Makaafi during 2017 Can-Am Series / Marc Lafleur Photography (see more)
The Girls’ High School All Americans (GHSAAs), Powered by Atavus, return to the European 7s U18 Championship, which will be held in France from Sept. 16-17. The 12-member team will play England, Russia and Wales in pool play.
RELATED: USA Runner-up at Euro U18 7s Champs • Canada 4-0 in Can-Am Series • GHSAAs Finish 2nd at Tropical 7s
The tournament has expanded from 16 to 20 teams, which have been divided into a 12-team championship division and eight-team trophy division. The USA and Canada remain as the only non-European participants.
There are four returners from the GHSAA team that finished second to France last year: Cassidy Bargell, Lolo Makaafi, Julia Riekena and Kat Stowers. GHSAA head coach Emilie Bydwell has also returned and she’s assisted by Michaela Staniford.
Eleven of 12 players have represented the GHSAAs in the previous year and are backed by an array of select-side experience. Notable achievements include Bargell, who played for the USA Falcons at the LVI and Vancouver 7s; Emily Henrich, who played up with the Women’s Junior All-Americans during the U20 Can-Am Series; and Stowers, younger sister Falelua Stowers and Lindenwood University’s Charity Tenney, who helped United to a high school club championship in May.
Below is more information on the 12 athletes representing the USA at the European U18 7s Championship. Continue below for schedule and live-streaming information.
HS ALL-AMERICANS
BARGELL, Cassidy – Summit, Colo. … captained the GHSAA 15s team during this summer’s Can-Am Series … co-captained GHSAAs at Tropical 7s … represented the USA Falcons 7s squads in Vancouver and Las Vegas … was The Rugby Breakdown’s High School Player of Fall 2016
BORCHERS, McKenzie – Kingwood, Texas … Former Back of the Year for Texas 7s high school league … veteran of Mid-America all-stars … performance at 2016 USA Rugby Academy’s Performing Resident Camp earned a call-up to the 2016 GHSAA East U16 team in Quebec series
DIMARCO, Alexandra – White Horse, Pa. … Played flyhalf for the GHSAA 15s vs. Canada U18s in the 2017 Can-Am Series … earned first GHSAA 7s nomination at 2017 Tropical 7s … captained 2016 U16 GHSAA East vs. Quebec … lots of select side experience … founding member of Atlantis U16s
HENRICH, Emily – Orchard Park, N.Y. … Played outside center (and scored) for Women’s Junior All-Americans vs. Canada U20s in 2017 Can-Am Series … first GHSAA 7s nomination at 2017 Tropical 7s … leading try-scorer for Orchard Park during 3rd place finish at single-school championship … loads of select side experience on both sides of North American border
MAKAAFI, Lolohea – Kent, Wash. … Returner from 2016 European U18 7s Championship in Paris … played inside center, loose forward and tight five for GHSAAs vs. Canada U18s in 2017 Can-Am Series … on the first GHSAA 15s team in 2015 vs. British Columbia along with Henrich
MOSLEY, Kiarah – Kansas City United, Mo. … The Mid-America All-Star earned her first GHSAA selection at the April 2017 Tropical 7s and proved an excellent finisher … she and her 15s team (she plays for the Lady Jays during the state 7s season) debuted at the high school club championship, where she once again dazzled
RAKUITA, Delaney – Herriman, Utah … Played in the 2016 United World Games alongside Kat Stowers and Charity Tenney and has remained in the Utah Lions Rugby Academy … earned first GHSAA 15s selection in 2016 for East U16s vs. Quebec
RIEKENA, Julia – Missoula, Mont. … Returner from 2016 European U18 7s Championship … played No. 8 during Can-Am Series vs. Canada U18s … co-captained GHSAAs at Tropical 7s … loads of select side and national age-grade experience … former Canterbury Player of the Week
STOWERS, Falelua – United, Utah … The high school sophomore earned Canterbury HS Player of the Week after United defeated Fallbrook in a spring friendly … played flanker for high school club champion United … helped Idaho Grey Wolves to NAI 7s title this summer
STOWERS, Kathryn – United, Utah … Returner from 2016 European U18 7s Championship … The Rugby Breakdown’s High School Standout of Spring 2017 … MVP of high school club championship … stellar scrumhalf
TENNEY, Charity Tenney – United, Utah … Currently a freshman at Lindenwood University … originally selected to 2016 European U18 7s Championship before injury … selected to GHSAA 15s team vs. Canada U18s … helped United to HS club championship … former Player of the Week
VASQUEZ, Brianna – South Bay, Calif. … Played wing for the GHSAA 15s vs. Canada U18s at 2017 Can-Ams … spoke about the GHSAA’s runner-up finish at Tropical 7s … vet of 2016 GHSAA 15s team v BC and 7s team in Vancouver
Coaching Staff:Emilie Bydwell, Head Coach Michaela Staniford, Assistant Coach Katherine Henry, Physiotherapist
UPDATE
SCHEDULE
Saturday, Sept. 16: Pool Play
(Local time / Eastern / Pacific)
10:44 a.m. / 4:44 a.m. / 1:44 a.m.: USA v Russia
1:29 p.m. / 7:29 a.m. / 4:29 a.m.: USA v Wales
4:36 p.m. / 10:36 a.m. / 7:36 a.m.: USA v England
Sunday, Sept. 17: Knockouts
Schedule will be updated at the conclusion of pool play
LIVE-STREAM
Click here to watch the European U18 7s Championship live. Games begin at 4 a.m. Eastern / 1 a.m. Pacific.