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35 Contend for WJAA Can-Am Squad

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35 Contend for WJAA Can-Am Squad

Lilly Durbin (pictured) and McKenzie Hawkins are current HSAAs trying out for their second WJAA tour. (Photo: Dave Barpal)

Thirty-five U20 women are heading to Greeley, Colo., for the USA Rugby Women's Junior All American (WJAA) camp, which takes place from July 22-25. WJAA interim head coach Wil Snape, aided by camp assistant coaches Kate Daley and Kitt Wagner Ruiz, will use the assembly to name the Can-Am squad that faces the Canada U20s on Wednesday. Aug. 19 and Saturday, Aug. 22 at Central Washington University. 

In last year's Can-Am Series, the WJAAs dropped two games to Canada by a combined 94-11. But 14 of the All Americans who competed last summer have returned for a shot at the 2015 squad, and they bring with them international experience and another year of maturity. Perennial DI champion Penn State leads the way in terms of invites, sending six players to Colorado this year. Central Washington comes in second with three attendees.

There is a decent sample of high schoolers in attendance as well. Recent graduates include Adirondack's Shelia Decker, who is heading to DI Norwich this fall; Maryville's McKenzie Hawkins, who has signed with Lindenwood; Kent's Leah Ingold, going to Central Washington; and Kat Ramage, who has committed to Dartmouth. Still in high school is returning WJAA Lilly Durbin, who is joined by fellow Fallbrook Warrior Michel Navarro, a High School All American standout; HSAA Emily Prentice, No. 8 for Kent High School; and Play Rugby Academy's Gio Ferguson-Lewis, who captained the first Atlantis U16 squad. The only unknown in Maui High School's Supiesi Tongi, who joins the WJAAs for the first time.

For more insight into Snape's outlook on the camp and program, read the coach's interview from last week.

WJAA Camp Attendees  
Ashlee Byrge* Davenport
Gabriella Cantorna* Penn State
Kyla Chipman* Penn State
Sadia Crosby Roger Williams
Gioanna Cruz* Lindenwood
Sheila Decker* Adirondack Girls Rugby
Lanoira Duhart Winona State
Lilly Durbin* Fallbrook HS
Gio Ferguson-Lewis Play Rugby Academy
Deshel Ferguson Life
Frieda Fetu'u* Berkeley All Blues
Tess Feury Penn State
Hannah Gauthreaux Notre Dame College
Mele Halahuni Central Washington
McKenzie Hawkins* Maryville HS
Leah Ingold Kent HS
Joie Krahling Keystone
Haley Langan Harvard
Etta Mailau* Vipers (Utah)
Azniv Nalbandian* Beantown
Michele Navarro Fallbrook HS
Madison Ohmann Life
Danielle Ordway* Davenport
Taylah Pipkin Penn State
Emily Prentice Kent
Kat Ramage Morris
Francesca Schaeffer Penn State
Asinate Serevi Central Washington
Suliana Tausinga Central Washington
Supiesi Tongi Maui HS
Kimdinh Tran Hofstra
Abby Vogel* Cal
Carly Waters Penn State
Caitlin Whiteside* Cal
Adriana Zeiders* West Chester

 

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