The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's rugby program is already building towards the 2016 Canada West rugby season, announcing the signing of four players. Southern Alberta products Keegan Brantner, Abby Neudorf, Mikhi Lagemaat join Saskatchewan's Julianna Cornish as the first recruits for head coach Ric Suggitt.
"The first thing we addressed in scouting and signing all four of these players is going back to our roots," says Suggitt. "We wanted home grown talent and we got that with these four signings. We also added depth to critical positions. We wanted prairie athletes, they are salt of the earth and typically hard working people. We want people at the U of L who have a good attitude."
Brantner, a five-foot-11 inch lock, joins the Horns from W.R. Myers High School in Taber and comes to the program with experience at both the provincial and national level as a member of U18 Team Alberta, the U18 Priairie Wolf Pack and an attendee of the Canada U18 invitational camp.
"Keegan at lock adds size and power to our scrum and line out," says Suggitt. "Also, from my brief experience at a couple of training sessions, Keegan demonstrates that she is full of energy and intelligence."
Abby Neudorf and Makhi Lagemaat come to the Horns from the successful Winston Churchill Bulldogs program where they won an ASAA High School Rugby Tier II Provincial Championship.
Neudorf, who can play both centre and flanker, was also part of U18 Team Alberta, the U18 Priairie Wolf Pack and attended the Canada U18 invitational camp.
"Abby is a well-rounded athlete and to be playing the midfield we will be looking for her athletic prowess to see spaces and cut the gain line or to set someone up to puncture the gap," says Suggitt.
A five-foot-three inch scrum half, Lagemaat was also a member of the provincial team, Wolf Pack and a Canada U18 camp invitee along with Neudorf and Brantner.
"Mikhi's previous coaches speak highly about her work ethic and intelligence," says Suggitt. "Being a halfback, it is a tough position to play as I have extremely high expectations from that position, but I am excited about her joining the program after the feedback I have received."
Julianna Cornish will join the Horns next season from Anthol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox Saskatchewan. The five-foot-six inch prop has had a successful high school career thus far, winning a Saskatchewan High School Provinical Championship.
Cornish has also spent time with the Saskatchewan U18 provincial team and was a member of the Regina City Champions in both sevens and 15s.
"Julianna at prop is quick and dynamic in the open field," says Suggitt. "This is the style of game we play and Julianna will fit right in."
After a three-year hiatus, the Horns made a return trip to the CIS Championship tournament this past fall, where they finished sixth. Suggitt is looking to add more recruits to the 2016 list in the coming weeks.