California rugby saw 10 student-athletes earn D1A All-America recognition for the 2023-24 season, announced by the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) on Saturday evening. The Golden Bears' four first-team selections and 10 overall placements ties for most by a single program.
 
Four Bears – senior Emilio Shea and sophomores Cade Crist, Solomon Williams and Rand Santos – were named to the All-America first team. Shea made nine starts for the Bears as the loosehead prop to earn the second All-America nod of his career. Crist, who was an All-America honorable mention in his freshman year, made 11 starts for Cal at the hooker position this season and was nominated for the 2024 Rudy Scholz Award.
 
Williams and Santos paired as the scrumhalf and flyhalf for most of Cal's season, each making 11 appearances in the first 15. Williams logged six tries while Santos contributed four tries and had seven successful conversions off his boot. This is the second All-America distinction for Santos following his honorable mention last year as a freshman.
 
Three seniors – Tom Dixon and co-captains Charlie Walsh and Alex Aguero – received All-America second-team nods. Walsh made 11 starts as the tighthead prop while Aguero made 10 starts, primarily as the No. 8, and dotted down five tries. Dixon, who battled injuries in the latter part of the season, made six starts as a lock.
 
Freshman Bryan Bogne, senior co-captain Will Shankland and sophomore Max Threlkeld were selected to the All-America third team. Shankland and Threlkeld paired as the centers, making 10 and eight starts, respectively. Shankland contributed five tries while Threlkeld scored three.
 
Bogne got the call to the Bears' first 15 midway through the season when Cal's veteran flankers were ruled out with injury. He started in seven matches and logged his first collegiate points with a try in his debut against UC San Diego at the Dennis Storer Classic.
 
"Congratulations to our boys earning recognition and to all those selected," head coach Jack Clark said. "This comes only through hard work, and all these players should be proud."  
 
Sixty-nine athletes from across 19 collegiate programs earned All-America distinction. The full list of All-Americans can be found here.
 
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