Meet the WJAAs Heading to Can Ams
Meet the WJAAs Heading to Can Ams
The Women's Junior All Americans will soon be assembling in Ellensburg, Wash., and interim head coach Wil Snape has brought nearly half of last year’s squad to the 2015 Can Am Series. Learn a little more about the Americans who be taking on the Canada U20s on Aug. 19 and Aug. 22 at Central Washington University.
A Herriman (Utah) product, Ashlee Byrge is heading into her sophomore year at DII Davenport University, where she was the second-highest try-scorer (22) during the 15s season behind fellow WJAA Danielle Ordway. Byrge is a veteran of the Can-Am Series and reiterated her aggressive playing style during the Girls HSAA tour in Las Vegas 2015.
Gabby Cantorna is the primary flyhalf for reigning DI champ Penn State, which has sent six Nittany Lions to Can Ams this year. The State College (Pa.) alum is going into her junior year and got her first taste of international All American rugby back in 2013, when she traveled to England for the U20 Nations Cup. Younger sister of All American Elena, and daughter to State College head coach and PSU defense coach Bernie, Gabby makes her third appearance with the WJAAs this summer.
Kyla Chipman was a vice captain in last year’s Can Ams, where she anchored the scrum from No. 8. The Hong Kong native has spent the previous year helping Penn State win 7s and 15s national titles, and solidified her position as one of the best flankers on the team. Chipman and Cantorna are the only two Nittany Lions who have played in the previous two Can Ams.
Sadia Crosby comes out of a small school, Roger Williams, but makes a big impact in the front row. “Sadia is a prop with great potential,” Snape indicated. “She impressed at both the NASC and the Greeley camp. We've been so impressed by her work rate and willingness to take herself out of her comfort zone. She has a real growth mindset and commitment to hard work.”
Sheila Decker has just graduated from Saranac Lake High School, and the leggy loose forward has aligned herself with one of the best varsity programs in the country: Norwich. The New York state giant slalom champion, Decker has been in the system for years now and competed in last year’s Can Ams.
Lanoira Duhart represents DII powerhouse Winona State University in Minnesota. Last year, the now-hooker would split her time between center and prop, positions where her power and thumping runs would impact the game differently. This tour is Duhart’s first with the All Americans, but she’s done her share of traveling with the Midwest Thunderbirds.
Deshel Ferguson has been a highlight for Life during its first year as a varsity program, but she wasn't recruited for rugby and was an on-campus pickup. Ferguson was a track star in the Bahamas, transitioned to rugby with zero background knowledge, and has worked her way into All American recognition.
Frieda Fetu’u is another player who has been in the system for years, and she’s one of the memorable highlights from last year’s Can Ams. The flanker is tenacious and fit, and she’s been keeping sharp with Women’s Premier League Berkeley. The Vipers alum will certainly be important in terms of leadership this tour.
During her freshman year at Penn State, Tess Feury was named MVP of the DI Fall Championship. Needless to say, the Morris product is fulfilling expectations with her addition to the WJAA squad. The Can Ams will be her first with the program; however, Feury has been playing up for a while now, having trained with the seniors during the June NASC. Watch for her to make an impact in the back field.
McKenzie Hawkins has just graduated Maryville (Tenn.) and will pre-empt her college career at Lindenwood with another WJAA tour. The August assembly marks the flyhalf’s second Can Ams. Hawkins, like six of her junior Eagle teammates, was a member of the first GHSAA team that competed in Las Vegas in February 2015.
Last year, it was Leti Hingano’s sister – Mata – who made the trip to Can Ams, but the Danville fullback is getting her shot this year. Leti was the best striker on the Lady Oaks and proved to be a strong, smart forward for the GSHAA’s 7s team that competed at the LVI. A recent high school graduate, Leti is one of five WJAAs who has yet to enter college.
Jenny Johnson won’t have to travel far for camp, as the Kent product is the current No. 8 for Central Washington. Long and lean, Snape will try Johnson at lock for Can Ams, and likely pair her up with Penn State’s Fran Schaeffer in the second row. After the set piece, look for the able ballcarrier to power through the middle of the field.
Joie Krahling has been busy since graduating from the Downingtown ranks, booting up with senior teams and staying sharp at the American Rugby Pro Training Center (ARPTC). A former GHSAA, Krahling moved to Little Rock for the summer and helped the ARPTC win the Club 7s Championship last weekend. In 15s, Krahling is a flanker.
Etta Mailau is built to be a forceful hooker, but she also has the power moves to play center. Like former Vipers teammate Fetu’u, Mailau competed at the 2014 Can Ams, and her younger sister, Apa’au, is a GHSAA and junior Olympian.
Azniv Nalbandian earned her return invite to the Can Ams, having put in an impressive performance at prop during the 2014 tour. She rounded out her senior year with Phillips Exeter Academy (also Nicole Heavirland's alma mater) with women's DI club Beantown – a good place to refine one’s front row skills.
Michel Navarro is one of two WJAAs who will still be in high school during the upcoming 2015-16 season. The flanker is at the heart of five-time reigning high school champion Fallbrook, and looked sharp during the GHSAA outing in February, as well as the Junior Olympians’ showing at last year’s Youth Summer Games. She’s fast, smart, and confident, and plays above her age.
Danielle Ordway is the leading point-scorer for DII varsity Davenport University, and returns to Can Ams with teammate Byrge. MVP of the DII ACRA 7s Championship, Ordway will reclaim her position at fullback and inject a nice dose of speed and side-stepping into the back line.
Taylah Pipkin is finally get her shot, having been a bright spot in Penn State’s second row the last couple of years. She’s worked with a slew of Junior and Collegiate All Americans, as well as Eagles and National Team staff, and Snape wants her to have a look at loose forward this series.
Emily Prentice will be a senior within the Kent Crusaders this year, and is the only true high schooler on board in addition to Navarro. Prentice, too, has a diverse resume that spans the GHSAAs, Junior Olympians, NASCs, and much more. No. 8 for Kent, Prentice will debut at hooker for the Junior All Americans.
We wrote about Kat Ramage earlier in the summer (read more) and are still astonished by how busy she is. She’s been training in Little Rock at the ARPTC, joined Krahling in Des Moines to win the Club 7s Championship, and is now off to Ellensburg for her first WJAA experience. She’ll be in good hands when she heads to Dartmouth College in the fall.
Fran Schaeffer is also of the Penn State pedigree and will add even more athleticism to the forward pack. This is the Pennsylvania native’s first international showing, but she’s familiar with the championship atmosphere and working with some the country’s top athletes.
Asinate Serevi, fresh off a final’s appearance with the Seattle Saracens at Club 7s Nationals, joins the All Americans close to her home state, Washington. Of all her gifts, Serevi has great vision and sets up her teammates for linebreaks with aplomb.
Abby Vogel returns to Can-Ams along with fellow Golden Bear CJ Whiteside. Vogel is an imposing figure in the front row, a skill she’s been honing for five years since her days with the Portland (Maine) Women. As an Atlantis 7s alum, Vogel is not afraid to run into open space, so watch for the prop all around the pitch.
It was only a matter of time before Penn State's Carly Waters broke into the All American jersey. The Downingtown graduate worked into the scrumhalf position to direct the most explosive offense in the college game, as a freshman. She, like Tess Feury, was a highlight of last year’s newcomers.
Caitlin (CJ) Whiteside has been slicing through defenses for years now, and she’s one of the best finishers on the West Coast for Cal. Every year she returns with a little more knowledge and a little more punch, which will come in handy in her second Can-Am Series.
Adriana Zeiders is the 12th returner from last year’s WJAA squad. The Hempfield grad plays center for varsity West Chester University, but Snape is going to give her a run at No. 8. She’s got the height and power to make a big impact from the back of the scrum.
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