The USA Women’s Sevens pathways players have been busy with a summer Residency Immersion Camp featuring 20 of the top women’s developing sevens prospects convening at the USA High Performance HQ in Chula Vista, CA.
The camp challenged athletes with an elevated 2-week experience replicating the senior training environment providing an understanding of the requirements to elevate their game and the expectations of representing the USA at the elite level.
Week one was set up to replicate a standard senior training week including field, gym, skill, recovery and learning sessions, while week two transitioned into a competition style week as the USA Women prepared to host Rugby Canada’s Next Gen Women’s 7s team and the Chicago Lions Women’s 7s team for a mini Sevens competition.
Athletes were required to make impactful choices each day being intentional about their contribution to how they can help elevate the team and program. The camp created an opportunity for core USA Pathway athletes to experience and practice the components of their high performance processes required at the top level.
Head Coach, Irene Gardner commented;
“The athletes are being asked to approach camp with courage and effort at every moment. To intentionally take risks daily that will create an opportunity for growth and learning. It is with that intention that they can refine their process and continue to take steps forward toward senior side, professional rugby.”
Working closely with USA Women’s Eagles Sevens Head Coach Emilie Bydwell, and the entire Senior Women’s staff in developing the future of USA Women’s Sevens, athletes were exposed to the High performance expertise throughout their training sessions in the areas of skills, film analysis, S&C, Sports Psychology, and Nutrition (Charlie Purdon, Lauren Barber, Ashley Morataya, Jacque Scaramella, and Peter Haberl).
Gardner continued, with thanks to the support of USA Pathway donors for making the camp possible and to all pathway staff who continually invest their expertise and resource in shaping the future of USA Women’s Rugby Sevens;
“Huge thank you to our entire pathway staff who work behind the scenes to identify athletes and prepare for events, and to assistant coach Kelly Griffin and athletic trainer Jackie Rodriguez for their work and expertise.”
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Falalauola (Lay) Amanoni | Bay Breakers |
| Shawnee Asiata | Majestics |
| Brooke Crago | Scion Rugby |
| Chloe De Leon | US Military Academy West Point |
| Kiyanah Edwards | American International College |
| Jayna Schalesky | UC Santa Barbara |
| Kori Fields | Long Island University |
| Olivia Frisby | Life University |
| Aleksandria Gabbard | US Naval Academy |
| Leah Lockerman | Denver Onyx |
| Marley Larkin | Dartmouth College |
| Hehea Pulotu | Dartmouth College |
| Saylor Russell | Long Island University |
| Lissa Salisbury | Life University |
| Mariah Overby | Bay Breakers |
| Sana'a Lunon | Harvard University |
| Amalia Galm | UC Santa Barbara |
| Makayla Komer | Denver Onyx |
| Katelyn Walker | Dartmouth College |
| Vasiti Turagavou | Dartmouth College |
Irene Gardner | Pathway W7s Head Coach
Kelly Griffin | Pathway W7 Assistant Coach & WXV U18 Asst Coach
Jackie Rodriguez | Lead W7s Pathway Athletic Trainer + W7/M7 ATC
Aiyana Gilliard | Team Services Manager
Maria Adams | Team Services Manager
Kristin “Ham” Zdanczewicz | Pathway S&C Coach
Martha Daines | Head of Player Systems & Development
