eagles.rugby – U18 Women’s Pathways development has been busy this summer with two dedicated talent ID summer camps. Designed to refine the next generation of elite athletes, head coach Susan Whitwell identified more than 80 of the top young players from across the country. [lead photo: Sarah Quist for USA Rugby]

“The energy across both camps has been incredible,” Whitwell said. “At this age level, it’s not just about raw athleticism; it’s about understanding the game. We want to challenge players to think differently on the pitch and elevate their overall rugby IQ.

“We’ve selected the top talent in the geographic spread,” she added. “Every player will gain a clear understanding of their individual work-ons and on how they can improve at home to stay on the pathways radar as they rejoin their club teams.”

The West and East camps occurred on consecutive weeks this past month. The West Camp welcomed 40 U18 athletes to Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Ore., and then 37 rugby players reported to the East Camp at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md. Both intakes selected the top players in their geographic spread to come together to focus on skill development, playing cohesiveness, and an understanding of what individual work-ons they need to focus on to stay on the pathways radar as they elevate their rugby IQ.

Twenty-one states (California is divided into SoCal and NorCal) sent representatives to the camps. Utah led all selections with 16, while Idaho (8) and Colorado (7) combined for 15 players. North Carolina (5), Southern California (5), Pennsylvania (4), Montana (4), Northern California (4), Washington (4), Texas (3), Iowa (3), Maryland (2), New Jersey (2), Ohio (2) and Virginia (2) also had multiple reps. Arizona, Indiana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Wisconsin sent one player apiece.

U18 EAST CAMP

Mackenzie Aluise — Doylestown, PA
Brin Bayer — Fox Cities, WI
Ivey Bettis — Raleigh Redhawks, NC
Penny Bodde — The Woodlands, TX
Ava Cancro — Yellowstone, MT
Leah Cipollo — Doylestown, PA
Thea Cooper — Austin Valkyries, TX
Devyn Corydon — Morris, NJ
Adria Doyle — Raleigh Cobras, NC
Madison Englin — Waverly-Shell Rock, IA
Anna Eversole — Charlotte Cardinals, NC
Sofie Ferri — Hudson, OH
Poppy Fleet — Tucson Thunderbirds, AZ
Nolah Flynn — Doylestown, PA
Addy Gregory — The Woodlands, TX
Skyler Gurmendi — Monarch, CO
Rylen Hackett — Penn, IN
Leia Harmon — Yellowstone, MT
Adelina Jackson — North Bay, MD
Jayelle Jones — Outcasts, VA
London Key — Charlotte Cardinals, NC
Luella Krawczuk — Summit HS, CO
Peyton Langworthy — Orchard Park HS, NY
Abbey McGettigan — Downingtown, PA
Payton Parks — Emmett, ID
Avery Plesec — Brunswick, OH
Paige Rasnake — North Bay, MD
Olive Rhodes — Morris, NJ
Morgan Roth — Norwalk, IA
Kaliyah Schimpf — Monarch, CO
Mary Lou Sheppard — Los Alamos, NM
Mariana Taai — United, UT
Luisa Taai — United, UT
Paige Thomason — Rocky Mountain HS, ID
Erneasia Vinton — Raleigh Redhawks, NC
Anna Vojta — Outcasts, VA
Laney Waseskuk — Cedar Falls, IA

U18 WEST CAMP

Liongi Aiolupo — San Mateo, NorCal
Addy Anderson —Majestics, UT
Samantha Bufmack — Regis Jesuit HS, CO
Mallory Crawford — Eagle HS, ID
Kasinga Faletau — Majestics, UT
Hunivaololo Folau — Utah
Kendall Ford — Liberty, WA
Chloe Gandy — Chuckanut Bay, WA
Anya Haar — Summit HS, CO
Eniline Hola — Belmont Shore, SoCal
Blessings Iosia — Belmont Shore, SoCal
Rebekah Jenks — Rocky Mountain HS, ID
Sophia Johnson — Majestics, UT
Ilikea Kalama — United, UT
Snapper King — Portland Grackles, OR
Maura Kornak — Bishop O’Dowd HS, NorCal
Nora Lacy — Hammers, CO
Nila Lolesio-Pua — Belmont Shore, SoCal
Lavinia Lomu — United, UT
Anasita Lomu — Belmont Shore, SoCal
Jainaya Masunu — Kent, WA
Summer Mitchell — Provo Steelers, UT
Luisa Moala — Nova, UT
Eseta Moala — Nova, UT
Meletiave Moeai — Nova, UT
Lolo Ngalu — Idaho
Naomi Orton — Meridian HS, ID
Lokelani Parangan — San Mateo, NorCal
Tevia Rarick — Westlake Drua, UT
Hailey Russer — Summit HS, CO
Ciara Shade — Flathead Valley, MT
Payton Steinberg — Lady Patriots, SoCal
Zion Stone — United, UT
Leilani Teaupa — SACAIR Amazons, NorCal
Sarah Tomlinson — Meridian, ID
Kalilah Tuani — Kent, WA
Bridget Tuitavake — Majestics, UT
Isabel Uyema — United, UT
Wren Waliser — Gallatin, MT
Skye Wegener — Rush, ID

CAMP STAFF

Susan Whitwell, MN
Women’s Junior National Team U18 Head Coach

Kelly Griffin, SoCal
Women’s Pathway Coach

Stacey Markovic, MA
Women’s Pathway Coach

Lindsey Mahoney, AZ
Women’s Pathway Coach

Libby Berg, MN
Women’s Pathway Coach

Martha Daines, MN
Head of Player Systems and Development – Women

Mike Eisenhart, NJ
Strength and Conditioning Coach

Stacy Mancuso, PA
Analyst

Heidi Whitman, OR
On-Site West Manager

Amy McCormick, IL
On-site East Manager