It has been a busy summer for many members of the Summit High School girls rugby team. 

After opening up the summer by sweeping Rugby Colorado Academy in a two-game series back in June, several players have continued to stay active, traveling across the country to play the sport they love.

Last week, several Summit girls rugby players traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to compete in a curtain-raiser match ahead of the USA men’s rugby team taking on Spain.

In total, four Summit athletes were named to the USA West All-Stars girls rugby team including rising seniors Hailey Russer and Teagan Barth as well as Class of 2025 graduates Olivia Lyman and Delilah Staberg.

“They have seen us in other select-side tournaments and playing for other teams,” Russer said. “I think standing out in those scenarios and games help them make selections.”

The group of athletes touched down in Charlotte on Wednesday, July 9, and were immediately met with hot and humid conditions. Over the next three days, the quartet of Tigers were introduced to their all-star teammates — all of whom come from rugby programs in Idaho, Washington, Utah, California, Hawaii or Colorado. 

With just three days to prepare for the match against the North Carolina All-Stars, Russer, Barth, Lyman and Staberg worked hard to not only build chemistry with their new team members, but also feel comfortable in their assigned positions.

Accustomed to playing 7’s rugby throughout the fall season, the Summit athletes took advantage of the practice days, leaning on coaches for guidance as they tried to further grow their skills in a 15’s setting.

After sweating profusely throughout practices, the USA West All-Stars took the field, eager to put on a show. All of the Summit athletes got an opportunity to be part of the starting 15, with Russer, Lyman and Staberg serving as forwards and Barth being one of the seven backs.

From the moment play began at American Legion Stadium on Saturday, July 12, the USA West All-Stars were nothing short of dominant. Relentlessly attacking the North Carolina All-Stars, the team displayed its chemistry, passion for the game and unyielding competitiveness. 

Similar to Summit’s games throughout the high school fall season, the USA West All-Stars ran up the score very quickly. Even when the team was sitting on a hefty lead, the USA West All-Stars continued to dig in and fight for more points.

The North Carolina All-Stars tried their best to match up against the challenging opponent, but could not find a solution to the West All-Stars’ rollicking offense. The West All-Stars shutout the North Carolina All-Stars, 82-0. 

“You had the four of us from Summit, but you also had a lot of players who played together at their home as well,” Lyman said. “We all had familiar faces there, and we are all the best from where we come from,. When we were able to come together, the amount of talent and athleticism that was on that field was really awesome.”

“It was an amazing experience,” Staberg said. “…  I think it was just so cool to see how Summit was able to have four people there. We were all able to perform at the highest level. It was cool to see that the training that we have done here at home has prepared us for these types of opportunities.”

With Lyman and Staberg set to leave for college in a few weeks, the match was likely the final time the group will take the field as high school teammates.

“It is good closure and a good way to end our time playing together — in hopes that we play together again somewhere,” Russer said. “It is really sweet and was a cool way to end that time.”

“I certainly don’t think it will be the last game we will ever play together or against each other,” Lyman said. “It was a really good start to something new, something bigger and something outside of Summit for all four of us.”

Lyman and Russer will close out the summer by participating in the North American Invitational 7’s tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah, from July 25-26. Barth meanwhile will be part of a rugby tour throughout Ireland from July 16-28.

The Summit High School girls rugby team will host an alumni weekend from Aug. 8-9 before starting the fall season. For more information, visit SummitRugby.com/alumni.