So many standouts emerged – and reasserted themselves – last week as the junior and high school All Americans went 4-0 against their Canadian opponents. One of the most impressive aspects of these tours was the performance of the high schoolers who played up on the Women’s Junior All Americans (WJAAs). Incoming college freshmen McKenzie Hawkins (Lindenwood), Leti Hingano (BYU), and Sheila Decker (Norwich), to name a few, handled themselves like veterans and are leading examples of the quality talent being development in the player pathway.

But perhaps the most impressive showing came from Michel Navarro, a flanker now entering her senior year at Fallbrook High School. She played all but the final 20 minutes of game two, and not only kept up with standard of play, but flourished in it.

Fallbrook develops rugby stars and is fortuitously close to the OTC, where Navarro and several teammates have trained. Navarro’s career began in middle school and she immediately became one of the Warriors best attackers from the back three. And when she was in 8^th grade, she was already helping the U18 side win national championships.

She switched to flanker last year, an advantageous move that allows the smart, mature player more touches on the ball, and a swap that the age-grade teams seem to favor as well. She’s best remembered for her many tries during Fallbrook’s fifth consecutive high school championship run this year; helping the Girls High School All Americans to an LVI 7s title; and joining the USA in China for the first-ever 7s competition at the Youth Olympic Games.

“I was a little scared before the [Canada U20s] game because they were older and bigger, but my teammates kept telling me it was OK; that it’s just another game,” Navarro said of Wednesday’s Can-Am opener. “So when the game started, I calmed myself down and just played rugby. But playing for Fallbrook, HSAA, and the Jr. Olympics has definitely prepared me to play up.”

Once Navarro settled into the flow of the game, it allowed her to better assess her opponents.

“The Canada U20s were a pretty tough team – it was definitely a challenge to get some those girls down – but they weren't the hardest team I've played,” Navarro said. “The toughest team I've played was Australia at the Junior Olympics. They were really fast and strong, and they played so well together.”

Navarro wasn't the most prevalent player on the pitch, but she didn't play like a rookie. She motored around the Central Washington grounds, showcasing that stellar fitness and fearlessness in contact that brands Fallbrook rugby. She didn’t hesitate with ball in hand (one recalls the flanker trying to run out of the USA's end, about to be pushed into touch, but instead swiped her defender out of the way to cut back inside for a nice break), and kept her composure when attacking opportunities presented themselves.

“Nate [Serevi] was running with the ball at first, but as she was getting tackled, she passed the ball to me,” Navarro remembered her try in game two. “I was going to pass the ball to Dash [Danielle Ordway] because the defense was coming up pretty fast. So when I was going to pass, the defense over-committed to Dash and left a hole. When I looked up, I saw the hole, so I took it and scored.”

Navarro’s try occurred at the end of game two's first half and was particularly valuable. The USA had struggled during that first 40 minutes, going down early, losing scrums, and needing 33 minutes to get on the board. Navarro’s try gave the Americans some cushion, and more importantly, some momentum off which to build. The WJAAs won that game 32-5.

“I have two role models on the team,” Navarro talked inspiration. “One was Frieda [Fetu’u]. She plays flanker like me and helped me out so much. She is an amazing player – super strong and knows the game very well. One day I want to play like her and make huge tackles and be a strong runner like her.

“The second one was Kyla [Chipman],” Navarro added. “She's such a great rugby player and a phenomenal captain. I look up to her because I was the captain for Fallbrook last year, and I feel like I have learned so much about leadership from Kyla.”

Navarro still has another year at Fallbrook, but as one might imagine, college programs are calling. The Warriors have formed ties with Central Washington and Lindenwood, and Navarro confessed that she’s debating between those two programs. What is for certain? Navarro is working hard to make the national team one day, and she made a strong case for that possibility with her performances this weekend.