WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Following a successful campaign on the field and in the classroom, junior Francesca Tino (Clinton, Conn./Morgan) secured All-Academic honors as announced by the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association. Tino is one of 142 athletes honored by NIRA, the national governing body for rugby as it continues as an NCAA emerging sport.

Tino completed her second year with the program this past spring and currently sports a 3.81 grade point average as a criminal justice major with a concentration in investigative services and a minor in Spanish language and Latin American studies. On the field, Tino helped lead the Chargers to the USA Rugby 7's Collegiate Championship in Houston, Texas, marking the first time the Blue and Gold have made an appearance in a national tournament.

To be eligible for NIRA All-Academic accolades, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and a starter or significant contributor who has compiled at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.