Former United star and current BYU freshman Stowers will rep the Stars. / Photo: Jackie Finlan
As always, the Stars has great representation with college, club and international players for the Las Vegas Invitational. The team has been in Las Vegas since Sunday and will scrimmage Lindenwood University in preparation for the Women’s Elite 7s competition, which begins Thursday.
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The majority of tour-goers are new to the Stars, with only Dana Alimena (Claremont College), Cyndi Campbell (Scioto Valley/1823) and Lindsey Mahoney (Tempe) returning as veterans. The remaining 11 players include DI Elite collegians Kat Stowers (BYU) and Jocelyn Jones (Life), DII Cincinnati high-scorer Justine Perl, Alimena’s teammate Lauren Dorsey, and two Canadians from the University of Lethbridge: Hailey Driscoll and Carolyn McKee.
Additional senior club players hail from San Francisco, Tucson and Columbia, Mo. New Zealand and Japan are also represented in Julie Buescher and Iroha Kishimoto. Head coach Meredith Baker is originally from New Zealand, and she’s assisted by Yohei Shinomiya of Japan.
The Stars play the Northeast Academy (9:20 a.m. PST), the Misfits (11:20 a.m.) and the Chicago Lions (1:20 p.m.) during Thursday’s pool play games, all of which occur on field #14. Friday’s knockouts relocate to field #15, and the Women’s Elite final will be contested at 2:37 p.m. Saturday inside Sam Boyd Stadium. For more information, visit www.lvirugby.com.
STARS WOMENS @ LVI
*Dana Alimena – Claremont College, Los Angeles, Calif.
Tina Aprahamian – Old Pueblo, Tuscon, Ariz.
Julia Buescher – Bay of Plenty/Columbia Black Sheep, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
*Cyndi Campbell – Scioto Valley/W1823 7s – Columbus, Ohio
Hailey Driscoll – University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Lauren Dorsey – Claremont College, Los Angeles, Calif.
Jocelyn Jones – Life University, Marietta, Ga.
Iroha Kishimoto – Phoenix 7s, Tokyo, Japan
*Lindsey Mahoney – Tempe, Tempe, Ariz.
Carolyn McKee – University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Tyra Norlander – Berkeley, San Francisco, Calif.
Justine Perl – University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
Katey Sanders – Columbia Black Sheep, Columbia, Mo.
Kathryn Stowers – Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
COACH: Mere Baker, New Zealand
ASST COACH: Yohei Shinomiya, Japan
PHYSIO: Paddy Bowen, Australia
PHYSIO: Nick Grob, Australia
DIRECTOR: Liz Entwhistle, USA
*veteran of previous Stars tours
STARS MEN @ LVI
*Carter Beelman – Metropolis Rugby Club, Minneapolis, Minn.
*Najee Bissoon – Oklahoma University, Norman, Okla.
*Trace Bolstad – Metropolis, Minneapolis, Minn.
Drew Busbee – USAF 7s, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Ben Connolly – Southern Districts, Sydney, NSW, Australia
*Luc Desroches – University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Ehron Enyedy – Oakland University/Legacy Rugby Academy, Troy, Mich.
Jason Fitzgerald – USMC 7s, San Clemente, Calif.
Zack Forro – Notre Dame College/Army 7s, Euclid, Ohio
Brandon Johnson – Mount Saint Mary’s, Emmitsburg, Md.
Joe Mano – Moli Ole Ava 7s, Anchorage, Alaska
*Martin Pittman – Washington Rugby Club, Washington, D.C.
INJURY RESERVES:
*Amani Manning – Washington Rugby Club, Washington, D.C.
Darryn Mathee – Bangkok, Thailand
COACH: Jon Grasso, USA
ASST COACH & PHYSIO: Paddy Bowen, Australia
PHYSIO: Nick Grob, Australia
DIRECTOR: Liz Entwhistle, USA
*veteran of previous Stars tour