Findlay’s Sam Ponczochs (l) and Wooster’s Breanna Harrell (r) will be teammates in Florida.
On Jan. 20-21, the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) will contest its first-ever all-star 7s championship, and Ohio Valley is one of the eight conferences sending a team to St. Petersburg, Fla.
RELATED: NSCRO All-Star 7s Rosters
Anne-Marie Lemal Brown (College of Wooster) is head coach and supported by conference commissioner Marc Ferguson and Dave Ferguson as managers. Lemal Brown had conference coaches pre-select strong candidates for the November tryouts, where players ran through skills, games and scrimmages, and sampled the style of play that would be embraced going forward. Fifteen players from five teams were then selected to the travel roster.
Several veterans were unavailable due to injury, first-semester graduation and other availability issues, and thus the squad trends young. Tiffin University junior Hailey Moore and Denison University senior Callie Pace boast the most experience and will lead as captains. In the speed department, watch for Maddie Berry (Tiffin) and Arianna Campos (Ohio Wesleyan), while Ashley Hoy (Findlay) and Ja’Lia Shepard (Denison) inject versatility into the squad.
“I am excited to see what Wooster’s freshman, #8 Breanna Harrell, will do in her sevens debut. She was a high school state champion in Illinois in 15s and impressed all of the coaches during our fall season,” Lemal Brown noted. “There is a lot of potential and the team’s success will depend on how well they support each other and work together in Florida.”
Ohio Valley will compete in Pool B against Allegheny, Prairie State and the South. Pool A includes Lonestar, Mid-Atlantic, New England and Upstate New York. Knockouts will occur on Sunday.
For more information, visit www.nscro.org.
OHIO VALLEY ALL-STAR 7s
Madi Adamo – College of Wooster
Maddie Berry – Tiffin University
Jenelle Booker – College of Wooster
Ariano Campos – Ohio Wesleyan University
Kendall Caraballo – Denison University
Breanna Harrell – College of Wooster
Ashley Hoy – University of Findlay
Hailey Moore – Tiffin University
Callie Pace – Denison University
Sam Ponczoch – University of Findlay
Jessie Sailer – Ohio Wesleyan University
Katie Sendek – College of Wooster
Ja’Lia Shepard – Denison University
Clare Sullivan – Tiffin University
Seanna Zoellner – University of Findlay
#OhioValley NSCRO