Girls rugby picking up steam in Salmon Arm

A strong season last year with a combined Jackson/Sullivan girls’ high school rugby team has set the stage for a team from each school for the 2023 Spring rugby season.

Teacher Jenna Elidoros, who coaches along with Grace Fulton and Michelle Hoekstra, says they are thrilled with the turnout of players! She said there are 13 to 15 players for a team at Jackson and a team at Salmon Arm Secondary (Sullivan).

On March 16-17 the SAS team went to Victoria to take part in the Westshore 7s . The team played three games, where they had a win and two close losses. “Half of the team is new and they played amazing.” Elidoros notes rugby is very big in Victoria and they were playing some very highly skilled teams.

She adds a highlight of the tourney was that SAS player Olivia Johnson was named Most Valuable Player (MVP)!

Representing SAS was Johnson, Makaila Russell, Sienna Kurz, Ryley Parsons, Maya Livermore, Hailey Murphy, Carly McBeth, Victoria Martens, Elail Celesta, Kayden Crowe, and Aila Norlin. Coaching were Jenna Elidoros and Jade Elidoros.

Elidoros comments another highlight of the tourney was that the girls got to meet Team Canada players, who gave them some Team Canada swag!

She explains the tournament was to prep the team for the upcoming Okanagan Spring rugby season. The girls’ will kick off local play with a tournament on April 14-15 at Jackson fields (assuming the weather co-operates and the fields are open). Teams from Williams Lake, Alberta, and the Okanagan will be taking part.

She encourages everyone to come out and cheer on the rugby players!