MARC MVP Amanda Tondin of York College
The Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference (MARC) is one of eight leagues sending a team to the first-ever National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) All-Star 7s Championship, to be held Jan. 20-21 in St. Petersburg, Fla. MARC will compete against Lonestar, New England and Upstate New York in Pool A, while Pool B pits Allegheny, Ohio Valley, Prairie States and the South against each other.
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York College’s Ashley Letten and Andy Sabo will coach the all-star team alongside Scion Rugby Academy Director Joanne Liu, and the trio has selected a squad that pulls from York, the University of Scranton and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). York is coming off of the NSCRO 15s National Championship, where the Pennsylvania squad finished third overall (read more). Six players from that playoff campaign are returning to the South for the 7s event.
“The two players to watch are Amanda Tondin and Melissa Robertson,” Letten pointed toward the York contingent. “Both bring blinding speed to the team and are a threat if given the space to attack. Melissa is new to rugby but had a great trip [at the] national championship scoring three tries. Amanda Tondin is a four-year vet, led the MARC NSCRO division in tries scored, and was selected the MARC NSCRO MVP.”
Scranton is sending four players to the league all-star team, and Letten indicated that scrumhalf Elizabeth Steele is a threat on both sides of the ball, and Randy Livingston is the mark of dynamism, with speed and moves to match.
New Jersey is also represented in three TCNJ players: Magen, Graham, Angie Tornette and Nicole Krysa. All three are round, strong players according to Letten, and Krysa will be one to watch around the tackle area.
For more information on the NSCRO All-Star 7s Championship, visit www.nscro.org.
MARC All-Star 7s Team
Ashley Arena – York CollegeSarah Barquero – University of Scranton
Roanna Farquhar – York College
Nicole Krysa – TCNJ
Magen Graham – TCNJ
Randy Livingston – University of Scranton
Micole Madrazo – University of Scranton
Melissa Robertson – York College
Miccara Sloan – York College
Elizabeth Steele – University of Scranton
Jessica Tappen – York College
Amanda Tondin – York College
Angie Tornette – TCNJ
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