Recent ASU graduates Kristin Baja and Meredith Whalen were announced to the USA Rugby All -American Team for the 2000-01 school year during a presentation at the SRC Tuesday.
Baja was named to the first team, while Whalen received second team honors out of 7,000 nominees across the country.
"Usually we get these certificates in the mail, so it's neat to be recognized, and I'm a little bit shocked at all the people that showed up for the presentation," Whalen said.
Both players were notified of their nomination last week via e-mail messages from USA Rugby but did not receive the certificates until Tuesday.
Neither Baja or Whalen played for the ASU Women's Rugby team during the 2000-01 season, but instead played for national and territorial club 7's teams which drew the attention of the USA Rugby team committee for All-American honors.
"It's great to see that what we are doing, especially at ASU, is being somewhat recognized by the school," Baja said.
Originally, Baja and Whalen did not intend on playing rugby at ASU. As freshmen, Whalen planned on joining the track team while Baja was going to play soccer, but each began their rugby careers instead.
"I was going to walk on to the track team at ASU, but I didn't enjoy my orientation experience, and on the walk home I saw a rugby poster," Whalen said. "I heard it was like football, and so I went for it."
Both players will continue to play rugby in their post-graduate careers. Baja plans on playing for the Northwest territorial senior 7's team, while Whalen will play for the Pacific territorial senior 7's team.
Whalen will continue her education at the University Oregon for a degree in sports business, and Baja will continue her education in therapeutic recreation, although she is undecided on which school to attend.
Reach Steve Ganczaruk at MassahG1@aol.com.
