Rugby Oregon is sending two full teams to the Great Northwest Challenge in Idaho this Friday-Saturday, providing 49 players the opportunity to compete at the all-star level. This Regional Cup Tournament (RCT) is shaping up to be one of, if not the best, attended all-star showcases for the girls’ game, as it features Tier 1, Tier 2 and U14 competitions.
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Oregon pulled players from 14 different teams. Varsity state champion Valley Panthers leads all selections with seven, while runner-up Linn Benton contributed six players. Club state champion Clark County Cyclones account for five reps, and 10s finalists Lady Barbarians and Canby combined for 10 selections.
Greg Tracy and Curt Betts are head coaches for the Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams, respectively, and manager Laci Betts is the lynchpin for this extensive group. The coaching staff is divided into specialties and also features several Rugby Oregon alumnae, including Attack Assistant Adriana Mendoza, Halfbacks Coach Sophia Betts and Kicking Assistant Genesis Ulloa. Arizona transplant Adam Dick is handling the defense, and Mary Salazar is advising the set pieces.
Graduating seniors Paige Fallon, Ashley Martin and Karissa Postula are captaining the Tier 1 team, and Brooke Nichols, Jazmyn Stewart and sophomore Ava Proctor serve on the leadership group. For Tier 2, captains Heidy Nunez-Prado and Gracie Cao are running the show, while Tupou Fononga, Maren Gingerich, Mia Jackson, Nani Kinikini, Tazman Loosli and Amaiah Miramontes share leadership duties.
According to the schedule, the Oregon Red Hawks, Rugby NorCal, Toa and Washington Loggers are supplying both Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams, while the Utah Cannibals and host Idaho Greywolves are competing in Tier 1 alone. The Girls’ U14 bracket features the Boise Rams, Idaho Bingham, two Rugby NorCal teams, Utah Lions and Greywolves.
The following rosters list the grades from which players just graduated.
(c) = captain
OREGON RED HAWKS
TIER 1
SENIORS
Kati Alvarez – Valley Panthers
Apoiliu Atuaia – Clark County Cyclones
Bayley Deming – David Douglas
Juritzi Dona Montoya – Lady Barbarians
Paige Fallon (c) – Clark County Cyclones
Lilia Gibbons – Linn Benton
Mele Lepa – Lady Barbarians
Ruth Lopez-Rodriguez – Clark County Cyclones
Eimile Anne Manuel – Columbia County
Ashley Martin (c) – Canby
Sharese Nelson – Valley Panthers
Brooke Nichols – Newberg
Fenumia’i Ofoia – North Clackamas
Sara Perez – Canby
Karissa Postula (c) – Cleveland
Jazmyn Stewart – Linn Benton
Emily Train – Linn Benton
JUNIORS
Ziah Dials – Lady Barbarians
Jennah Farrell – Clark County Cyclones
Taylor Griffith – Reynolds
Jazmin Hager – Valley Panthers
Lola Moeaki – Grant
AnitaLose Tamoua – Clark County Cyclones
Chloe Washburn – Linn Benton
SOPHOMORE
Ava Procter – Renegades
TIER 2
JUNIORS
Maren Gingerich – Canby
Emily Harding – North Clackamas
Heidy Nunez-Prado (c) – David Douglas
SOPHOMORES
Maia Barnes – Panthers
Savanna Belcher – Renegades
Gracie Cao (c) – Renegades
Shyanne Cartright – Lady Lions
Tupou Fononga – Centennial
Itzel George – Valley Panthers
Erika Gonzalez-Amaro – David Douglas
Claire Hull – David Douglas
Liliani Kinikini – Lady Barbarians
Alilia Lavemai – Lady Barbarians
Tazman Loosli – Columbia County
Catherine McCarthy – Newberg
Amaiah Miramontes – Linn Benton
Kiki Salazar – North Clackamas
Se’Maj Taper – David Douglas
FRESHMEN
Mia Jackson – Newberg
Perla Morales – Panthers
Dahlia Resendez (Garcia) – Valley Panthers
Sophie Schweitzer – North Clackamas
Nincy Vasquez – Canby
Kiana Vasquez – Lady Barbarians
STAFF
Tier 1 Coach: Greg Tracy
Tier 2 Coach: Curt Betts
Defense Coach: Adam Dick
Set Piece Coach: Mary Salazar
Attack Coach: Jeremy Moore
Halfbacks Coach: Sophia Betts
Kicking Assistant: Genesis Ulloa
Attack Assistant: Adriana Mendoza
Team Manager: Laci Betts