Army West Point Athletics
Six Black Knights Earn All-NIRA Honors
January 26, 2022 | Women's Rugby
WEST POINT, NY --- Army West Point Women's Rugby placed five cadet-athletes on the 2021-22 All-NIRA Division I First Fifteen, the second-most of any program, while one earned honorable mention nods, as announced by the organization on Wednesday night.
Army swept the lock position with Kaylee Cargile and Naomi Colin receiving the four and five positions, respectively. Julia Riekena earned a spot as a flanker, while Emma Gamboa collected the scrumhalf position. Sophia Linder's phenomenal first year with the Black Knights earned her a spot on the list as a center. Junior Codi Butt garnered Honorable Mention for Army.
Cargile, Colin, and Riekena started in every match in the fall season for the Black Knights. Colin recorded a try in Army's first matchup with Dartmouth, scoring in the final few minutes of the contest. Cargile played a big role in the Black Knights' NIRA Semifinal win over Harvard, helping set up offensive opportunities for teammates. She also scored a try in Army's victory over Coast Guard. Riekena was a force on the pitch for the Black Knights, scoring multiple tries during her junior season.
The two plebes were outstanding this year, each earning a spot on the pitch for the Black Knights. Linder was a key component to Army's triumph over Harvard in the playoffs. She recorded her first hat-trick of the season, scoring two of her three tries in the first half against the Crimson. Gamboa additionally saw a lot of time on the pitch, working her way into Army's starting 15 after the first few games. She recorded a try in the team's victory over Penn State. Gamboa and Linder each received an invitation to the USA Rugby Winter Camp.
Butt led the Black Knights in conversions this season to earned Honorable Mention nods. The junior had a season-best of 4-for-4 on conversions in the Black Knights' battle with Dartmouth during the regular season. Butt received an invitation to the WJNT Marlets 7s Camp which is well known for welcoming players that can contribute to the success of the USA Rugby's Women's 7s and 15s.
ALL-NIRA DI - First XV:
PROPS
1 Lauren Ferridge (Junior) Dartmouth
3 Erica Jarrell (Senior) Harvard
HOOKER
2 Nia Williams (Senior) SHU
LOCKS
4 Kaylee Cargile (Junior) Army
5 Naomi Colin (Senior) Army
FLANKERS
6 Julia Riekena (Junior) Army
7 Nafanua Fitisemanu (Sophomore) Harvard
NUMBER 8
8 Idia Ihensekhien (Senior) Dartmouth
SCRUMHALF
9 Emma Gamboa (First Year) Army
FLYHALF
10 Abbey Savin (Sophomore) Dartmouth
CENTERS
12 Sophia Linder (First Year) Army
13 Emily Henrich (Senior) Dartmouth
WINGS
11 Kiana Akina (First Year) Harvard
14 Emma Kearney (Senior) Harvard
FULLBACK
15 Lilly Durbin (Senior) Dartmouth
Honorable Mentions
Kristin Bitter (Junior) Dartmouth
Codi Butt (Junior) Army
Gracie Cartwright (Junior) Quinnipiac
Akilah Cathey (First Year) Brown
Alyssa Cunningham (First Year) SHU
Olivia Duba (Senior) Brown
Jalana Jade Garcia (Junior) Mount St. Mary's
Sophia Haley (Senior) Dartmouth
Gina Pollice (Sophomore) LIU
Kat Storey (Sophomore) Quinnipiac
PK Vincze (First Year) Harvard
Army swept the lock position with Kaylee Cargile and Naomi Colin receiving the four and five positions, respectively. Julia Riekena earned a spot as a flanker, while Emma Gamboa collected the scrumhalf position. Sophia Linder's phenomenal first year with the Black Knights earned her a spot on the list as a center. Junior Codi Butt garnered Honorable Mention for Army.
Cargile, Colin, and Riekena started in every match in the fall season for the Black Knights. Colin recorded a try in Army's first matchup with Dartmouth, scoring in the final few minutes of the contest. Cargile played a big role in the Black Knights' NIRA Semifinal win over Harvard, helping set up offensive opportunities for teammates. She also scored a try in Army's victory over Coast Guard. Riekena was a force on the pitch for the Black Knights, scoring multiple tries during her junior season.
The two plebes were outstanding this year, each earning a spot on the pitch for the Black Knights. Linder was a key component to Army's triumph over Harvard in the playoffs. She recorded her first hat-trick of the season, scoring two of her three tries in the first half against the Crimson. Gamboa additionally saw a lot of time on the pitch, working her way into Army's starting 15 after the first few games. She recorded a try in the team's victory over Penn State. Gamboa and Linder each received an invitation to the USA Rugby Winter Camp.
Butt led the Black Knights in conversions this season to earned Honorable Mention nods. The junior had a season-best of 4-for-4 on conversions in the Black Knights' battle with Dartmouth during the regular season. Butt received an invitation to the WJNT Marlets 7s Camp which is well known for welcoming players that can contribute to the success of the USA Rugby's Women's 7s and 15s.
ALL-NIRA DI - First XV:
PROPS
1 Lauren Ferridge (Junior) Dartmouth
3 Erica Jarrell (Senior) Harvard
HOOKER
2 Nia Williams (Senior) SHU
LOCKS
4 Kaylee Cargile (Junior) Army
5 Naomi Colin (Senior) Army
FLANKERS
6 Julia Riekena (Junior) Army
7 Nafanua Fitisemanu (Sophomore) Harvard
NUMBER 8
8 Idia Ihensekhien (Senior) Dartmouth
SCRUMHALF
9 Emma Gamboa (First Year) Army
FLYHALF
10 Abbey Savin (Sophomore) Dartmouth
CENTERS
12 Sophia Linder (First Year) Army
13 Emily Henrich (Senior) Dartmouth
WINGS
11 Kiana Akina (First Year) Harvard
14 Emma Kearney (Senior) Harvard
FULLBACK
15 Lilly Durbin (Senior) Dartmouth
Honorable Mentions
Kristin Bitter (Junior) Dartmouth
Codi Butt (Junior) Army
Gracie Cartwright (Junior) Quinnipiac
Akilah Cathey (First Year) Brown
Alyssa Cunningham (First Year) SHU
Olivia Duba (Senior) Brown
Jalana Jade Garcia (Junior) Mount St. Mary's
Sophia Haley (Senior) Dartmouth
Gina Pollice (Sophomore) LIU
Kat Storey (Sophomore) Quinnipiac
PK Vincze (First Year) Harvard
Players Mentioned
Flanker
/ Women's Rugby
Lock/Forward
/ Women's Rugby
Lock/Flanker
/ Women's Rugby
Scrumhalf/Center
/ Women's Rugby
Center
/ Women's Rugby
No. 8
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