2024-25 Kevin Higgins Scholarship Recipient: Eric Ishekwene
Eric Ishekwene's rugby journey began reluctantly when his high school government teacher, knowing he had lived in South Africa, persistently encouraged him to try the sport. Despite initial resistance and his parents' concerns following his brother's rugby injury, Ishekwene eventually attended a practice.
"I was practically forced to play rugby against my own will," Ishekwene recalls. "I then was horrified of contact so I picked the most contact-free position - scrum-half." His first game revealed rugby's contrasting experiences: "The worst vivid image was when I got dump-tackled by the opposition flanker on the hardest part of the pitch, but in that same game, I scored a 60-meter try."
From these beginnings, Ishekwene developed a passion for the game, studying professional players like Jamison Gibson-Park. His dedication led to remarkable growth, culminating in his appointment as captain of the Maryland Exiles after just one year with the team. Under his leadership, the Exiles maintained an unbeaten record and won their first state title in three years.
Born in Johannesburg, Ishekwene moved to Maryland in 2021, facing challenges adapting to a new educational system. Despite credit transfer difficulties affecting his GPA, he maintained a 3.57 GPA at Sherwood High School while serving as president of his school's debate team and Black Student Union, and being inducted into multiple honor societies.
As one of few African American males playing a playmaker position in rugby, Ishekwene embraces breaking stereotypes: "I realized how uncommon it was for an African-American male to play a playmaker's position. I find a lot of the experiences I face in the classroom mirror the experiences I face on the field."
Now attending The Ohio State University and playing for their rugby club, Ishekwene aims to learn from upperclassmen while targeting a spot on the Big 10 All-conference team and potentially representing the USA Eagles internationally. With dual citizenship, he hopes to develop rugby in Nigeria by starting an academy.
Studying computer science, Ishekwene plans to revolutionize rugby coaching through technology, creating an application for online coaching sessions where players can simulate game experiences to enhance coaching plans.
