San Diego is heading to the USA Rugby Club 7s National Championship, having won both Pacific South qualifiers. There’s still a month before the tournament unfurls in New York City and plenty to achieve in that time.
“It’s been our goal since day one to win nationals,” San Diego veteran Josie Ziluca described current team mentality. “Now that we’ve punched our ticket, fighting hard through the finals in qualifiers, I think we’ll be more focused than ever. We have the courage to believe that we can.”
The Surfers also have the numbers, quality and staff to remain a perennial title contender. Approximately 40 players are heading to training sessions, “which has been an interesting challenge for the coaching staff,” Ziluca confessed.
Fortunately the Surfers have Liz Strohecker, Michaela Bydwell and Emilie Bydwell behind the clipboard, and 2017 returners Megan Foster, Tia Blythe, Teigan MacDonald (Hawkeye program), Lauren Brisbin, Jaime Albarelli and Ziluca as core players. Elizabeth Trujillo and Hunter Griendling have also returned to the squad and ramp up the experience, while Alena Olsen, Stephanie Rovetti and WCAP’s Ashlee Byrge and Dani McDonald are all first-season Surfers making an impact.
San Diego fielded three squads in its first 7s tournament and has supplied two teams in each of the subsequent outings. The Surfers won both Pacific South qualifiers – OMBAC 7s and Santa Barbara 7s – and Ziluca pointed to the San Diego Boogie Boarders and Santa Barbara Academy as the team’s best competition so far.
“The Boogie Boarders are comprised of Surfers alums and many other elite-level players such as Kathryn Johnson, Sara Parsons and Bui Baravilala. We met them in the final at both qualifiers and beat them both times,” Ziluca reviewed. “Santa Barbara Academy, led by Kelly Griffin and Kevin Battle, is always a tough, physical opponent. They have continuously been improving and we always look forward to their tough game.”
As for the rest of the calendar, San Diego will send a team to the Roy Lucas 7s in Portland, Ore., to face the best of the Pacific Northwest, as well as a team to the Sunsplash 7s the same weekend. The San Diego Aztecs’ Oasis 7s awaits at the end of the month.
“We have a physical performance game plan leading into nationals, which means that many of our players have to closely monitor their physical performance volume while beginning 15s trainings and some also participating in competitive touch rugby,” Ziluca noted the confluence of activity. “The team is cruising along, always embracing challenges that occur naturally or ones that are staged. If there’s one thing this team has, it’s determination. This team is committed to one another … 5:45 a.m. trainings will have that effect.”
#SanDiego #2018Club7s