Guam rugby athletes take their game to the next level at major U.S. universities

Last weekend, sons and daughters from local high school rugby programs are now playing at the collegiate level made impressive showings in their institutions’ match ups.  Dartmouth had an impressive 26-21 home opener against Nazareth college with FDMS alum Matias Calvo as captain.

American International college’s men’s team beat Northeastern 30 -10 with local players including former Sanchez standouts Kekoa Toves Tenorio and Tyler Daga, Izzic Cabrera from FDMS and Christian Reyes from GW.

While their women’s division with players including Joanne Alvarez from Sanchez, Keiani Pangelinan from St. Paul's, and Sheila Sarmiento from SSHS beat Navy 12-5.

University of Rio Grande, with local player SSHS alum Gavin Bejerana, beat John Caroll University 38 -5. And local phenom Makayla Atoigue from ND scored a try for Brown in their 83-0 blowout against Princeton.

The Mount Saint Mary's College roster was also well represented by Guam natives including Jalana Garcia from GW, Sienna Nedlic from OHS, Hannah Rojas Rhodes from Academy of our Lady of Guam and Mara Tamayo from IHS.

Guam Rugby representative Leonard Calvo, who coaches his alma mater’s squad at Father Duenas Memorial School, says this about the representation of Guam students in collegiate rugby. “There are a lot of girls playing all throughout the East Coast, and there’s just so much opportunity out there,” he told KUAM Sports, adding, “there’s no reason why we can’t send five or six girls each year to the prestigious institutions.”

Continue to look out for these young men on women throughout the rugby season who are putting Guam on the map!