McCoy Names Squad for Women’s Sevens World Cup Qualifier

BOULDER, Colo. – Following the footwork and skills camp in Little Rock over the weekend, USA Women’s Sevens Team Coach Julie McCoy has named her final squad set to compete at the upcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens Qualifier in the Bahamas on October 25-26.

The team of 12 athletes, plus two traveling reserves was chosen from an initial pool of 21 athletes who assembled at the Greater Little Rock Inc. Rugby Complex to undergo fitness testing September 26-28. Saturday’s work was spent on attack, and the players spent Sunday working on defensive footwork and tracking drills with USA Defensive Specialist Coach Peter Baggetta. The weekend culminated in four seven-minute scrimmages used for selection purposes.

“Overall, I thought the squad fitness was good, although there is room for improvement, as the numbers are non-peaking,” Coach McCoy said. “We are working hard together on the principles of Sevens, practicing the fundamentals and adding pressure to the group.”

“So far the athletes are showing great mental strength and responding to the challenge with great maturity and poise – I also have a great staff and consider myself a very lucky coach to have such great support,” she added.

Upon final evaluations from the Women’s Sevens coaching staff, the following players were named to represent the USA at the NAWIRA (North America West Indies Rugby Association) regional World Cup Qualifier:

Kirsten Ahrendt (Keystone RFC)
Ida Bernstein (Keystone RFC)
Ellie Karvoski (Little Rock RFC)
Phaidra Knight (New York RFC)
Pam Kosanke (Chicago North Shore RFC)
Teena Mastrangelo (Chicago North Shore RFC)
Christy Ringgenberg – Captain (Minnesota Valkyries RFC)
Ines Rodriguez (Keystone RFC)
Jen Sinkler (Keystone RFC)
Lindsey Stephenson (At-Large)
Jess Watkins (Stanford University)
Kelly White (Belmont Shore RFC)

Reserves:
Tyshawn Henry (New York RFC)
Melissa McKibben (Kansas City RFC)

Also present at the camp were:
Amy Daniels (Beantown RFC)
Yancy Graf (Beantown RFC)
Alison Price – inj. (New York RFC)
Jenn Starkey – inj. (NOVA RFC)
Donna Thomas – inj. (Little Rock RFC)

Non-traveling reserves:
Lauren Rosso (Keystone RFC)
Heidi Whitman (Austin RFC)

USA Women’s Staff includes: Head Coach Julie McCoy, assistant coaches Chris Ryan and Drew Fautley, Team Manager Sadeana Green, General Manager Tristan Lewis and physios Dr. Lisa Bartoli and Michael Moses.

The team next assembles in Miami, Fla. from October 18-22, before heading to the Bahamas for the Sevens WC Qualifier on October 23. The USA Women must finish among the top two places out of their North American and Caribbean competition to qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Given the team qualifies, the U.S. Women will train together in Little Rock starting in mid-January and spanning through the end of February before McCoy names the final squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, which will be held in Dubai from March 5-7.

Women’s Sevens Team Schedule

U.S. World Cup Qualifying Assembly, Miami, Fla., October 18-22
U.S. World Cup Qualifier, Nassau, Bahamas, October 23-27
IRB Dubai Sevens, Dubai, UAE, November 22 – December 1
U.S. Sevens Testing/Skills Camp, Little Rock, Ark., January 16-18
U.S. Sevens Residency Training, Little Rock, Ark., January 30-February 9
IRB USA Sevens, San Diego, Calif., February 9-16
U.S. Sevens Residency Training, Little Rock, Ark., February 16-23
IRB Sevens Rugby World Cup 2009, Dubai, UAE, March 1-9