Both Atavus Academy Seattle teams in Salem. /// Below photos: Alison Gale
Atavus Academy Seattle won the first Pacific Northwest (PNW) women’s 7s qualifier in Salem, Ore., last weekend. Atavus and fellow finalist ORSU supplied two sides apiece to the five-team competition, and will be contending for the Pacific North’s two berths to club 7s nationals.
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The Seattle Saracens is not fielding men’s or women’s 7s teams this summer. The men are playing under the banner of Washington Athletic Club, and the women formed an agreement with Atavus. Seattle and Atavus are obviously connected – Emilie Bydwell coaches for both entities, and Saracens are enrolled in the senior Atavus Academy, led by Michaela Staniford – and everyone is bonded through the desire to provide an elite playing opportunity to the women.
Fortunately, the union occurred far enough in advance that Atavus Academy Seattle could plan for the summer 7s season and set expectations.
“Emilie Bydwell held a meeting and laid out her intentions for a competitive, prepared, committed team – not just social, although that comes along with it,” Staniford said. “We have a nice mix of experience, new players and different clubs as well, and fortunately, they’re gelling really well. They’re coming to practices twice per week, and we have a high number of players who are enrolled in the academy and train in the morning.”
Sevens training began six weeks ago, and now 27 players comprise the selection pool. After a warm-up tournament in Budd Bay, where two teams were split evenly, Atavus entered first and second sides into the first Pacific Northwest qualifier, Salem 7s. Megan Jansky-Bingel has emerged as a leader and captained the first side to victory on Saturday. She received ample support from Megan Sanders, who recently earned her first USA 7s cap in Japan, and veterans like Anne Peterson and Chelsey Birgisdóttir.
Watch for the newcomers and young players, like Lolo Makaafi of the Kent Crusaders and Girls’ High School All-Americans. Jennine Duncan is still new to the game but has already played for the USA Falcons in Las Vegas and Vancouver. Staniford is hoping an intensified summer 7s season will catapult her into the national player pool. Then there’s Natalie Fuller, who was recruited to row at the University of Washington. She has raised eyebrows after only three months of playing and coaches can see her entering the Eagle pathway as well.
Although the future of the Atavus Academy Seattle is unclear, it is treated like a team in that players fill fundraising, registration, social, kit and more duties akin to traditional clubs. “Everyone’s pulling their weight,” Staniford said. Some players bolster their training through the senior Atavus Academy (11 of 12 players on the first side also train at the academy), but not all academy members are involved in the 7s program. Naima Reddick and Kristen Sommer, for example, are readying for World Cup selection and the upcoming Eagle 15s camp.
The rest of the summer includes three guaranteed fixtures: two more PNW qualifiers in Can Ams 7s (July 8) and Roy Lucas 7s (July 15), and the Pacific North 7s championship (Tacoma Aroma 7s) on July 29. Bydwell and ORSU 7s coach Charles Sanderson are trying to diversify the competition by luring teams like San Diego, Life West and Glendale to the region. Stay tuned for updates.
Much like the Atavus Academy Seattle, ORSU has fresh and veteran players filling its ranks. Coach Sanderson indicated that the team has work ahead of it, especially if it’s aiming to better its fourth-place finish at nationals last year. Grit and scrap will be at the center of ORSU’s game, as will Rachel Johnson, whom Sanderson regards in the highest esteem.
NorCal is the other half of the Pacific North and held its first qualifier last weekend as well. Life West defeated Berkeley in a close final in San Jose, Calif. Stay tuned for more.