(Additional reporting courtesy of the Northeast Academy, www.nroda.org) After a successful debut in June, the National All Star Competition (NASC) has returned for a second iteration, this time in Greeley, Colo. More than 100 athletes are working with USA and elite pathway coaches this week, and while USA Women head coach Pete Steinberg has brought forward aspects of the first NASC, the organization has been tweaked to accommodate upcoming competitions.

There are still six teams in attendance; however, the senior women’s teams have been reduced to two, and two college 7s squads have been added to the mix. Kutztown University’s Sean Cobb and Seattle/ATAVUS’s Emilie Bydwell are leading the latter, which will produce a team for the Elite City 7s tournament at month’s end.

There are four sides playing 15s: two collegiate, led by James English (Rugby PA) and Sefesi Green (Sacramento Amazons), and Ricardo Ramirez (Notre Dame) and Northeast Academy coach Tom Feury (Morris/NJ Blaze); and two senior, led by Women’s National Team staff Steinberg, Peter Baggetta, and Martha Daines, and Margaret Sharp (Berkeley), Jon Mooney (Rugby Colorado), and Ken Pape (Rutgers).

“The atmosphere has been what we refer to as ‘collabetitive’ [a mix of collaborative and competitive],” Feury told the Northeast Academy. “That is, the games are structured to be competitive, and the athletes want to shine and win. Yet, many of them know each other from playing together on teams such as the NE Academy, so off the pitch, all is a wink and nudge.”

While the full list of attendees has not been released, the Northeast Academy accounts for 10 attendees (12 were invited) in Greeley. Paige Stathopoulos and Amy Verdonik are with the college 7s; Deanna Nash, Francesca Sands, and Danielle Walko-Siua are with the college 15s; and Jess Berry, Rebecca Brafman, Lucy Oswald, Tiana Stroughter, and Cynthia Wright are competing in the senior ranks.

During the June NASC, fellow Olympic Development Academy ARPTC sent an equally impressive number to camp, and saw Jess Wooden step out onto the international stage during the Super Series. The assembly also gave Kelsi Stockert her shot at the big leagues, and now the OTC is eyeing the power wing for a 7s stay. In other words, the NASC has already proven its worth, and some more good talent will certainly come out of this camp.

Stay tuned as more information is made available.

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