Both of the National All-Star Competitions (NASCs) – senior and junior – saw the melding of two age groups. Collegiate standouts propelled the developmental ranks during the senior NASC, while top high schoolers joined the Women’s Junior All-American (U20) assembly. The first big assembly for the Girls High School All-Americans (GHSAAs) will occur in February (details forthcoming), but for now, let’s look at the the U18s who were asked to join the U20s in Florida.
Of the 90 players invited to the WJAA winter NASC, 38 declined, 10 didn’t respond, and 14 were from the U18-eligible ranks. Eleven of the 15 hail from high schools (listed below) and are familiar entities, having represented the GHSAAs in 7s, 15s or both:
- Destiny Arena (Fallbrook, CA) * … Multi-year All-American hooker … hones her craft with national power Fallbrook High School
- Cassidy Bargell (Summit, CO) *^ … High School Player of the Fall (read more)
- Emma Conrad (Fond du Lac, WI) * … Veteran of GHSAA camps & Midwest all-stars … prop earned first age-grade “cap” vs. Quebec last summer
- Lilly Durbin (Fallbrook, CA) *^$ … Most decorated current high schooler in the game … capped 7s Eagle who was in Olympic 7s pool
- Natalie Gray (Summit, CO) * … Another multi-year All-American forward continuing the Tigers’ domination in Colorado
- Emily Henrich (Orchard Park, NY) * … Center/conversion kicker captained the GHSAA East U18s v Quebec last summer
- Lolohea Makaafi (Kent, WA) *^ … All-power forward who handles herself well on the 7s field, as displayed in France
- Julia Riekena (Missoula Valley, MT) *^ … Very prevalent in 2016 … loose forward who has 7s skills
- Annie Rolf (St. Joseph Academy, OH) * … Like Conrad, vet of GHSAA camps/Midwest all-stars … very strong prop, as demo-ed during the single-school championship
- Alex Sedrick (Herriman, UT / Life Univ) *^ … Slick and smart, the Mustangs graduate signed with Life University in January 2017
- McKenna Strong (Kent, WA) * … Center with excellent conversion skills debuted during the GHSAA West wins v B.C. last summer
* GHSAA 15s
^ GHSAA 7s
$ USA 7s Eagle
“Lilly Durbin, of course, is a great character to have around, with her experience with the U20s, 7s circuit and OTC,” WJAA coach Wil Snape reflected on the high schoolers who distinguished themselves among the collegians at NASC. “We all know Lilly is an incredibly gifted athlete and skillful rugby player. We challenged her to improve her linking and decision-making as a back-three player, and start to evolve as a key decision-maker from fullback. She embraced that challenge and we saw her grow.”
Snape has been working with Durbin since she was 15 years old, when she debuted for the WJAAs against the Canada U20s. But the winter NASC also served as an introduction to a quartet of high school players who have age-grade appeal. Margaret (“Meg”) Gold of Idaho Falls attracted attention via Atavus camps and fixtures like the North American Invitational (our Event of the Year – read more). Tatum Johnson of North Suburban, Minn., has also worn the Atavus Selects jersey and is well known in the Minnesota Tundra ranks.
“[They] were really great campers,” Snape wrote. “Meg was evasive and dangerous on the wing and improved each day she was with us. Tatum, playing at scrumhalf, really pushed herself and showed a great attitude to learning and discovering more, and making the most of her opportunity. Both players have great potential.”
Kaitlyn Camire and Morgan Freeman are completely new to the system. The former hails from Storm, Tenn., produced really good test results and used every opportunity to showcase her speed. The latter is new to the U.S. Having just relocated from England to Florida, Freeman has gone through the RFU developmental system and joined the WJAA NASC halfway through the assembly. Snape indicated that she performed well in the second match and he’s happy to have her involved.
Last year, the GHSAAs held two separate winter assemblies – one in the East, one in the West – and while details have not been released, it’s believed that same structure will be mimicked in February (again, to be confirmed).
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