2025 -- S 1064

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE BROWN WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM ON WINNING THE

WOMEN’S RUGBY COLLEGE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN

A ROW

     Introduced By: Senator Tiara T. Mack

     Date Introduced: May 09, 2025

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Once again, Brown University is continuing its trailblazing path when it

comes to women’s athletics. The Brown Bears once again added to their stellar tradition of

excellence in women’s athletics that has included having the first woman to play Division I

Baseball and the first female football division coach, by becoming the first college program to

win three consecutive Collegiate Rugby National 7’s Championships in a row; and

     WHEREAS, The current dominant streak began for the Brown Women’s Rugby Team in

2023 when they shut out Navy to win their first national title, which was followed up in 2024,

when they defeated Army 12-5 to repeat as champions; and

     WHEREAS, Most recently, Brown began its march for a three-peat when they trounced

Adrian College in the first round. Brown continued its superb play in the round of when they

easily defeated Navy by the score of 24-7, to set up a final-four match-up with Penn State. After a

hard-fought first half that ended in a tied score of 7-7, the Brown Bears kicked things into high

gear and put on a sterling performance in the second half to defeat Penn State 19-7 and to

advance to the national championship game; and

     WHEREAS, In the Championship Final, the Brown Bears once again faced Army for the

title after falling behind early, roared back to sweep away the Black Knights to secure a 19-7

victory and their third national title in row. The most recent championship gives the Bears head

coach, the winningest coach in women’s college rugby history, her fifth national title, with the

first two coming at Life University. The Bears benefitted in their title run by the outstanding play

provided by All-tournament Team Members Akilah Cathey, the Tournament MVP, and Nikki

Lynch; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a national title in any team sport is an incredible achievement that

would not be possible unless every member of the team gave their all and placed team needs

ahead of individual aspirations. The Brown University Women’s Rugby Team has those qualities

in abundance as they were led all season by the outstanding play and important contributions

provided by Aziza-Ayana Alford, Yona Allouche, Olivia Baptiste, Laryssa Barbosa, Chayse

Barksdale, Hannah Cabarles, Akilah Cathey, Court Cummings, Kendall Cunningham, Asha

Davis, Valentine Detheux, Genie Dickens, Sophie Dornstein, Akil Dougherty, Lilia Duque, Jenna

Lowry, Nicola Lynch, Priscilla Maalouf, Elizabeth Mahoney, Caitlin Moroney, Kate Muldoon,

Tatum Muller, Julia Murray, Lily Nowak, Anna O’Leary, Tarn Reilly, Jiya Sandhu, Sadie

Wilson, and Jordan Wiseman. The Brown Bears Squad was also led all season by the superb

coaching provided by Head Coach Rosalind Chou and assistant coaches, Bridget Kahele, Kittery

Ruiz, Nyrel Stroup, and Adrianna Johnson; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby heartily congratulates

the Brown University Women’s Rugby Team on winning the Women’s Rugby College National

Championship for the third year in a row; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Rosalind Chou, Head Coach, Brown

University Women’s Rugby Team.

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