GRR: HS Girls
The Lady Stallions got their first taste of 7s last fall, as Utah Youth Rugby hosted its inaugural girls club 7s season. Orem ended up winning the state title and were curious how they’d match up against tougher competition. So they traveled to the Las Vegas Invitational and entered the Girls High School Elite 7s division.
There were plenty of successes and surprises at the Las Vegas Invitational, but one topping the list is the Atlantis U16s in the Girls High School Open division. It was the first time that the all-star program has fielded this age group, and that alone was an achievement. The players, however, had higher standards for themselves.
California has sent nine players to the Girls High School All Americans (HSAA), which will make its debut at the Las Vegas Invitational 7s this week. SoCal’s Fallbrook and ICEF sent five athletes total, while NorCal’s Danville and Pleasanton sent four representatives.
Atlantis continues to grow, and later this week, the first-ever Girls U16 team will debut at the Las Vegas Invitational (Feb. 12-14). Twelve players hailing mostly from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York (with Colorado, Virginia and Wisconsin getting a representative apiece) will don the aquamarine and compete in the Girls High School 7s division.
When one thinks of girls high school rugby in the Midwest, two teams come to mind: Divine Savior Holy Angels and Catholic Memorial. The Wisconsin duo is the standard for their age group, but that doesn’t mean they have a monopoly on talent. Reina Anderson is proof of such.