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Carson Wins 3rd-Straight SoCal HS 7s

  • 23 Feb 2020
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Southern California Youth Rugby (SCYR) contests distinct high school and club seasons that run back-to-back to each other. Thus, athletes might represent their high school in January-February, and then switch to a community-based team in March. Many of Carson High School’s players will transition to South Bay this month, and both teams have enjoyed a wealth of success these last few years.

On Saturday, Carson won its third-straight SCYR High School 7s Championship, defeating Del Norte 47-0, Roosevelt 38-5, Los Alamitos 34-0 and La Costa Canyon 24-0 en route to the trophy. Captains Ahnea Aupiu, Siniva Mailo and Manaia Moala led the team through an 18-0 season that included 14 shutouts and just 29 points against. The Colts produced this stunning performance without three of its top players – Punipuao Skipps, Shy Tonumaipea and Zonaye Tupuola.

“Ahnea and Manaia were both equally solid throughout the season – Manaia one of our offensive MVPs and Ahnea one of our defensive MVPs,” Carson head coach Myron Mailo praised the leadership. “Aliyah Taufaao, only a sophomore, made the biggest improvement. Only in her second year she became a consistent defender with quite a few bone-crushing tackles while being a game-breaking threat offensively. Tayla Hanneman made a huge improvement as well, being only a second-year player.”

SCYR did not name a championship MVP, but Mailo called out two players who deserved the honor.

“Siniva Mailo led the team all year in offensive and defensive statistics,” the head coach lauded. “She was nearly unstoppable once she touched the ball. She was also able to get many of the loose balls and was there to steal possessions constantly. Amaya Moala was second to her in all the same categories. Siniva played all back positions while Amaya played all the forward positions. Amaya was equally impressive on the opposite side of the field. Both ladies had over 30 tries scored individually for the season while both creating or forcing 20+ turnovers for the season as well.”

The three captains are part of a special senior class that propelled Carson and South Bay to many local, state and regional titles, 7s and 15s alike. And then in 2019, the Spartans won their first Girls High School Club National Invitational Tournament title – but that achievement isn’t the be-all of the team.

“Our number one goal of our team has been scholarships,” coach Mailo corrected. “To have eight of our seniors already committed to play at DI Elite programs next fall is the most rewarding. To have all seven seniors on this year’s high school team committed is what makes this team very special. To cap it off with the HS 7s Championship yesterday was the exclamation point.”

The following seniors, across the Carson High School and South Bay teams, will extend their rugby careers in the collegiate sphere this fall:

  • Ahnea Aupiu – Team Captain playing Scrumhalf (7s) and Hooker and Wing (15’s) for this year’s team and will be attending Lindenwood University in St Charles, MO in the fall.
  • Siniva Mailo – Team Captain playing Center, Flyhalf and Wing (7s) and Inside and Outside Center (15s) for this year’s team and will be attending Lindenwood University in St Charles, MO in the fall.
  • Amaya Moala – Playing Hooker, Center and Wing (7s) as well as Flanker and Fullback (15s) and will be attending Life University in Marietta, GA in the fall.
  • Manaia Moala – Team Captain playing Flyhalf, Scrumhalf and Prop (7s) and Center and 8-Man (15s) for this year’s team and will be attending Lindenwood University in St Charles, MO in the fall.
  • Klarice Sakamoto-Wolfgramm – Playing Props and Hooker (7s) and Lock (15s) will be attending Life University in Marietta, GA in the fall.
  • Zonaye Tupuola – Playing Prop (7s) and Prop & 8-Man (15s) will be attending Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA in the fall.
  • Mercie Vivao – Playing Prop and Flyhalf (7s) and 8-Man (15s) will be attending Life University in Marietta, GA in the fall.

Coach Mailo indicated that there are three more seniors who are in the process of committing to their universities, but once they sign, the Carson/South Bay program will send more than 10 student-athletes to collegiate rugby programs this fall.

Next up: the LAI 7s, the SoCal club season and nationals.

SouthBay #Carson

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HIGH SCHOOL

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