DartmouthSports.com Athletes of the Week - Kyler & Ihensekhien
11/23/2021 12:54:00 PM | Football, Women's Rugby, Athletics
An Ivy title and a national title are coming home to Hanover after last weekend.
Dartmouth reached the end of its first fall action since the pandemic in spectacular fashion. On the same day at two different fields the Big Green won a national title and an Ivy title. On the road at West Point, New York, the women's rugby team defeated Army West Point, 28-18 to take home their second national title in three years. Coming back for a fifth season with the team, Idia Ihensekhien scored two tries and was rewarded by being named MVP of the game. On the gridiron in Providence, R.I. the football team dispatched the Brown Bears, 52-31, for their league-leading 20th Ivy title. The Green were led by fifth-year senior Derek Kyler who ran for a career-high 79 yards on six carries.
Their efforts are rewarded by being named the DartmouthSports.com Athletes of the week.
Each week, DartmouthSports.com will spotlight two outstanding student-athletes - one male, one female - as Athletes of the Week. Student-athletes may be chosen based upon their efforts both on and off the field of competition.
Idia Ihensekhien, 5-Sr., Milton, Ontario, Prop, Women's Rugby
Dartmouth women's rugby won its second NIRA national championship on Saturday when it defeated No. 3 Army in West Point, 28-18. Fifth-year senior Idia Ihensekhien made the most of her extra season with the team. The Milton, Ontario native led the team with two tries, the first coming with 21:41 on the clock in the first half. Up 14-3 going into the second half, Ihensekhien struck again, combining with a successful conversion by Abbey Savin to give the Big Green a 21-3 lead. For her efforts she was named MVP of the game which capped off an undefeated (8-0) season for the women's rugby team.
Derek Kyler, 5-Sr., DeKalb, Ill., QB, Football
Fifth-year senior Derek Kyler capped off a terrific career by completing 18-of-24 passes for 215 yards and three scores while running for a career-high 79 yards and another touchdown on just six rushes in the 52-31, Ivy League title-clinching victory this past Saturday. His first of three touchdown passes was a 60-yarder to tie the game at 14 in the second quarter, and barely three minutes later he zipped a 15-yard scoring strike to give the Big Green a lead they would not relinquish. When the second half began, Kyler promptly kept the ball for a 29-yard run right before throwing a strike in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown. Later in the third quarter, he weaved his way through the Brown defensive line for a 7-yard score on the ground, his first of the season, for a 38-17 advantage. For his efforts, Kyler was also named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week and Gold Helmet Award winner as the top Division I player in New England for the week.
Their efforts are rewarded by being named the DartmouthSports.com Athletes of the week.
Each week, DartmouthSports.com will spotlight two outstanding student-athletes - one male, one female - as Athletes of the Week. Student-athletes may be chosen based upon their efforts both on and off the field of competition.
Idia Ihensekhien, 5-Sr., Milton, Ontario, Prop, Women's Rugby
Dartmouth women's rugby won its second NIRA national championship on Saturday when it defeated No. 3 Army in West Point, 28-18. Fifth-year senior Idia Ihensekhien made the most of her extra season with the team. The Milton, Ontario native led the team with two tries, the first coming with 21:41 on the clock in the first half. Up 14-3 going into the second half, Ihensekhien struck again, combining with a successful conversion by Abbey Savin to give the Big Green a 21-3 lead. For her efforts she was named MVP of the game which capped off an undefeated (8-0) season for the women's rugby team.
Derek Kyler, 5-Sr., DeKalb, Ill., QB, Football
Fifth-year senior Derek Kyler capped off a terrific career by completing 18-of-24 passes for 215 yards and three scores while running for a career-high 79 yards and another touchdown on just six rushes in the 52-31, Ivy League title-clinching victory this past Saturday. His first of three touchdown passes was a 60-yarder to tie the game at 14 in the second quarter, and barely three minutes later he zipped a 15-yard scoring strike to give the Big Green a lead they would not relinquish. When the second half began, Kyler promptly kept the ball for a 29-yard run right before throwing a strike in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown. Later in the third quarter, he weaved his way through the Brown defensive line for a 7-yard score on the ground, his first of the season, for a 38-17 advantage. For his efforts, Kyler was also named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week and Gold Helmet Award winner as the top Division I player in New England for the week.
Players Mentioned
Prop/Number 8
/ Women's Rugby
QB
/ Football
Flyhalf
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