05/26/2026
Sarah Apgar ’02 Award | Malinka Kwemo ’27
Our highest individual honor, given to the outstanding player who combines athletic excellence with a deep commitment to the values of Princeton Rugby. 🐯🏆
This year’s winner led our program in assists, was a try-scoring force, made enormous defensive impact, and led in all the intangibles that don’t show up on a stat sheet — field organization, composure under pressure, the ability to make everyone around her better.
A favorite early moment of preseason was a 7:30am whiteboard session with her mapping game strategy — “should we call the 21 channel on the left side of the pitch 12 instead?” A deep student of the game.
The defining moment came in Tampa in our Tropical 7s Semifinal. Double-overtime against the reigning D1 NCR National Champions. 95-degree heat. No subs for the last 20 minutes. Full-time plus 14min OT — a staggering tournament record. She didn’t panic. She leaned into our 150s. She hung in for her teammates. She found space. And she brought us home.
In the words of Sarah Apgar, “For me this award celebrates our most essential self, shining a spotlight on a teammate and leader who through honoring her own essence, elevates all others. While we’ve never met, Malinka, I know you, because you were chosen to carry this torch. I know that you see in your teammates strength they may not. You find the 4th dimension when the other 3 seem to collapse. You know that resilience is a matter of trust in yourself and your team. You ensure that the collective hearts of the team beat as one both in victory and in defeat, creating the enduring and impenetrable bond of perseverance and love that is Princeton Women’s Rugby for those who choose it. Congratulations, and thank you, for continuing that storied tradition that connects us all.” -Sap
Congratulations to our 2026 Sarah Apgar ’02 Award winner: Malinka Kwemo ’27, who will return as a reelected Captain this fall for her senior year💥
