Zach Bonte, Sara Parsons and Sarah Buonopane have been selected as this year’s Life West Rugby student award winners. The Life West athletic department recognizes Zach, Sara and Sarah for their contributions to both the rugby programs and the school community.
2020 Men’s Rugby Student-Athlete of the Year: Zach Bonte
Zach Bonte is currently finishing his final quarter at Life West, and he will graduate as a Doctor of Chiropractic in June. During his time at the college, the former USA Rugby All-American served as a captain of the men’s team, which won multiple local, regional and Western Conference titles. Zach also excelled as a student and earned silver honors in clinic for recording more than 350 visits from patients.
After he graduates, Zach will head home to Rancho Santa Margarita, California, with his wife and fellow Life West Rugby student-athlete Amy Naber Bonte. Life West Rugby wishes both Zach and Amy all the best for their future together.
2020 Women’s Rugby Student-Athlete of the Year: Sara Parsons
A native of Fallon, Nevada, Sara Parsons graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, and played for Team USA in the 2017 Rugby World Cup. After spending time with the USA Women’s Olympic 7s rugby team in San Diego, Sara decided to pursue a career as a chiropractor and chose Life Chiropractic College West.
Sara was chosen Student-Athlete of the Year for her on and off-field performances. She helped lead the Life West women’s team to a second-place finish in the Women’s Premier League, and she has been extremely active within the school community. Sara has served as the president of Tic Talkers, the vice president of FICO, a liaison for the Alpha Chi Rho sorority and a writer for Lifelines, the school’s student magazine.
2020 Leo Loh Award: Sarah Buonopane
The Leo Loh Award is awarded to the athlete who demonstrated outstanding club spirit. This is a truly emotional award as it is named after a person who was deeply involved in the rugby program since its inception in 2013. Leo Loh, who passed away in December 2019, was a local volunteer who loved Life West, the students and the teams. He was a regular patient in the clinic and had more than a dozen interns who passed through the program. Leo epitomized the team-first spirit through his selfless service and attitude.
There is no more deserving recipient of the Leo Loh Award than Sarah Buonopane, who has shown leadership and team spirit on and off the field. Originally from Beverly, Massachusetts, Sarah crossed the country to play on the USA Women’s Olympic 7s rugby team. During her time at the Olympic Training Center, Sarah decided to follow her dream of becoming a chiropractor and chose to study at Life West.