AIC Athletics & AIC Rugby photos
USA Rugby has announced the suspension of all rugby activities until April 12, and cancelled its spring college 15s championships and college 7s national championships. Players unwittingly took the pitch with their teammates for the last time, abruptly left campus and said farewell to their spring seasons. During the Coronavirus shutdown, TRB is focusing its coverage on players and coaches and staff who missed out on some closure.
Twenty-one-year-old Allyson Pothier learned her rugby at the storied Summit High School in Colorado, and graduated in 2016 alongside fellow NIRA student-athletes Becca Jane Rosko (Dartmouth) and Meg Rose (Quinnipiac). Pothier signed with American International College in Springfield, Mass., and as a sophomore was named a captain alongside Bridget Kahele and Kayla Clark. The flyhalf endured two ACL injuries and multiple coaching changes during her tenure but the senior captain was ready to take it back in spring 2020. In Pothier’s words …
This spring season would’ve been my last hoorah of college rugby with the intention of making it all the way to [USA Rugby College 7s] Nationals. The news that the league had made the decision to cancel this spring season due to the outbreak of the horrific Coronavirus, had completely shattered my progress and goals.As many have heard the AIC Women’s program has gone through many changes throughout the last four years I’ve been there. I was first recruited by Dimitri [Efthimiou]. Two days before preseason began I was told I was to be coached by a new coach, Peter Lang. Lang lasted a year and a half until he was ultimately let go by the college. Then I was coached by Tara Roberts. Roberts stayed for about a year and a half as well. My senior year second semester, my college had merged the men’s and women’s program under one head coach: T Fletcher. Since my time at AIC, with no fault to the college or rugby program, I had gone through four coaches. This itself can be very hard for a student-athlete, let alone one battling two ACL injuries. Having to prove myself over and over again, while maintaining a healthy body, and leading a team can be very difficult.This 7s season would’ve been my first time back playing rugby in almost a year due to my second ACL tear. The spring season of 2019 I was playing a 7s game against Dartmouth at Harvard’s 7s tournament. During the second game, I got twisted up in a tackle and resulted in another season-ending injury. As you can imagine, being a captain and having had two major injuries which keep you from playing the game you love, with the people you love, completely sets you back.Despite the long and rough recovery I knew I had ahead of me, I acknowledged that I still had gas in the tank to continue playing rugby, so I picked up my head and pushed to be able to play in my last senior season. I had my surgery in May, so unfortunately the comeback in 15s was impossible. My attainable goal was to be cleared to play in the spring. As this was my second go-around with this type of rehab, I excelled in the process.As February rolled around, my doctor had officially cleared me to play, just in time for our first tournament of the spring season, Frostbite 7s in Pennsylvania. Coming into my first tournament back, I was in need of a lot of confidence. With the help of my coaches and teammates, I was able to overcome fears and play an incredible tournament. My team finished in second and we were on a high. Our new coach, T Fletcher, and our assistant coaches were finally beginning to build a successful program for the future. It was a great start to the season and we had so much more to accomplish.Then the news of the coronavirus had hit, my team and I were distraught. To end on such a positive and to not be able to fulfill our fullest potential was very discouraging. To battle rehab and negative thoughts for months to have my season cut short is a feeling I will never forget. ADDENDUM
TRB: Any silver linings during this tumult?
AP: The hardships I’ve encountered have overall made me a stronger person both mentally and physically. Playing under multiple coaches and different coaching styles has made me a very diverse player and open to anything. I have made long and meaningful relationships with players, coaches, doctors who have been through this rollercoaster ride with me. Even after this season came to a quick halt, my teammates and coaches are in constant communication challenging each other to fitness tests and sending rugby memes, which makes the experience overall easier.
TRB: Anyone you wish had one more game with?
AP: I believe a lot of our seniors will be taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCCA. Other senior teammates who will continue on with their life past AIC who also came in as walk ons and for the past four years worked so hard to be where they are now as a player are Courtney Welsh and Jamila Davis. Neither of them received the senior night that they deserved after giving their sweat and blood to this program and I feel for them. I wish I could give them the recognition they deserve.
Pothier will play a fifth year at AIC while obtaining a masters in education. Afterward, the plan is to teach in Massachusetts, hopefully ending up in Boston area.
AIC #AllyPothier