Tropical 7s kicks off tomorrow and the girls’ U18 division has drawn teams and players from across the country to Orlando, Fla. The Pool A Preview addressed additional factors that might impact teams’ performances – namely, Covid-19 Return-to-Play restrictions – but expect a lot of smiling faces as players return to the tournament scene.
RELATED: Girls’ U18 Pool A Preview
Unlike Pool A, there are no stand-alone teams in Pool B. ARPTC and Panther Academy are National Development Programs (NDPs). Badger Selects and Celtic Barbarians are invitational sides, and the Utah Cannibals is the state’s all-star team. Riverdale carries the name of a stand-alone club in Tennessee, but the squad includes players from the Middle Tennessee area.
ARPTC
Read: ARPTC Mentors Coaches, Too
The NDP launched a year-long program that involves in-person camps, online modules, tournaments and a summer residency, and the first class will feature at Tropical 7s. Senior ARPTC players Lauren Ebeling and Alli Hale coach the squad, and Ryszard Chadwick hand-picked the duo for ARPTC’s coaching development arm.
So even though the players hail from across the country, they’ve been in contact with each other since January. That first camp was followed by four weeks of online training, and that team bond began to form. When the players returned for the March camp, Ebeling and Hale were pleased to find that not only had players been putting in the work but also their off-field chemistry made the transition to open play pretty seamless.
Watch for co-captains Hattie Greenwood and Kayla Van Rite, as well as Shannon Mahan, to step up in the leadership department. Also note Maya Hilger, who has that X factor, per Chadwick.
SQUAD: Eniyia Cathey, Kaitlyn Cooper, Yasmine Elabdellaoui, Hattie Greenwood, Akayla Harris, Maya Hilger, Halle Hunt, Reaghan King, Kamia Kruse, Shannon Mahan, Julia Murray, Michaela Opdyke, Kayla Van Rite, Annabella Vogel.
BADGER SELECTS
Read: Badger Selects Bring the Midwest to Florida
Badger Selects is rooted in Wisconsin but Joey Garcia, the girls’ 7s coach, is all about expansion. This year’s Tropical 7s squad includes six players from The Badger State, which hasn’t played official competition yet. The championship 15s season did not happen in the fall, but the Wisco 7s series is currently on track.
There are three players from Ohio, which played an unofficial fall 7s series and is a couple of weeks into its spring 15s season. Pennsylvania held a one-day 7s championship (like Tennessee) in the fall and teams like Moon Area (Alayshja Bable’s home club) have played several 15s pre-season games.
So there’s a mix of readiness across the squad, but Garcia expects that ring rust will be the case for everyone. Watch for co-captains Anna Walker and Lea Preuss to lead the way. They’re influential seniors, as are Alexis Dallas and Marley Wylie, who were part of Garcia’s inaugural class a few years ago.
SQUAD: Mya Alexander (Bruisers, WI), Olivia Allen (Perrysburg, OH), Alayshja Bable (Moon Area, PA), Kai Bennett (West Shore United, PA), Siena Commare (Bruisers, WI), Alexis Dallas (Bruisers, WI), Maggie Dineen (DSHA, WI), Emelia Lafferty (West Shore United, PA), Mariah Norris-Johnson (Sycamore, IL), Lea Preuss (Bruisers, WI), Reagan Vander Heide (Bruisers, WI), Anna Walters (Hudson, OH), Marley Wylie (Highland, OH).
CELTIC BARBARIANS
Normally, the Celtic Barbarians pull players from Canada and the U.S., but Covid-19 border restrictions prevent the Canadians from participating this year. Nevertheless, program director Cam Wilton has assembled teams for the U16, U18 and U23 divisions.
Idaho’s Matt Jacobsen and Chris Novac are coaching the U18s, which includes players from Florida (4), Texas (2), Idaho (2), Colorado and Maryland. Of all the states represented, Idaho has been the most active. West Ada held a full 7s season and championship in the fall, and clubs are already a couple of weeks into their spring season.
Watch for players like Elizabeth Mahoney of the West Carroll Marauders (Md.) and Tatiana Price of the Wellington Wizards (Fla.). The seniors have both signed with NIRA, or NCAA varsity, programs for fall 2021. Mahoney is heading to DI Brown University and Price joins DII Queens University of Charlotte.
SQUAD: Bridget Cassell (MD), Kyla Couthier (ID), Faith Gastineau (TX), Emma Herbrandson (TX), Faith Holley (ID), Christina Jeudy (FL), Ava Jevizian (FL), Elizabeth Mahoney (MD), Tatiana Price (FL), Kenzi Riccardi (CO), Nicole Rojas (FL).
PANTHER ACADEMY – BLUE
Read: Panther Academy Red’s Preview
Similar to ARPTC, the Panther Academy NDP is trying to create a more holistic program and focusing those energies in the Southeast. Tennessee (5) and North Carolina (4) are well represented with five players, while South Carolina (2) and Florida are also present. Watch for Florida’s Sarah Barsoum, who is heading to Life University in fall 2021. Tennessee’s Adrianna Langley is also a future DI Elite Running Eagle. Haven Hawkins of Columbia, Tenn., has committed to DII NIRA Queens Univ., and so expect this trio to be influential voices on the pitch.
SQUAD: Sarah Barsoum (Delray Beach, FL), Cecilia Calhoun (Chapel Hill, NC), Ty Curry (Clayton, NC), Stephanie Esmonde (Nolensville, TN), Haven Hawkins (Columbia, TN), Adrianna Langley (Columbia, TN), Kathryn Murrell (Reidsville, NC), Cecilia Ollis (Mt. Pleasant, SC), Salome Schmitt (Greer, SC), Sydney Swardz (Southern Pines, NC), Kaylen Thomas (Brentwood, TN), Kelsey Thomas (Brentwood, TN).
RIVERDALE
Read: Riverdale Showcases Middle Tenn Talent
Riverdale 7s coach Brian Vance narrowed the geographic region for selections this year, partially due to the pandemic but also so the Middle Tennessee players could practice together before heading to Florida. Although Vance described the team as developmental, he’s hoping that time together will produce a better chemistry unity relative to the field.
Keep an eye on Gwynn Campos, who hails from the well represented Spring Hill High School and typically aligns with Atlantis, which isn’t at Tropical 7s this year.
“We’ve got really good undiscovered talent,” Vance told TRB. “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.”
Alli Davis and Olivia Woodward in particular are new to the game but boast raw talent and the coachability that attracts selectors.
SQUAD: Allie Baker, Gwynn Campos, Alli Davis, Aisha Djona, Camryn Henderson, Maci Lamb, Skylar Lee, Saniyah Oden, Savanna Preston, Olivia Woodward, Sophia Woodward.
UTAH CANNIBALS
Like Fallbrook in Pool A, the Utah Cannibals can be counted upon for a solid, dynamic, entertaining 7s team. The state held summer and fall 7s seasons, which were nearly completed but stalled with Covid-19. Nevertheless, the all-star staff had an opportunity to see players in action and make apt selections, and now the state is into its 15s season.
So the Cannibals come in with a decent amount of rugby relative to the rest of the country. That will help. So will Malia Isaacs, one of the most recognizable high schoolers in the game today. The Brighton player is a USA U18 flanker in 15s and a commanding force on the 7s pitch. She’s heading to Harvard University in the fall, as is United’s Kiani Akina (read more).
There’s a nice mix of players on this squad – five from United, three apiece from Wasatch and Brighton, and Krystal Tupou from Majestics. Expect the Cannibals to do well in Florida.
SQUAD: Kiani Akina (United), Daisey Fuentes (Wasatch), Malia Isaacs (Brighton) , Elsa Lavulavu (United), Elsie Moleni (Brighton), Margaret Moleni (Brighton), Marlee Neiufi (United), Marley Parkinson (Wasatch), Sayler Russell (Wasatch), Lilly Thomas (United), Krystal Tupou (Majestics), Ane Vakapuna (United).