The 2026 USA Rugby U23 15s All-Star Tournament will occur Friday, June 19 and Sunday, June 21 in Clearwater, Minn. Eight regionally based teams will come together for two days of competition, next-level rugby and potential identification for the USA Pathways and senior national team programs. [lead photo: Mike Conners @mikeconnersphoto23]

https://nextphaserugby.com

Each region uses different selection methods, ranging from in-person tryouts, to film-based reviews and coaching recommendations, to the full-blown Midwest LAU all-star tournament that features eight state-based teams and Thunderbird selection. The Pacific South Griffins are the first to publicly name their roster heading to Minnesota in a few weeks’ time. Evan Wollen (Claremont Colleges) is the head coach and assisted by current San Diego Surfers player Talia Carrasquillo, who has also been the All-Navy Women’s 7s head coach; Derika Legg, who pulls double duty as a Surfers and UC San Diego coach; and Griffin #42 Natalie Figueroa, who alongside Carrasquillo just represented the Surfers at USA Club Rugby DI nationals.

https://navysports.evenue.net/events/GR-CAMP

The squad includes 26 players from Southern California and Arizona. The majority play their regular-season ball in the DI Pacific Desert Rugby Conference, but UC Irvine’s Karly Kovaleff distinguished herself during DII conference play and CRAA 15s championship. There are a handful of senior club players, including Santa Monica RFC’s Hannah Nelson, who first donned the Griffins’ gear in 2023. Another four players are heading to the all-star event for a third-straight year with the Pacific South: Angelique Schrock (Grand Canyon University), Micaiah Thornton (Grand Canyon University), Emma Buxton (UCLA) and Laila Hannum (Claremont). All told, there are 12 players from the 2025 squad back for 2026, concentrated more so in the backs than forwards.

One will also note the inclusion of Stanford’s Emma Cruz, who plays ball in the DI Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference. Given the timing of the all-star event and the transient nature of collegians, participants have the choice of representing the program based in their hometown or college.

2026 PACIFIC SOUTH GRIFFINS U23s

2023 member (#) • 2024 member (*) • 2025 member (^)

FORWARDS
Katrina Clark – Grand Canyon Univ
Moirin Coyne – UC Santa Barbara
Stella Dorsey – UC San Diego
Chantal Earl – UC San Diego^
Halle Hunt – Santa Monica RFC
Fran Kovach – Los Angeles RFC^
Karly Kovaleff – UC Irvine
Andra Mota – UC San Diego
Hannah Nelson – Santa Monica RFC#
Angelique Schrock – Grand Canyon Univ*^
Amelia Scurio – Santa Monica RFC
Dina Soriano – Claremont Colleges
Jade Thomas – Los Angeles RFC
Micaiah Thornton – Grand Canyon Univ*^
Ariana Topping – Grand Canyon Univ

BACKS
Emma Buxton – UCLA*^
Emma Cruz – Stanford^
MJ Destro – San Diego State^
Amalia Galm – UC Santa Barbara
Ella Grouws – Claremont Colleges
Laila Hannum – Claremont Colleges*^
Paris Jones – San Diego Surfers^
Alex Meechum – Claremont Colleges^
Jessica Navarro – UC Santa Barbara^
Solana Shimura – San Diego Surfers
Liz Stewart-Laracuente – San Diego State
Naomi Steitzel – Arizona State
Mia Taylor – UC San Diego^

Coaches
Evan Wollen – Claremont Colleges, Head Coach
Talia Carrasquillo – San Diego State, Asst. Coach
Natalie Figueroa – San Diego Surfers, Asst. Coach
Derika Legg – UC San Diego, Asst. Coach