The MVP of the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association D1 final, Dartmouth No. 8 Idia Ihensekhien is a finalist for the MA Sorensen Award as the best women's collegiate rugby player.
The Milton, Ontario native who was a letter-winner at Jean Vanier Catholic in Basketball, Volleyball, and Rugby made an immediate impact at Dartmouth. A NIRA All-American honorable mention as a freshman, Ihensekhien grew as a player and a leader. But it wasn't all clear sailing. She has had to battle back from a serious injury.
"This season was my hardest," Ihensekhien told Goff Rugby Report. "Coming off a back injury—I had difficulty sitting up for nearly 10 months and I wasn’t fully able to exercise like rugby necessitates— I wasn’t in the greatest shape. But my teammates and coaches were really supportive and found ways to help me maximize my abilities by catering to my style of play."
A prop most of her time at Dartmouth, she was moved to No. 8 to reduce the stress on her back. She blossomed in the new position, but just as much because of how everyone supported her.
"Being selected as a finalist attests to the great effort that Dartmouth Women's Rugby as a whole contributed to ensure that I could participate this season," she said.
