USA Rugby names first-ever Girls High School All-American roster

Girls High School All-American RugbyThe 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 the2014 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.

2015 Girls High School All-Americans

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

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