SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – One of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of American International College will remain at her alma mater as a coach, as Director of Rugby Jameson Bonti announced the hiring of Annekkia Ritter-Truxal '24, '26 MS as Associate Head Women's Rugby Coach on Friday, May 15.
In this role, Ritter-Truxal will assist in all aspects of the program.
"Nikki represents everything we want AIC Women's Rugby to stand for. She is one of the most decorated athletes in program history, but more importantly, she is an outstanding leader, mentor, and role model. Her understanding of our championship culture, student-athlete development, and the family identity of this program makes her an incredible addition to our staff and a major asset to the future of AIC Women's Rugby…Her background in mental health counseling, student development, leadership, and athlete support gives her an exceptional ability to connect with and mentor student-athletes holistically. She understands what it takes to succeed academically, athletically, and personally at a high level, and that perspective will be invaluable within our program. She has earned the respect of this program through years of leadership, academic excellence, and high-level performance. Nikki is uniquely positioned to help lead the next generation of student-athletes here at AIC and I'm incredibly excited about the leadership, energy, and lasting impact she will have on AIC Women's Rugby," said Bonti.
"This program has been my home for the past five years, and it's shaped me into the person and leader I am today. Being able to step into this role means everything to me. AIC Women's Rugby is more than just a team to me. This rugby community here at AIC is a family built on accountability, growth, and showing up for each other every day. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to give back and help lead and develop strong, confident women both on and off the field," Ritter-Truxal said.
The only four-time national champion in AIC's history, Ritter-Truxal was a starter from her freshman campaign in fall 2021, when the Yellow Jackets defeated West Chester University 29-17 in the NIRA Division II Championship for their first 15s title, through her final season in spring 2026, capping that with the program's first-ever 7s title as the Yellow Jackets dethroned three-time defending champion Brown University 24-7.
She spent the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons as the team's captain, leading AIC to back-to-back NIRA Championships with a 20-15 win over Davenport University in 2023 and a 73-0 defeat of West Chester in 2024; AIC finished fourth and third at the CRC 7s Championships in spring 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Individually, she was First-Team All-NIRA in 2021 at fullback and again in 2025 at scrum-half. She also earned three NIRA All-Academic honors and an NCR Scholastic All-American selection.
Beyond her on-field success with the Yellow Jackets, however, Ritter-Truxal brings tremendous coaching and leadership experience. She served as assistant coach with Rush Rugby in her home state of Idaho from 2021-2024, where she designed and implemented practice plans for middle and high school athletes, provided individual and position-specific skill instruction, and mentored athletes.
She also coached at the NAI 7s and Great Northwest Tournament in back-to-back summers of 2022 and 2023. There, she prepared athletes for national competitions, supported tactical planning and in-game adjustments, and provided individual feedback during the tournament.
At AIC, she served as the Graduate Assistant for the Saremi Center for Career Development from 2023-2026, providing academic and career planning support including goal setting, professionalism, networking skills, and more; in the role she collaborated with other departments on campus.
She also worked with College Steps as a lead mentor, helping neurodiverse college students in executive functioning and academic accountability as well as promoting structured goal attainment.
Her other leadership positions include internships with the Academic Leadership Association, the Center for Human Development, and Baystate Medical Center's Adult Psychiatric Treatment Unit.
She earned a bachelor of science in psychology from AIC in 2024, earning Valedictorian honors, and with minors in exercise science and sport coaching; she will complete a master of science degree in clinical mental health counseling.
She is USA Rugby Level 1 certified, as well as a certified referee. Additionally, she is first-aid certified, CPR/AED certified, WSI certified, and lifeguard certified via the Red Cross.
