Rugby Illinois is proud to recognize the academic achievements of the many student athletes that play youth rugby in Illinois. The students recognized for the 2019-2020 school year form the inaugural class of the Rugby Illinois Academic Excellence program.
Despite the fact that the pandemic resulted in cancellation of the Spring 2020 competitive rugby season, the academic pursuits of these students continued. Full-time high school participating players qualified for academic year 2019/2020 recognition if they were active with a Rugby Illinois club in the Fall of 2019 or in full preparation for the Spring 2020 season.
Student athletes were recognized in the following categories:
Rugby Illinois Academic All-State with Honors – Cumulative GPA of 3.75
Rugby Illinois Academic All-State – Cumulative GPA of 3.5
Rugby Illinois Scholar – Cumulative GPA or 3.0
Rugby Illinois Honor Roll – GPA of 3.5 for the just completed school year, regardless of cumulative GPA
Just as we are all proud of our rugby athletes’ demonstration of skill and sportsmanship on the field of play, we are equally proud of their outstanding accomplishments in the classroom. We are happy to recognize these individuals as the Rugby Illinois 2020 Academic “All-Stars.” To all who are on this list, congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment and know that the effort you have put forth to achieve this will serve you well for years to come.
Paul Bergman, President
Rugby Illinois
Academic All-State with Honors
| Name | Club | Class Year |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Stevenson | Montini RFC | Senior |
| Avery Kemora | Taft Eagles | Senior |
| Christian Krull | West Suburban Bulls | Senior |
| Daniel Kowalczyk | Arlington Stallions | Senior |
| David McCullough | Plainfield | Senior |
| Devin Hoovel | Montini RFC | Senior |
| Dylan Jones | Elmhurst | Senior |
| Jack McGurk | Glen Ellyn Ducks | Senior |
| Jacob Summers | Brother Rice | Senior |
| Mason Zaccardi | Fox Valley Chiefs | Senior |
| Max Hofflich | Elmhurst | Senior |
| Natalia Floyd | South Suburban Cobras | Senior |
| Rachel Kaplan | Taft Eagles | Senior |
| Samantha Magsino | Taft Eagles | Senior |
| Abbey Farmer | CRC Valkyries | Junior |
| Aidan Schwaab | Elgin | Junior |
| Brody Roth | New Trier | Junior |
| Hugo Chalard | Chicago Lions | Junior |
| Loren Henich | Taft Eagles | Junior |
| Mariah Norris-Johnson | Sycamore Spartans | Junior |
| Matteo Berenger | Arlington Stallions | Junior |
| Peter Ranchero | Glen Ellyn Ducks | Junior |
| Zayn Beg | Neuqua Valley Wildcats | Junior |
| Christopher J Cetnar Jr. | Fox Valley Chiefs | Sophomore |
| Julia Murray | Lane Tech/Illinois Tornadoes | Sophomore |
| Leo Cavalier | New Trier Rugby Club | Sophomore |
| Mary Miller | Hononegah Community High School | Sophomore |
| Mason Stern | New Trier | Sophomore |
| Nathaniel Brazen | Fox Valley Chiefs | Sophomore |
| Rachel Lechtenberg | Fox Valley Chiefs | Sophomore |
| Greg Vesely | Arlington Stallions | Freshman |
| Josephine O’Donnell | Taft Eagles | Freshman |
| Justin Puetz | Arlington Stallions | Freshman |
| Olivia Murphy | South Suburban Cobras | Freshman |
| Rachel Hammelman | Fox Valley Chiefs | Freshman |
| Sophia Bradel | Northern Illinois | Freshman |
Academic All-State
| Name | Club | Class Year |
| Devin Wolf Rogers | Morton High School | Senior |
| Logan M. Flores | Taft Eagles | Junior |
| Charles McElyea | Fox Valley Chiefs | Sophomore |
| Liam Cashin | West Suburban Bulls | Sophomore |
| Aaron Rice | Neuqua Valley Rugby | Freshman |
| Gavin Myall | West Suburban Bulls | Freshman |
| Hugo Hourihane | New Trier | Freshman |
| Joseph Pope | Glen Ellyn Ducks | Freshman |
| McCormick Devereux | New Trier | Freshman |
Rugby Illinois Scholar
| Name | Club | Class Year |
| Matt Snell | New Trier Rugby Football Club | Senior |
| Ryan O’Connell | St Rita Mustangs | Senior |
| Paige Pollitt | Chillicothe Cailíní | Junior |
| Daniella (Dani) Zarkin | Fox Valley Chiefs | Sophomore |
| Imanii Hernandez | Tornados | Sophomore |
| Carter Hunt | Brother Rice | Freshman |