While most of the USA U20 women's team that toured South Africa was populated by four college programs, players from outside that group still made a huge impact.
Of the 27 players on tour, 22 came from Harvard, Dartmouth, Lindenwood, and Life. But one of the main standouts didn't come from any of those. Most of the players on the team have been playing a long time, but that same standout didn't have that history.
Kaylie "Kash" Castro is a prop out of LaSalle University, and she was a game-changer.
"Kash was super-coachable," said USA U20 Head Coach Katie Dowty. "She learned really fast, was studying film and constantly trying to improve. And she's a loosehead who runs a 6-second 40 and can rock it up in the loose as well."
Coachable is a word LaSalle Head Coach Kelsie McDowell used as well.
"She is very coachable, and one of the hardest workers on our team," McDowell told GRR. "She has only been playing maybe two-and-a-half years but she has this mindset if 'I am going to get better; I am going to take what I can and improve.'"
McDowell found Castro because a friend, Molly Douglas, was coaching Castro in Florida. This kid is good, she said.
"One of the biggest things we recruit is character, and Kash and I were on the phone quite a bit before I saw he play. She's an athlete, but it's her emotional maturity that's most important," said McDowell.
A hard-hitting prop who can move around the park and puts in the effort, Castro got a chance to show that she can play at the higher levels.
"I know I have worked really hard to get on the U20 team, but I also knew I had not been handed a freebie," Castro told GRR. "It was a shock that I got picked, but I know there are so many more steps available to me.
"The tour was amazing. It's a beautiful country and a chance to play this amazing sport. It all exemplified the beauty of the sport. Hanging out with the South Africa girls after was a great experience; having the blend of players from different universities—rivals who have come together for a common goal. That was a big part of it. It's this blind trust , well maybe not blind but you know your teammate has your back. Playing on this tour where everybody wanted everyone to do well was amazing."
Castro picked up the game in high school when a friend told her she should come play for the Tampa Krewe girls team. She knew a bit about the game because she'd seen it during the 2024 Olympics, and while the Krewe didn't have a lot of players, she was hooked.
