Moon, North Allegheny rugby players invited to All-American winter camp

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, December 10, 2018 | 8:51 PM

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Three members of the West Pittsburgh Foxes Rugby Club are getting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Moon senior Isabella Sinatra, Moon junior Sofia Mancini and North Allegheny sophomore Makenna Tuman have been invited to the USA Rugby Girls High School All-American Winter Camp Dec. 27-31 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

The event will feature U18 and U19 teams in intrasquad competition. Players will work with coaches on core skills and form individual development plans.

The program is designed to identify under-18 and under-19 players who have the potential to reach Junior and Collegiate All-American levels and make senior national teams.

Players were evaluated on their performances in recent Regional Cup Tournaments, as well as participation in previous camps and national tournaments.

USA Rugby spokeswoman Aalina Tabani said there should be just under 100 players.

Sinatra, 17, is excited to see players from around the country.

“When I received the invitation, I couldn’t stop smiling,” she said. “I was calling my whole family.

“I would like to learn what it takes to be an Olympian.”

Mancini, 16, said she is beyond excited.

“I hope to learn more moves I can use to develop my game, and to obtain a better understanding of how to use the pitch to my and my teammates’ advantage,” she said. “It’s truly an honor to even be considered to represent the United States on the Girls High School All-American team.”

Tuman, 16, looks forward to improving.

“I hope to learn proper tackling techniques, the most effective moves to get around a defender, how to create space on offense (and) better passing techniques,” she said.

Rocky Nurss, coach of the West Pittsburgh Foxes, a girls U19 sevens club based in the west suburbs, expects the players to gain confidence.

“It helps a young athlete to go to a place like Chula Vista and start to think of themselves as an elite player,” he said. “The ideas that these athletes are walking a path that can lead to representing their country in an Olympics or a World Cup is amazing.”

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

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