Six named to All-NIRA squad from Women's Rugby
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - Six members of the American International College women's rugby squad attained All-NIRA status for the fall 2023 season, the organization announced on Thursday, February 15.
AIC was well-represented at both forward and back, with Haley Thompson selected to the First XV at prop, Jessica Berggren at lock, Keiani Pangelinan at flanker, and Louisa Justice at eight-man, while Morgan Schechter earned a nod at wing, and Venise Sanft was an All-NIRA Honorable Mention at fullback.
Two Yellow Jackets have earned multiple selections. Both Berggren and Justice were First XV honorees in 2021, with Berggren repeating at lock and Justice taking the honor as a center that season. Justice impressively has been named three years in a row, with an Honorable Mention selection in 2022 as well. Thompson, Pangelinan, Schechter, and Sanft each took their first career All-NIRA laurels.
AIC qualified for the NIRA Division II Championship in the fall, and will open its spring sevens season in March.