Raleigh’s Gray, Fletcher and Eldridge at Dartmouth
Approximately 60 athletes traveled to Dartmouth College last weekend for the Lupus Intus 7s. Plenty of clubs had multiple reps competing in the tournament, but the majority of regular-season teammates played on the same Lupus Intus team. Except Raleigh. The North Carolina team sent Cerrin Eldridge, T Fletcher and Jazamine Gray to three different elite 7s teams.
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“Raleigh is one of the closest teams I have ever played with,” enthused SSG Eldridge, who captained the Armed Forces 7s. “They encourage players to improve but everyone is like family and play for each other, rather than focusing so much on themselves. [The mentality] is more of a, ‘Play up, then return home to Venom.’”
Like Eldridge, Fletcher was named captain of her 7s team, Stars, and their two teams played each other three times on the weekend.
“Not at all,” Fletcher asserted there was no awkwardness in playing Raleigh teammates. “Why? Because I respect my teammates as much as they respect me. If anything, it’s more like, ‘Dang, I’d rather play with you not against you,’ because I know what they’re both bringing to the table.”
“I feel it was more of a relief to see friendly faces on the pitch,” Eldridge added. “It’s always hard to play your teammates because you know you will be playing beside them in a few weeks and the last thing you want to do is to hurt each other, but you have to play for the team you are representing at the time.”
The Armed Forces won the first two matches 17-0 and 15-0, and then the Stars won the fourth-place match 24-14.
Captains during the coin toss
“Maybe [it was awkward] for my teammates, because when I was on the sideline I found myself cheering for my Venom teammates, even when we were playing against each other,” confessed Gray, who suited up for Atavus.
Half of the Atavus team hailed from the Seattle-based academy side that won club 7s nationals. The other half included players from San Diego, New York and 1823 (Columbus, Ohio), in addition to Raleigh. Atavus won its three games against Armed Forces and Stars, and finished third overall.
“I think knowing each other’s strengths and trying to prepare for it mentally, but still not being able to stop them was pretty funny,” Gray referenced Fletcher’s cerebral play and Eldridge’s fend.
Jaz Gray / Photo: Travis Prior for Atavus
“Jaz did break my nose on a breakaway,” Eldridge countered. “I grabbed onto the back of her jersey and she kept running and kicked me in the face and scored. I knew we were in trouble when she got into her stride. And T is just so skilled, I have to watch her because she is sneaky and very technical.”
All three players sought higher-level 7s – which isn’t as pervasive in the Raleigh region as other areas of the country – and it took them to different teams. The trio got what they were looking for in Hanover, N.H., and found proponents in their opposition along the way.
“The three of us have always respected each other but after being selected for a high-level tournament, we have gained more respect [for each other],” Fletcher concluded.
You can catch these three players in action later this month, as Raleigh transitions to its long 15s season. Raleigh finished runner-up to Life West in the DI national championship in June.
