Senior NASC involved collegiate newcomers through World Cup veterans. •
While much attention focused on the athletes vying for World Cup selection via the Winter National All Star Competition (NASC), there was another important objective at play. The developmental teams included many Women’s Collegiate All-Americans (WCAAs), and they were able to crossover into the senior ranks during NASC or at least view the requirements of national team play. This integration was especially important considering the upcoming year.
“There will be no culminating competition for the WCAA squad this year so we will not be having our own assembly,” WCAA head coach Sue Whitwell reported in advance of NASC. “The WCAA players are all considered part of the [Women’s National Team (WNT)] development pool – many of the players who were in contention for making the WCAA squad over the summer have been invited to participate as part of the WNT development teams at the winter NASC. This being the 6 months prior to the World Cup in Ireland – the focus is on providing a transition from the WCAA level to the senior level.
“The goal is to have players move fluidly through the programs so players have the opportunity to play for the official age grade as well as possibly being called up for the WNT,” Whitwell added. “The more opportunities provided, the better we will be!”
A prime example of that fluidity is Kat Ramage, who went to Lakeland, Fla., for the Women’s Junior All-American assembly and served as leader alongside McKenzie Hawkins (read more). The Dartmouth sophomore then remained at Tigertown as the senior NASC commenced. There, she reunited with fellow collegians like Gabby Cantorna, Danielle Ordway, Frankie Sands, Megan Rom and Kaitlyn Broughton – all of whom represented the WCAAs during the summer and filled the developmental ranks at NASC.
“Because there was some crossover, I would say the [NASC] games were the most physical and tougher than any other year,” surmised Ordway, who helped Davenport University to a second consecutive DII college fall championship in early December, and played wing/fullback for the developmental sides.
But the all-star competition still serves as a place for players, regardless of age, to be introduced into the player pathway. Newcomers like T’yara Blades (Texas A&M), Emily Hranchook (Oakland University) and Brittany White (University of Minnesota) sampled the high-performance lifestyle. Air Force Academy’s Jacqueline Hamby was particularly impressed, having only played a semester of rugby for the current DI fall champion. The soccer convert and Air Force fullback was discovered during the DI fall playoffs in Cincinnati and was an important factor to the Zoomies’ fall title (read more).
“The level of competition was the highest I’d ever faced,” wrote Hamby, who played fullback and wing during the developmental games. “The players’ overall knowledge of the game was impressive. The pace was fast, and the movement of the players was strategic on attack as well as defense. Everyone had impressive individual abilities, but something that set the better players apart was their ability to be a team player and help those – like me – who had less experience [in] the game.”
While there might be an intimidation factor for NASC first-timers, Hamby and others are fortunate to interact with different levels of players. She looked toward her fellow fullback for guidance, and her roommate was an Olympics 7s member who cheerfully answered any questions that Hamby could pose.
“It was definitely cool being put on the same team as my Air Force Academy teammate, Ashlee Salato,” Hamby added. “It was great to always have each other’s backs out there.”
Stay tuned for USA Rugby reportage on the NASC as a whole.