now playing at Marquette University, who was awarded the scholarship in 2009, as the second and third young woman from Wisconsin high school rugby to be so honored!

Kaisee Wiesmeuller, from Brookfield, and Talia Carrasquillo, from Kettle Moraine are this year's recipients. Anyone familiar with girls rugby in Wisconsin will remember them well. Their impressive ability and leadership on the field are special.

A few highlights from the press release about Talia (click to read the full story):

"Captaining the Knightmares once again, she led her team to a 2nd place finish at the state championships and a 3rd place finish in the Midwest. She was named her team’s MVP"

"While in high school, Talia gave back to the Milwaukee community by providing community service at the Latin Community Center. In the summer months she mowed the lawns of her grandparents and several other elderly folks in their neighborhood. You could also find Talia in the gym…a lot. She worked out three times a day and many of those sessions would see Talia helping many of her teammates through their lifting routines.

Her discipline in the gym helps her on the field. “I have to always keep thinking to myself no matter how tired I am, no matter how much time is left in the game, and no matter what the weather is like, I have to play my hardest, going all out until the final whistle is blown. It is my goal to put my body through whatever challenges it needs to be put in in order for my team to win.”

What coaches and teammates probably remember most about Talia's high school rugby days is her character and leadership, and it's easy to see this quality shine through in her words.

Kaisee's full story is also a good one (click name for full story). It captures why so many young women participate in such a great team sport.

Highlights from her press release:

"Kaisee Wiesmueller was a very shy person who rarely voiced her opinion before she first started playing rugby in 2007 for the Brookfield Bruisers RFC in Brookfield, WI. But as the years have changed so too has Kaisee. “Throughout my years playing the sport, that shyness I had has slowly drifted away and many other qualities have taken its place. I have gained confidence, independence, leadership, courage and dedication, all from playing rugby.”

Her confidence and leadership earned her the captaincy of her Bruisers team in 2009 and since then she has led the Bruisers to new heights while also achieving individual accolades. The Bruisers excelled under Kaisee’s leadership in 2010. The team finished 2nd in the Midwest, after knocking off Lakewood, Ohio and finished 4th in the nation. They followed that up with a 3rd place finish in the state in the fall of 2010.

She would also like to coach rugby. “Teaching other people to love rugby as much as I do would bring so much joy to my life and hopefully theirs too.”

CONGRATS AGAIN to both our WGR alumni.