The Women’s Premier League, in partnership with the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation Kathy Flores Memorial Fund, presented the first annual Kathy Flores Heart of the WPL Award at the 2022 WPL Championships. The award honors legendary coach Kathy Flores, one of the founders of the WPL and long-time player and coach for the Berkeley All Blues.
The award nominees were selected based on the following criteria:
A passionate advocate for women’s rugby and a lifelong student of the game
An educator and mentor who builds strong, sustainable relationships on and off the field
Someone who works to elevate the women’s game and best represents the ideals of the Women’s Premier League.
2022 Recipient:
Lisa Jackson Atlanta Harlequins Rugby Club Age 37
USA U23 Forward Coach
USA ID Camp Coach
USA U23 Regional South Harlequins Forward Coach
USA Rugby South All-star Coach
Rhino Rugby Coach
Raleigh Rugby Club Men/ Women & Youth Forward Coach
North Carolina State University Men's rugby Coach
ROOTS Rugby Coach
USA Rugby Level 200 (World Rugby 100) Certified
Scrum Strong Coaching Accreditation
Eagle Eye Scout
Zone Representative East | USA Rugby
Raleigh Rugby Football Club: Event & Sponsor Director, Board of Directors, 2016-2020
As shared by Kittery Wagner Ruiz, WPL Co-Commissioner:
The 2022 winner, Lisa Jackson has been an unwavering advocate of women's rugby. She has the respect and affection of the entire women’s rugby community for her fierce commitment to building relationships within and across communities. Lisa exemplifies the best of qualities of Kathy Flores and the WPL, her passion for the game - her commitment, care, compassion and generous nature are standards for all.
2022 Nominees:
Kristin Aliberto - New York Rugby Club Jeanna Beard - Colorado Gray Wolves Olivia Benzan - Daniel - Beantown RFC Alicia Gillberg - Twin City Amazons Evan Hoese - Berkeley All Blues Kathryn Johnson - Twin City Amazons Samantha Luther - Colorado Gray Wolves
As shared by Kittery Wagner Ruiz, WPL Co-Commissioner:
The 2022 nominees represent the very best of the WPL community. In addition to working tirelessly to grow women's rugby at every level, the nominees have demonstrated a commitment to growing and honing their own physical, intellectual and emotional skills. They lead by example and in doing so encourage others to raise their game.
Kristin Aliberto
New York Rugby Club
Age: 38
Philadelphia RFC Coach
Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union Developmental Program Coach
WPL Player Development Board
Rugby for All Contributor
La Salle Women's Rugby Coach (former)
MARFU U23 All Star Program Assistant Coach (former)
Philadelphia RFC Player (former)
MARFU Senior All Star Program Player (former)
USA WNT Pool
EPRU Board Member
MARFU Board Member
Jeanna Beard
Colorado Gray Wolves
Age: 36
WPL Liaison for COGW, 2020-present
WPL COVID Committee, 2020-present
Colorado Rush, IGR Men's Club Head Coach 2019-present
Rocky Mountain Rugby Women's and Men's Selects Coaching Staff, 2021-present
All Colorado High School Girls' Selects Coaching Staff, 2018-2020
USA Senior Club Council Governance Committee, 2021-present
Rocky Mountain Rugby VP of Operations, 2022-present
Rocky Mountain Rugby VP of Communications, 2019-2021
Rocky Mountain Rugby Women's Director of Rugby & D1 Women's Rep, 2017-2021
Glendale Raptors/Merlins Rugby Women's Recruitment Chair, 2016-2020
Glendale Raptors/Merlins Rugby Women's President, 2014-2016
Washington Women's RFC (DC Furies) VP of Recruitment, 2010-2013
Member of the Inaugural Women's National Rugby League Squad and Leadership Committee Member, 2021-2022
Olivia Benzan-Daniel
Beantown Rugby Club
Age: 30
St. Mary's HS Girls' Rugby Coach
Brandeis University Women's Rugby Coach
New England Free Jacks Community Coach
Beantown RFC - President
CRAA (College Rugby Association of America) Women President
ACRA (American College Rugby Association) Administrator
Rugby Northeast Vice Commissioner (women's college D2)
Northeast D1 Commissioner (women's college D1)
Women's D1 College Council Representative
USAR Audit & Risk Committee College Representative
World Rugby Coach Educator
L1 Certified Referee
Volunteer Coach at various youth clinics
Alicia Gillberg
Twin Cities Amazons
Age: 34
Director/Co-Commissioner of WPL, 2016-present
Manager of all WPL operational functions
Active in WPL leadership, 2012-present
Twin Cities Amazons Match Secretary, in Amazon leadership since 2011
Twin Cities Amazons Player
MN U23 Assistant Coach, 2018-present
University of Minnesota Women's Rugby Assistant Coach, 2014-2019
US WNT World Cup Player Pool Top 100, 2014
Evan Hoese
Berkeley All Blues
Age: 33
Harvard RFC Captain
D2 Collegiate National Championships MVP
NERFU's U23 Team Captain
Beantown's RFC Captain, 2013
US WNT World Cup Player Pool, 2014
Berkeley All Blues D2 Team Coach, 2017-2020
Berkeley All Blues Captain
NCRFU Exec Committee Member, 2017-present
USAR Competition's Committee Chair and Women's Division Representative
US WNT Tour, 2018
Kathryn Johnson
Twin Cities Amazons
Age: 30
USA U19 Team (at age 14)
7’s World Cup Team, 2013
Olympic Team, 2016
World Cup Team (15’s), 2021
Fought and won for a bonus structure for USA women’s 7s
USA 15s Player Rep
WPL Development Board Founder
Coached K-12 youth rugby
Organized donations for youth rugby balls for gym classes
Sam Luther
Colorado Gray Wolves
Age: 31
University of Rhode Island Captain
Beantown Rugby Club Captain (second place finish in 2017 D1 Nationals)
Glendale RFC, 2018 and 2019
Glendale RFC Player Board Member (restructured program into the Colorado Gray Wolves)
International Athlete Representative for USAR's Bankruptcy Process (advocate to ensure that the women's program was included equitably throughout USAR's restructure)
WPL Board Member
XV Foundation Board Member
World Cup Player Pool, 2017 and 2021
WPL Development Board, 2020
תגובות