NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Four standout members of the Norwich University men's rugby program have been named Scholastic All-Americans by National Collegiate Rugby (NCR), recognizing their achievements both on the field and in the classroom during the 2024-25 academic year.

Seniors Brady Kline and Aidan Maher, along with juniors Dumisani Janda and Jeff Pappalardo, received the honor for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher while competing in at least 50 percent of either the 15s or 7s A-side matches during the season.  The award celebrates the holistic success of student-athletes, emphasizing discipline, excellence, and integrity across academics and athletics, defining collegiate rugby at its best.

"Each one of these players all have busy lives outside of the classroom and rugby," said Head Coach Bob Weggler.  "All our players know that academics come first.  These student-athletes have achieved excellence in their studies, and I am so proud of all of them."

The distinction places Norwich among the NCR programs that continue to lead by example in cultivating success on and off the pitch.  Last season saw more than 1,000 student-athletes from over 100 programs honored, highlighting how rare and meaningful this recognition is across the national rugby landscape.

Maher, along with Kline and Pappalardo, earned their honors through the Cadets' spring 7s campaign, which culminated in a sixth-place finish at the 2025 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) in Boyds, Md.  All three players were key contributors throughout a season that included wins at the Bermuda 7s, Old Blue 7s, and the North Atlantic Collegiate Rugby Conference (NACRC) Championship.  Norwich ultimately secured a seventh straight CRC appearance and finished with a 15-7 spring record.

Janda, as well as Kline and Pappalardo, also earned their awards based on their performances during the 15s season, which included a return trip to the NCR Division II National Tournament.  Norwich powered its way to a third-place finish in December, punctuated by a commanding 72-17 win over Towson in the national third-place match.  Pappalardo played a major role in both formats, serving as a leader throughout the year and scoring in key moments in both 15s and 7s.

The NCR named 1,284 student-athletes as 2024-25 Scholastic All-Americans, a 21% increase from last year's total of 1,060 recipients.  This year's honorees included 564 women and 719 men representing 220 teams across 177 colleges and universities.

Among men's programs, Brown University topped the list with 29 honorees, followed closely by Georgetown University (27), the University of South Carolina (23), and Dartmouth College (22).

NCR CEO Jeremy Treece shared his congratulations, "We are proud to recognize such an outstanding group of student-athletes this year. These young leaders continue to elevate the standard of collegiate rugby through their commitment to academic and athletic excellence. Congratulations to each of them on this well-earned honor."