Female student athletes from WGR continue to achieve great things. This year's M.A. Sorenson award winner nominees for the most outstanding women's collegiate player include two such alumni. While not the first WGR alums to be nominated, both have had remarkable careers, in each her own right.
Aly Cunningham started playing flag rugby in first grade and never stopped. A standout for Catholic Memorial HS as well as a frequent USA under-age rep, she continues to excel at the highest of levels. Her nomination comes on the heels of being nominated as an NCAA 1st Team All American.
WGR's other nominee has taken a more circuitous path towards recognition. Following in the footsteps of an older sister, Alexis Dallas played rugby for the Bruisers. She then pursued playing opportunities at various institutions including Long Island University, Lander University, and now Wheeling Jesuit. The now well-traveled Dallas excelled in high school as a basketball player at Tosa East and as a leader for her Brookfield Bruisers teams.
It's reassuring to see voters recognize student-athletes from NCAA and non-NCAA programs. In an ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletes, where institutions do not always support women's sports or rugby equitably, some student-athletes do not always get the support they should. This calls to mind the treatment of the USA's first NCAA program at Eastern Illinois, a program that no longer exists. See here for the details of this sad tale. NCAA women's rugby has progressed significantly since this story, yet the cautionary tale remains as programs come and go.
No comments:
Post a Comment