Photo courtesy Utah Youth Rugby
The Rocky Mountain Challenge doubles as the West Regional Cup Tournament (RCT), and the all-star showcase has lured five state varsity teams and two JV teams to Denver this weekend. The RCTs serve as a major selection vehicle for national age-grade scouts looking to nominate players to the Girls High School All American (GHSAA) West camp this summer.
United coach Matt Kanenwisher leads the Utah Cannibals varsity team, which is comprised of players from six different programs. The team will be without 12 Utah Rugby Academy players, who are currently on tour in Austria for the United World Games. That said, there are 12 players who competed in the state final, and six athletes who helped United finish third at the high school club championship this year. Those players and more will have the opportunity to assert themselves against fellow western states.
Watch for four United players to set the tone for the Cannibals’ performance. Loose forward Addie Horsley is a familiar face, having attended the GHSAA West winter camp. The standout sets the pace for work rate and is incredibly reliable around the pitch. Cheyenne Nielsen is a very mobile prop who would probably play No. 8 for most teams, as she has very good speed for her size and position. Maili Schaap earned her club’s Most Improved Award and played outside of the incomparable Charity Tenney, a set-up that was very helpful in terms of Schaap’s development. And don’t forget Peyton Frazier on the wing, who might see some time at scrumhalf as well. She’s in the running for fastest player in the state.
Also keep an eye on Jane Taufa from St. George Thunder. She has good ball-handling skills, is a hard runner and takes the ball at speed. She’ll bank time at No. 8, although Kanenwisher envisions her future in the front row at the next level. Her role might evolve into something like Herriman’s Maleata Si’i Vi. The prop has the speed to run in the backline and is very difficult to take down.
“Tina Tunuufi is a center-type back with a lot of talent and physical skill,” Kanenwisher said of the strong, fast Herriman product. “She has yet to find her ‘home’ as far as a position because you can play her pretty much anywhere upward of number 9. But she is a natural that is being developed well by her home coaching staff.”
Utah will play Mid-America and Idaho on Saturday, and Colorado and Minnesota on Sunday.
UTAH CANNIBALS – VARSITY
(positions in parentheses indicate secondary position)
Front Row
Natascha Burgess – St. George Thunder (flanker)
Brianna Clinger – Herriman
Judith Lopez – United
Cheyenne Nielsen – United
Seini Nuusila – Kau Toa
Ana Perez – Wasatch
Ailyn Razo – Herriman
Si’i Vi – Herriman
Lock
Bergen Christiansen – Herriman
Alexia TiaTia – Kau Toa (front row)
Ashlynn Thornton – United
Back Row
Addie Horsley – United
Aniya Matina – Provo Steelers
Jane Taufa – St. George Thunder
Scrumhalf
Jessica Boyle – Herriman
Flyhalf
Nyree Jensen – St. George Thunder
Olivia Vailahi – Kau Toa
Center
Maili Schaap – United
Arteysha TiaTia – Kau Toa
Tina Tunuufi – Herriman
Monika Vailahi – Kau Toa (fullback)
Back Three
Sindey Cervinski – Kau Toa
Peyton Frazier – United (scrumhalf)
Anna Trunnell – Wasatch
#UtahCannibals AllStars