STUDENT ATHLETE PROFILE Two from Life U Receive Prusmack Awards Susan Adegoke and Orrin Bizer Student Athletes | Rugby The Life University Rugby Programs had two of their very own recognized at this year’s 2023 US Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Both Orrin Bizer and Susan Adegoke were recognized in the special ceremony where history was celebrated, heroes were honored and the legacy of rugby in the United States grew richer. During the induction, nine individuals were inducted while Bizer and Adegoke were recognized as this year’s Prusmack Winners. Over 60 collegiate coaches from across the country were asked to submit nominations for The Prusmack, with Life U’s, Susan Adegoke and Orrin Bizer sweeping the honors. The Prusmack Award is to honor A. Jon Prusmack, who did more than anyone to make rugby sevens in the U.S. the success that it has become. The Foundation has established a Heisman-like trophy to be awarded annually to the best male and female collegiate 7s players. For Adegoke, a native of Brooklyn, New York, athleticism runs in the family as her dad was an accomplished multi- sport athlete, playing soccer, competing in track & field and maintaining a distinguished boxing career. Much like her father, Adegoke was also open to trying any sport that came her way growing up, playing soccer, track & field, basketball, floor hockey and rugby. Eventually, when rugby came to her middle school, she embraced it with open arms and never looked back. While Adegoke has been at Life U, the Women’s Rugby team won the National Collegiate Championship title this past season, and she was named a D1 Elite 15s First Team Collegiate All-American each year and is a two-time MA Sorenson Nominee as the top female collegiate 15s player. Most recently, Adegoke was named the CRAA 7s Championship Most Valuable Player in May. Off the pitch, the adept athlete likes to design clothes and album covers. She also has a newfound music career and frequently coordinates Zoom calls with the younger community from Brooklyn where she checks in and mentors teens who are facing the challenges of growing up in New York. A recent graduate of Life University where she earned a pair of bachelor’s degrees, Adegoke was on the President’s and Dean’s lists for the past three years and is currently interning with Waffle House. On the men’s side of things, Bizer’s story follows a different path, as he is a southern boy from Woodlands, Texas who started playing rugby in 2017 in the Woodlands Youth Rugby program. Starting later in life, Bizer spent three years playing for the club before ultimately helping the team win the 2019 Texas State Championship. After graduating high school, Bizer chose to attend Life U to study exercise science and earned a scholarship for the rugby team under then Head Coach Colton Cariaga. While at Life U, he earned a spot on the USA U23 roster for the RugbyTown 7s tournament, and in both 2022 and 2023, he helped Life U win back-to-back 7s Nationals Championships. In this year’s most recent title defense, Bizer served as a captain for the team. Since then, Bizer returned to the RugbyTown 7s this year with the USA U23s and was an integral part of the team that won the RugbyTown championship title. In the fall of 2023, Bizer graduated from Life U with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. 44 Alumni.life.edu | 2023