The Midwest U19 program invited 45 players to camp last week, looking to reload the Thunderbird player pool and build toward higher-level playing opportunities. All of the Midwest states were represented at camp, which was held at Denison University from July 21-24, and coach Garrett Fisher took the attendance as one sign that the program’s revival continues to be well received.
The U19 Thunderbird program fell by the wayside after the U19 National All-Star Championship dissolved. Former USA U20 coach Bryn Chivers kept the program alive for a couple of years before stepping down, and then the Midwest U19s entered dormancy.
“Two winters ago, the Midwest Youth asked me if I was interested in picking it back up,” Fisher said. “They thought there was a big gap between state and All-American rugby, and players were asking for more playing opportunities. That became our goal: Apply more rugby in between the state and All-American levels for those who want it.”
In February, the Midwest U19s went on a very successful tour of Florida, and that helped boost interest. Fisher then scouted at all-star and Midwest tournaments, received some coach recommendations and video, and fielded requests for more tryouts.
“Maria Bashmakov is a great story from camp,” Fisher said of the tight five player from Carmel, Ind. “She e-mailed me asking how she could tryout for camp, advocating for herself. We brought her in just through her desire. She was tremendous – one of the best forwards at camp. It’s evidence of the excitement around the program being back.”
Veteran leaders Haylee Thull (Armstrong, Minn.), Emma Conrad (Fond du Lac, Wisc.) and Hannah Trommer (Hudson, Ohio) served as camp captains. The trio traveled on that Florida tour along with five other returners to camp. They set the level of expectation for the newcomers and served as point people off of the pitch. Thull and Conrad are currently at the Girls High School All-American camp in Emmitsburg, Md., along with returner Annie Rolf (St. Joseph Academy, Ohio).
“Tatum Johnson from Minnesota was the biggest surprise,” Fisher said of the North Suburban, Minn., scrumhalf. “I first met her when she was in 7th grade and playing with an All-Minnesota team at one of the all-star tournaments. I hadn’t seen her since then and didn’t even add two and two together when I saw her here at camp. She’s a tremendous talent. She played 9, wing, hooker and flanker because she told us: I just want to play rugby and will fit in wherever you want.”
Fisher also singled out Lakewood flanker Saher Hamden, who was another pleasant surprise on the pitch.
The camp served as a selection vehicle for the 2017 tour to Florida, where the Thunderbirds will play the state’s high performance U20 team. Last Fisher spoke with organizers, there were talks of forming a Carolinas U19 team as well. And the staff has already started conversations for a summer 2017 tour of Canada.
Midwest U24 coach Jeff Noe was quick to connect with Fisher at the conclusion of camp. Noe is taking his Thunderbirds to the Saranac Lake tournament this weekend (stay tuned for article) and was eager to hear who showed well and where they’re heading to college.
“One of the goals for the U19 program was to host clinics and tryouts together with the [U24s], to show the players that there is a transition to the collegiate side and to continue in the program,” Fisher explained. “Players get lost in the transition to programs – so let’s bring them together. We’ve even talked about restarting the senior team. The idea is once you’re a Thunderbird in high school, you can go through until you stop playing rugby as an old lady.”
The Midwest coaching staff featured former Thunderbirds as well, extending the connection of the program.
“The players, both during and after the camp, said they had so much fun,” Fisher reflected. “At first, you’d see all of the, say, Ohio girls sitting down and eating breakfast together, and by the end, they were all intermixed. They were all talking to each other about what else they could do – other places they could play together. We’re building a culture for the Thunderbirds, and you see it in little things like creating hashtags.
“We had players e-mailing us this year that they couldn’t make camp but wanted to be a part of it. Players from Indiana want their own tryout because they believe they have players who could be a Thunderbird,” the coach added. “Something is catching on.”
MIDWEST U19 CAMP
Arriannah Adkins – Amherst, Ohio
Abby Andler – Brookfield, Wisc.
Maria Bashmakov – Carmel, Ind.
Regina Baldado — St. Joseph Academy, Ohio
Emily Becker – Kettle Morraine, Wisc.
Maia Breeden — Hudson, Ohio
*Kylie Burkett – Plainfield, Ill.
Sarah Clarke – Divine Savior Holy Angels, Wisc.
*Samira Colbert — Shaker Heights, Ohio
*Emma Conrad – Fond du Lac, Wisc.
Gillian DeRoche — Hudson, Ohio
Lexi Engelhardt – Fond du Lac, Wisc.
Grace Estes – Iowa Hawkettes
Erin Fitzpatrick – Grandville, Mich.
Brynn Ford — Parma, Ohio
Hannah Fultz – Iowa Hawkettes
Bethany Gable – Grandville, Mich.
Alex Gribble — St. Joseph Academy, Ohio
Saher Hamden – Lakewood, Ohio
Crystal Jehly – Brookfield, Wisc.
Tatum Johnson – North Suburban, Minn.
Clara Lemal- Brown – Wooster, Ohio
Nicole Lew — Parma, Ohio
Bella Lubsey – Brookfield, Wisc.
Julie Lutzen – Brookfield, Wisc.
Maeve Mullen — St. Joseph Academy, Ohio
Aryel Newman – Dayton, Ohio
Lindey Pingel – Iowa Hawkettes
Emma Pursifall- Ohio; Lakewood
Bailey Regan — Hudson, Ohio
*Lizzy Rich — Hudson, Ohio
Areliz Rivera – Brookfield, Wisc.
*Annie Rolf — St. Joseph Academy, Ohio
Matja Sarrenheimo- Vanderhorst – Grandville, Mich.
Bri Scebbi — St. Joseph Academy, Ohio
Kaitlyn Schoepel – Appleton, Wisc.
Rachel Slater – Hudson, Ohio
Hannah Struzyk – Armstrong, Minn.
*Haylee Thull – Armstrong, Minn.
*Hannah Trommer — Hudson, Ohio
Anna Watry – Brookfield, Wisc.
*Cara Watson — Hudson, Ohio
Abbi Wood – Plainfield, Ill.
Kelly Zagore — Parma, Ohio
* Attended 2016 Midwest U19 tour of Florida
#MidwestU19s