Riverdale (Tenn.) will sound like a lot of teams at the Tropical 7s: The players are just happy to get on the pitch and compete. Coach Brian Vance is in the same head space but also has larger goals in terms of the players’ experience and considerations for the future.
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Vance got into rugby through his daughter, Alexis, who discovered the sport as an 8th grader and then joined the Columbia Central Tigers for four years of high school. She boosted her development through a host of player camps, and meanwhile, her dad would attend the coaching development programming offered at these camps. They grew in the sport together.
Two summers ago, Alexis trained with the New Zealand Crusaders for four weeks, receiving adult development as a 17-year-old. She then flew from the rugby mecca to Bowdoin College’s Polar Bear Rugby Camp in Maine, followed by a direct flight to the ARPTC residency in Little Rock, Ark. Today, she is a freshman at Mount St. Mary’s Univ. (Emmitsburg, Md.), a DII NCAA varsity program, and is booting up for today’s match against Sacred Heart Univ.
“Just say, ‘Yes,’ when the opportunities present themselves,” Vance said of lessons learned. “We were blessed as a family to learn about all of this, and we try to share that knowledge with other players and parents. There are opportunities in college and this is how rugby can supply them. Get your education – that’s the priority – but rugby can help pay the bills.”
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Vance got involved with Riverdale last year and assembled a team for the 2020 Tropical 7s, which was canceled due to Covid-19. Of the 15 players who were supposed to play, 10 are now playing in college. That team featured players from across the Southeast but this year’s selection focus on Middle Tennessee. Vance is looking forward to the tournament for many reasons, but also because several players remind him of his daughter.
“They have good character, tenacity and they leave it all on the field,” he said. “Other teams gravitate toward the most talent. We like to find talent and great attitude and coachability. There’s no negativity with these players.”
Only three players hail from the regular Riverdale team, which is undergoing a rebuilding year after a big graduating class, while Spring Hill High School has contributed the majority of players. The Middle Tennessee conference has only just started its spring 15s season. Riverdale hasn’t played any games yet but Spring Hill has.
The 7s group has been able to train together and Vance expects that its chemistry and unity will be better than select teams that pull from larger areas. There’s a nice mix of experience, but Vance charactized the overall team as development. That said, ball movement, tackling and communication are all looking good so far.
There’s no designated captain but there are certainly players who will serve as leaders. Chief among them is Spring Hill’s Gwynn Campos, whom Vance recommended to Atlantis a couple of years ago and who traditionally plays for the storied 7s program. Atlantis isn’t traveling to Orlando this year, so Campos returned to the Middle Tennessee squad. Allie Baker is in the same category and will funnel her 3-4 years of experience onto the pitch.
“We’ve got really good undiscovered talent,” Vance added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I lost players to ARPTC or Atlantis after this tournament, which I would understand. My goal as a coach is to continue their growth as players and individuals, but if there are better opportunities that give them more quality exposure and help build their rugby careers – so be it.”
Sophomore Alli Davis is new to the sport but brings five years of tackle football to her game. Junior Olivia Woodward has only played a handful of games, and no 7s, “but has that raw talent and great coachability you look for,” Vance said. “She has great speed, a hard tackle and good hands.”
Sophomore Camryn Henderson has been working on her kicking game and she’s already solid in the open field, with ball in hand and chasing down tackles. Skylar Lee is a veteran prop and likes the contact and breakdown area. She pairs with Sophia Woodward, younger sister to Olivia, and while she’s not your typical 7s player, she’s got work rate, the right attitude and gets in the middle of it.
Juniors Aisha Djona and Saniyah Oden have good speed, and they’ll pull away if given the corner. They’re also good about protecting the sideline and can contain the opposition’s speed. Macey Lamb is the daughter to the Riverdale high school coach, Brentt Lamb, and the senior is considering college rugby as well.
“Truthfully, they’re just excited to play more rugby,” Vance said of the players’ goals. “Before we found out that Tropical 7s was only going to have one division, unlike previous years where teams were split into Elite and Open, they said, ‘We’ll play anyone in any division, wherever we can get the most games.’”
Riverdale is competing in Pool B alongside ARPTC (National Development Program), Badger Selects (Midwest), Celtic Barbarians (North American invitational), Panther Academy (NDP) and Utah Cannibals (state all-star team).
Vance indicated that more fixtures could be added to this year’s calendar but it’ll be up to the players to make those decisions. It would be easy to get to the Falcon 7s at ARPTC, and if there was interest in the NAI 7s in Salt Lake City, Vance would explore that option. It’s all part of the, “Just say, ‘Yes,’” mentality.
RIVERDALE
Allie Baker
Gwynn Campos
Alli Davis
Aisha Djona
Camryn Henderson
Maci Lamb
Skylar Lee
Saniyah Oden
Savanna Preston
Olivia Woodward
Sophia Woodward