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Meet Our Pioneers!

The Pioneers Club is made up of 106 individuals, teams, and businesses who have donated $1,000 or more to our work. Pioneers hold a special place in the history of the USWRF in helping us transform the future of girls and women in rugby.

 

We gratefully thank our Pioneers for their support!

Pictured Above: Pioneers & Champions in attendance at the 2024 WRCRA Conference

Pioneers Club Members

1
Danita Knox
USWRF President, Alum Atlanta Harlequins WRFC
2
Terry Owen
Alum Florida State University WRFC
3
Suzi Rosen
USWRF Treasurer, Alum Florida State University WRFC
4
Lisa Durham
USWRF Vice President, Alum Atlanta Valkyries WRFC
5
Bev Armstrong
USWRF Secretary, Beantown RFC
6
Clare Sup
Alum Florida State University WRFC
7
Mary Holmes
Alum Florida State University WRFC
8
William Holmes
Supporter of Women’s Rugby
9
Jackie Watts
Alum Houston Heathen Hearts & Florida State University WRFCs
10
Jamie Jisa
Alum University of Montana/Missoula’s Betterside & Northern Virginia WRFCs
11
Tania Hahn
Alum New Orleans Halfmoons WRFC
12
Dana Jackson
Atlanta Harlequins WRFC
13
Annie Collier
New York RFC
14
Holly Gaff
Norfolk Storm WRFC, Alum Washington DC Furies, Maryland Stingers, Atlanta Harlequins, Berkeley All Blues, Smoky Mountain, Stone Lion, & University of Tennessee WRFCs
15
CJ Jones
Alum Coast, Purdue, Hoydens, Combined Services, Storm, Beantown, Furies, & Norfolk WRFCs
16
Lisa O’Donnell
Alum Naples WRFC
17
Julia McCoy
Alum New Orleans Halfmoons WRFC & Ozark Ladies RFC
18
Vicki Hudson
Alum University of Florida, Orlando Alouettes, San Francisco, St. Louis WRFCs, Berkeley All-Blues & United States Combined Services
19
David Pelton
Supporter of Women's Rugby
20
Deb King
Alum Norfolk Storm, Combined Services, Gypsies, Hartford Roses, Indianapolis Hoydens, Purdue University, & Coast WRFCs
21
Penn State Women's Rugby
22
World Rugby Shop
23
In Memory of Dawn White
Alum Ft. Bragg & Atlanta Harlequins WRFC
24
Beth Fordyce
Alum Georgia Women's Rugby, Southeast, & Atlanta Harlequins WRFC
25
Mary Money
USWRF Vice President, Tufts University WRFC, Beantown RFC, Atlanta Harlequins, USA Eagles
26
Ros Anderson
Rugby Referees of NY, Village Lions RFC, in memory of Linda Moore, a pioneer in her field
27
Kerri Heffernan
USWRF Vice President & WRCRA Chair, Florida State, Houston Heathen Hearts, Beantown RFC, USA Eagles, Brown University WRFC
28
Rob Halcomb
MidSouth Rugby Referee Society, Life Rugby, Tennessee Rugby Alum
29
Rev. Shelley Donaldson
Alum Atlanta Harlequins WRFC
30
Krista McFarren
USA Eagles, Maryland Stingers, New Orleans Halfmoons, Washington Furies
31
KJ Abel Ruch
Truman State University & Kansas City Jazz, Kansas Women's Rugby Football Club
32
Kathy Flores
USA Eagles, Florida State, Berkeley All Blues, Cal, USF, SF Fog, Pacific Coast All-Stars, Brown University
33
Pam Kosanke
USA Eagles Sevens, USA Eagles 15s, Atlantis 7s, Chicago North Shore, Midwest Sevens and 15s All-Stars
34
Phaidra Knight
USA Eagles Sevens, USA Eagles 15s, Northeast All Stars, Midwest All Stars, New York Rugby Club, Old Blue Rugby Club, Wisconsin Women's Rugby Club
35
Carly Harrington
Atlanta Harlequins
36
Nancy Dennis Campbell
Florida State University, Canton Maddogs, Eastern Suburbs, Eno River, Memphis, Chattanooga, Nashville Stone Lions, Knoxville Minx, Shreveport Valentines, Dallas Harlequins, Louisiana Lagniappe, Olde Girls, and Gypsy Rugby
37
Jami Jordan
Alum Chesapeake Women’s Rugby, Maryland Stingers and New York Rugby Club 
38
Lori Utchel
39
Linda McLean
40
Laurel Lockett
41
Rick Humm
World Rugby Coach Development Trainer, President Northern California RFU
42
Robert McFarren
Supporter of Women's Rugby
43
Cindy Allen
Washington D.C. Furies, Georgia Women's Rugby, Southeast and Atlanta Harlequins
44
Candi Orsini
 FSU WRFC, USA Eagles, Atlantis
45
In Memory of Cheri Omega
46
Kris Hermanns
Wisconsin WRFC and Beantown RFC
47
Shoshona Le
Denver Black Ice WRFC, Atlantis 7s, West Select 15s, Eastern Rockies RFU
48
K.O. Onufry
49
Robin Pace
FSU Women's Rugby Club and USA Eagles
50
Margaret Dessypris Thomas
James River WRFC, Virginia Rugby Union Women’s Select Side, Referee Society of Virginia
51
MaryBeth Mathews
52
Mary-Kathryn Weaver
Alum Oklahoma Roses, Dallas, Austin WRFC
53
Colleen Fahey
USA Eagles, Florida State University WRFC, Olde Girls Women’s Rugby
54
Jennie Redner
Publisher of Communique, USARFU Referee Society; Publisher of In Control, Midwest RFU Referee Society; Publisher of In Support, USARFU Women’s Committee; Midwest RFU Women’s Select Side; Chicago WRFC; Michigan State University WRFC
55
Laura Fraher
Alum SUNY Geneseo Women's RFC, New York RFC, DC Furies
56
Vicky Bowlin
Alum FSU WRFC, All Star/USA Eagle/Wivern
57
Kevin Kitto
USA Rugby, South Panther Rugby
58
Lorraine Avery-Easterwood
Wilmington Rugby Football Union
59
Jack Clark
Head Coach, Varsity Rugby, University of California, Berkeley
60
Yancy Hammond Graf
Kansas City Jazz, Beantown RFC, USA Eagles, Rugby fan for life
61
Jessica Hammond Graf
62
Amy Shopkorn
USWRF Board Member, Alum Bowdoin Women's Rugby Football Club, Former Coach American University Women's Rugby, Alum Washington D.C. Furies
63
Jennifer Durant
Alum University of Texas Women’s Rugby, Austin Valkyries Women’s Rugby Club
64
Sunny Myers
Raleigh Rugby Football Club - Youth Director, USA Rugby Youth & High School - DEI Council
65
Sarah Sall
Atlantis 7's, MARFU 15's, Keystone RFC, Brandywine RFC, USA Rugby, TORI (The Original Rugby Influencer) Rugby
66
C. Diane Poole
Washington DC Furies, Potomac Referee Society, University of Florida WRC
67
Kathy Kojm
Florida State WRFC
68
Lee Bryant
Alum University of Nevada, Reno; Grizzlies 15s & 7s; USAR National Panel Referee
69
Andra Douglas
Florida State WRFC
70
Anne Barry
71
Lisa Huff Henrich
Alum: Dartmouth Women's Rugby Club, Gotham City Women's Rugby, Philadelphia Rugby Football Club, Buffalo Women's Rugby, Olde Girls Women's Rugby, Atlantis 7s, MARFU 15s; Coach: Orchard Park HS Rugby; Mother of 15s Eagle Emily Henrich
72
Annie Antar
Clubs: Radcliffe Rugby, Nashville WRFC, Atlanta Harlequins, DC Furies
73
Laura Stratton
Alum Berkeley All Blues, Pacific Coast Grizzlies, and United States Combined Services, in memory of Kathy Flores
74
Amanda Cox
75
Annemarie Farrell
76
Dana A. Schneider
77
Amy Marks
78
Jan Rutkowski
Beantown RFC, USA Eagles
79
Annah M. Weaver
80
Elizabeth Dustin
81
Theresa Bertram
82
Glenn T. Jensen
83
Kathryn Dowty
84
Joanne Absher
Alum: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara 7s Academy, Ponsonby, Counties Manukau, Belmont Shore, Santa Monica Coach: Cal Poly SLO, UCLA, Pac South U23s Admin: CRAA, Pacific Desert RC
85
Monica VanBuskirk
86
Josie Ziluca
87
Kittery Wagner Ruiz
In loving memory of her wife, Capt. Kandis Ruiz, USMC
88
Mary Swanstrom
89
Barb Fugate
90
Becky (TC) Regan
Boston University WRFC, Boston Women's RFC, New England Select Side, Coach - Wellesley College
91
Angela Smarto
92
Koma Gandy Fischbein
93
Barb Bond
USA Eagles, Pacific Coast Grizzlies, BASH Women’s Rugby Club, Portland Zyphers, Reed College Lemmings
94
Skyler Browder
95
Geoff Tancredi
96
Rachel Rheam
97
Lisa Jackson
98
Wendy Young
YSC Rugby, Austin Valkyries, Oklahoma Roses, West Selects, TRU, TRRA
99
Jenn Stratton
Cumberland Valley Girls High School Head Coach, Rugby PA BOD, NCR BOD, Past EPRU President, East Penn Rugby Referee
100
Olivia Benzan-Daniel
101
Betty Nguyen
102
Mikhala Dougher *
AHO WRFC Alum, Empire GU, CNY Rugby, and Uticuse Rugby
103
Matty Leighton *
Alum University of NH, WA State University, University of CO, ERRFU and West Select 15s, ERRFU Referee, Plymouth State University
104
Jeanna Beard *
105
Kat Aversano *
106
Jessica Burda Leslie *
Alum of UW-Stevens Point Women and Wisconsin Women's RFC, Alum Coach of UW-Madison Women, Coach of Oregon (Wis.) Boys and USA Rugby/World Rugby Coaching Educator
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