The Tennessee Tri-Stars have competed in southern Regional Cup Tournaments (RCTs) in the past, but girls’ all-star teams didn’t commit to this year’s showcase in Atlanta. Heidi Whitman (Germantown) and Daniel LaFond (Columbia Central), who stepped in for Chris Martin as lead coaches, got word that the Midwest RCT would field Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams, and thus the trip to Indiana was booked.
Fifty players showed up to the June 3 tryout, and LaFond credited the surge to the involvement of two local coaches. There were established relationships and layers of trust that encouraged players to come out and perform. LaFond recently led his team, Columbia Central, to the state championship and a fifth-place finish at the Single-School National Invitational Tournament. Germantown head coach Whitman is 21 years into a playing and coaching career that spans the U.S., overseas, the Eagle pool and beyond.
“I’ve coached a lot of different age groups, boys and girls, and the high school level is my favorite,” said Whitman. “These kids have so much enthusiasm and are so into rugby. And now with new opportunities in college, to be able to hook them up with programs or maybe get a scholarship, they can experience amazing things.”
The coaches set up a practice schedule that mixed regional training sessions during the week with state-wide assemblies on the weekend.
“In general, we’re blessed in Tennessee with a high level of athleticism, but when you get down [into the ranks], strategies and rugby IQ vary vastly across different teams,” Whitman said. “The goal is introducing girls to a higher level of play, not as individuals but in team play.
“The local practices were more helpful than I thought they would be,” Whitman added. “We could break everything down, from different skills, to an emphasis on rucking, working in pods on attack, running off the scrumhalf. And then we came together on the weekends for full-team practice.”
Across the Tier 1 (23 players) and Tier 2 (25 players) teams, 33 hail from Middle Tennessee and 16 from West Tennessee. LaFond indicated that the squad was missing some veterans, especially those who traveled to Chester, Pa., for the HSRC 7s, and was pleased with the interest from younger classes. Three-year-old Spring Hill contributed six players, all of whom qualify for Tier 2, and Blackman, which had 22 freshmen this year, added four Tri-Stars.
Nashville contingent
Whitman embraces a player-led structure that selects its leaders, but did mention players like Taisia Dukes (Power Center Academy) and Life University commit Adrionna Duncan (Columbia Central) on Tier 1, and Haylee Hutchins (Warren County) and Erica Cathey (Freedom Prep Academy) on Tier 2 for stepping up.
The Tri-Stars will play Celtic Elite from Ohio, Indy Speed and Michigan (which is Tier 1 only), and like Wisconsin, might take a look around the RCT circuit next year for the best Tier 2 competition, because the interest is alive and well in Tennessee.
TENNESSEE TRI-STARS
TIER 1
SENIORS
Jennifer Arzate — Columbia Central
Taisia Dukes — Power Center Aca.
Adrionna Duncan — Columbia Central
Tatyana Harlan — Columbia Central
Jovana Hernandez — Columbia Central
Olivia Holt — Columbia Central
Myla McClinton — Germantown
Beth Sengsouk — Blackman
Taionna Smith — Columbia Central
Breniah Southall — Columbia Central
Serena White — Columbia Central
JUNIORS
Alexis Aramburo — Warren County
Niya Bailey — Freedom Prep Aca.
Haniyah Baugh — Columbia Central
Carlicia Beam — Freedom Prep Aca.
Rachel Blair — Blackman
Nadia Bonner — Freedom Prep Aca.
Nakoya Hayes — Columbia Central
Selena Jones — Freedom Prep Aca.
Beth McDougal — Columbia Central
Kamyia Rivers — Soulsville
Miracle Smith — Freedom Prep Aca.
Kierra Tuggle — Power Center Aca.
Memphis contingent
TIER 2
SOPHOMORES
Ariana Bennett — Blackman
Jaymee Arzate — Columbia Central
Kayla Baggett — Columbia Central
Lexi Vance — Columbia Central
Erica Cathey — Freedom Prep Aca.
Angelica Marquez — Freedom Prep Aca.
Kaylynn Hamby — McMinn
Ava Zopf — Ravenwood
Gabrielle Rochelle — Ravenwood
Allie Baker — Spring Hill
Amari Riddles — Spring Hill
Natalie Garrett — Spring Hill
Aiden Cary — Warren County
Haylee Hutchins — Warren County
Emily Fults — Warren County
Emilee Hale — Warren County
FRESHMEN
Gwynn Campos — Spring Hill
Akila Cathey — Freedom Prep Aca.
Katherine Farmer — Columbia Central
Lili Granger — Germantown
Victoria Guerra — Columbia Central
Desiree Harmon — Ravenwood
Grace Inmon — Blackman
Skylar Lee — Spring Hill
Emma Morgan — Spring Hill