NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Ariana Evdokimo as April’s Student Leader of the Month. Evdokimo is the President of Boise State University Women’s Rugby Team, where she is an Interdisciplinary Studies Major. 

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Evdokimo has been the President for three years, which included the COVID pandemic, when she was the sole player remaining on the team. Over the past two and a half years she has grown the program to a total of 26 players. In addition to her recruiting efforts, Evdokimo also leads the team’s fundraising for Nationals and the Lone Star Bowl in Houston. She also mentors new players and shows new leaders how to run the administrative side of the team. 

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Teammates of Evdokimo have nothing but kind words to say about their President.  “Whether it’s teaching new players, coming up with plays, always having good energy, taking the fall for mistakes, she does it all. Her passion for this sport and our team is evident from her work ethic and heart. If not for Evdo, there probably wouldn’t be women’s rugby at Boise State.”

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NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Kalley Tietje as March’s Student Leader of the Month. Tietje is The College of St. Scholastica’s Women’s Rugby Club President, where she started playing rugby in her sophomore year. Tietje majors in Psychology with a Peace and Justice minor and is a member of the honors program on campus. 

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During Tietje’s first sevens season as Club President, the team had their sights on making the 2022 Women’s 7s Small College Championship but they were unable to roster enough players. After not being able to travel to Pittsburgh, Tietje and the team’s captains worked hard to recruit players. After their recruiting efforts, the team had enough for a full 15s roster to take to Nationals this past December. In addition to recruiting, Tietje leads the rugby club through events and helps to grow the community of rugby in northern Minnesota. 

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Teammates of Tietje spoke on how she plays a big role on and off the pitch. 

“Kalley Tietje is the heart and soul of rugby at the College of St. Scholastica. During our western regional playoff game against Pitt University, she suffered an injury to her knee, which prevented her from playing in the following playoff game. Despite this injury, she was our biggest cheerleader in 18 degrees in Wayne, NE."

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NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Nicholas Navarro as February's Student Leader of the Month. Navarro is the Saint Vincent College Rugby Club captain, where he is majoring in Business Marketing and on the Dean’s List. 

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Navarro started playing rugby in high school. He was selected to the first ever Three River All Star team for Western Pennsylvania. He was also named the Harlequin Player of the Game during championship play. With Navarro serving as captain, the team finished as runner-up for the conference championship in their division. 

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Navarro is an instrumental leader for both the men’s and the women’s rugby clubs at Saint Vincent. He frequently leads practice, team workouts, and is known to use his own free time to get players together for additional skills training. In addition to the time he puts into rugby, Navarro also volunteers in various community service projects.

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Teammates note how Navarro takes the time to get to know those under his leadership on a personal level, so he can help the team reach its potential.

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“He (Navarro) also knows when the team needs him to be more aggressive in his motivation, and Nicholas steps up with invigorating speeches that inspire us and call us to be better people and rugby players.”

NCR and Rugbee.Co are proud to recognize Benjamin Mousseau as November’s Student Leader of the Month. Mousseau is the Le Moyne College Rugby Club President and Captain. Mousseau started playing rugby his freshman year at Le Moyne, where he is currently in the Integral Honors Program and a Dean’s List Scholar, dual majoring in Finance and Business Analytics.

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Mousseau became the President of the rugby club in the Fall of 2020. At this time the team had seven members due to the impact of COVID-19 on recruiting. Under Mosseau’s leadership, the team was re-built to become a regional threat with over 30 players. 

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Originally playing as fullback, Mosseau moved to play inside center and fly-half. This fall season, he recorded a personal record of 252 points scored, and a hat trick in five games during the season. In addition to his impressive rugby career at Le Moyne, Mosseau has also played with the Syracuse Chargers and Men’s Select Side Rugby Upstate NY.

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Coach Patrick Scully commented “Ben has been a leader on and off the field for Le Moyne College. He functions as the Club President and lead the club to the Men's Club Sport of the Year on campus. Through his organization and drive, the team regularly participates in service work in the Syracuse community.”

NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Lauren Kuffel as the October Student Leader of the Month. Kuffel is a Neuroscience major while minoring in Law, Justice, and Social Change at the University of Michigan. Starting at U of M in the fall of 2019, Kuffel knew she wanted to participate in an organized sport after being an athlete through high school. She attended the rec sports expo, found rugby, and never looked back.

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Since joining the club, Kuffel became the match secretary and forwards captain. Kuffel became the club president and field captain this fall season. Along with playing for the Wolverines, Kuffel has also played with Legacy Academy 7s, U23 Midwest Thunderbirds 15s, and Chicago Lions 7s.

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“Lauren is a senior, our team captain, and club president.  She has worked tirelessly in the past four years to build a culture that is inclusive, competitive and fun for all that join the team.  She also supports the coaching staff by ensuring we have the field set up and torn down, and she keeps our uniforms looking sharp!  Lauren is the first one at practice most days and the last one to leave—always asking if there is anything I need before she departs.  Recently Lauren completed L1 Referee certification and plans to keep giving back to the game after she graduates.” Jamie Frech, University of Michigan Rugby Coach.

Forward’s captain and club President, Will Anderson, is in his senior year at Xavier University majoring in Economics while also pursuing a minor in business analytics. Originally from Rochester, NY, Anderson plays flanker and number eight for the Xavier Men’s Rugby Team. Anderson’s team nominated him for Student Leader of the Month because of his impressive recruiting abilities following the hardships of COVID-19. The team went from 17 players to 30 players under Anderson’s leadership.

“He (Will Anderson)  is a hard working young man with great grades. He works well with the administration at Xavier and is well respected by his teammates and coaches”

 - Coach Jim Donlin