Release by USA Rugby and Serevi: SEATTLE – The newly established USA Rugby Girls High School All-American (GHSAA) team has named its inaugural roster in advance of the Las Vegas Invitational (LVI), to be played Feb. 13-15. Backed by the sponsorship of Serevi Rugby, during the LVI the GHSAAs will compete as two teams in the High School Girls Elite 7s division. Girls for the teams were selected from the 2014 Stars and Stripes camp and the 2014 Youth Olympic Games team.

“This team is made up of a very strong group of young women who have dedicated themselves on and off the field to be ready for this opportunity,” said Mollie McCarthy, USA Rugby’s GHSAA head coach. “As coaches and players, we couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity at LVI to continue the development of their skills, grow as a team, and compete against the best.”

The 2015 GHSAA roster is made up of 24 players from across the United States, representing 11 states including California (9), Colorado (2), Hawaii, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah (2), Virginia, and Washington. The 2015 Girls High School All-Americans include:

Ashlee Byrge 
Morgan Courtney       
Ali DeCrane    
Lilly Durbin      
Tess Feury     
McKenzie Hawkins    
Leti Hingano   
Mata Hingano 
Joie Krahling   
Diarr Lillie        
Apa'au Mailau 
Michel Navarro           
Tiffany Person           
Emily Prentice 
Kat Ramage    
Ashley Rolsma           
Becca Jane Rosko     
Emily Roskopf 
Richelle Stephens      
Abby Tobias   
Fina Toetuu    
Nia Toliver      
Danielle Walko-Suia    
Whitney Wilson

The GHSAA coaching staff includes McCarthy, Assistant Coach/Sevens Specialist Emilie Bydwell, Technical Coach Marc Stcherbina, Team Manager Katie Wurst, and Athletic Trainer Bri Arsenault.

The GHSAA is the entry point into the USA Rugby high performance pathway. Athletes will have the opportunity to progress from the GHSAAs through to the AIG Women’s Junior All-Americans, the AIG Women’s Collegiate All-Americans, and then into USA Rugby’s National Development Academy program to earn a spot with the Eagles in 15s and sevens, where they will compete in Rugby World Cups and Olympic Games.

Announced in late 2014, Serevi has supported the GHSAAs to ensure equitable opportunities in rugby for young women. Serevi will sponsor the team’s preparation and travel to play in elite tournaments across the U.S., and eventually around the world, including a to-be-announced 15s international competition in 2015.

“We’re so proud to see the program take shape and bring these girls together so they can play with and against other top players,” said Emilie Bydwell, Serevi Rugby’s director of USA Rugby Academy. “This is the first step in our dedication to opening doors for more young women to play rugby at the highest level and see where the game can take them in life.