It’s time to all-star. /// Photo courtesy Rugby New Jersey
In addition to the West Regional Cup Tournament (RCT) and Mount St. Mary’s event, the Northeast is holding its RCT in Rahway, N.J. Reigning champion New Jersey will have home-field advantage, while Western New York and Connecticut make the trip south for a varsity-only weekend.
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Morris dominates the New Jersey all-star team, accounting for 15 of the 22 selections, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. The state didn’t have the numbers for a girls’ high school state championship this year, which was a big reason why Morris built up its spring tournament schedule in advance of the high school club championships. Morris finished fifth in Elkhart, Ind., and is lending several players from that 2-1 campaign, including senior No. 8 Jordan Cowan (Quinnipiac ’21) and scrumhalf Jessica Nagie (Wyoming ’21), who served as co-captains in their final season with the team. Gene Caulfield is also doubling as Morris head coach and New Jersey state all-star coach.
Northern New Jersey has a unique relationship with Play Rugby Academy, which is located in New York, as the teams serve as their only local competition. Keeping with tradition, there are four players from across the border. Watch for Susan Adegoke, who has plenty of experience with Morris players on teams like the Community Olympic Development Program, Atlantis and USA Rugby Academy resident camps.
Finally, northern New Jersey’s Union has also contributed players to the state all-star team, as Allison Bronander, Molly Jackson and Faith Whitfield represent their home club on Saturday.
RELATED: Who returned from the 2016 New Jersey and Western NY all-star teams?
Western New York pulls from four Buffalo-area clubs and sees New York state champion Orchard Park with 11 of the 23 selections. The Quakers defeated Play Rugby Academy in the state final and prefaced that repeat title with a third-place finish at single-school championship. It was Orchard Park’s first appearance at the national invitational.
City Honors also has a good presence with seven selections, while Kenmore and Hamburg combine for five roster spots to New Jersey. Glenn Nenoff is head coach for the junior-heavy team, while Lisa Henrich instructs the backs and Clarence Picard the forwards. Picard, who is also head coach of St. Bonaventure, will inherit the two senior captains next year: Hannah Riccardi and Kelly Degrood. The Class of 2017 is also sending Hamburg’s Sara Harmon to Trocaire, City Honors’ Peyton McKelvey to Buffalo State and Kenmore’s Jasmine Geis to the U.S. Army.
Rugby Connecticut is also participating in the one-day event, but roster details have not emerged. Games begin at 9 a.m. (view schedule) and the tournament also includes four pools of boys’ varsity and JV high school teams.
NEW JERSEY
Susan Adegoke – PRUSA
LeAnn Bauer – Morris
Allison Bronander – Union
Gianna Caulfield – Morris
Alba Corney – Morris
Jordan Cowan – Morris
Grace dePoortere – Morris
Molly Jackson – Union
Kelsey Joyce – Morris
Mia Lancellotti – Morris
Lauren Madalian – Morris
Allie Mennella – Morris
Jessica Nagie – Morris
Isabella Paul – Morris
Alison Ramage – Morris
Ciara Sharkey – Morris
Kelsey Svaasand – Morris
Shay Vaz – PRUSA
Leanny Ventura – PRUSA
Raquel Villanueva – PRUSA
Faith Whitfield – Union
Sophia Zaragoza – Morris
Gene Caulfield – Head coach
WESTERN NEW YORK
Naomi Banks – City Honors
Frangelica Bautz – Orchard Park
Sam Bautz – Orchard Park
Emma Daley – City Honors
Kelly Degrood (c) – Hamburg
Katherine Diina – City Honors
Jasmine Geis – Kenmore
Sophia Giordano – City Honors
Kaylee Gorney – Orchard Park
Sara Harmon – Hamburg
Emily Henrich – Orchard Park
Lizzy Honer – Orchard Park
Laura Livigne – Orchard Park
Autumn LoCicero – Kenmore
Catherine Matre – Orchard Park
Peyton McKelvey – City Honors
Devin Mogavero – Kenmore
Leah Norton – City Honors
Katie Niver – Orchard Park
Hannah Riccardi (c) – Orchard Park
Mia Riccardi – Orchard Park
Calah Turpin – City Honors
Grace Weber – Orchard Park
STAFF
Glenn Nenoff – Head coach
Clarence Picard – Forwards coach
Lisa Henrich – Backs coach