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Women’s Eagles coach Chris Brown has named a star-studded roster to represent the USA at the Tokyo Olympics. Abby Gustaitis and Kris Thomas will act as co-captains for the side that looks capable of challenging for a medal at the games that begin on July 29.
Alev Kelter and Lauren Doyle are the lone returnees from Rio 2016, where the Eagles finished in fifth place. World Sevens Series Dream Team select Kristi Kirshe and former captain Nicole Heavirland are among several notables.
There is one uncapped player in 21-year-old Ariana Ramsey, the Dartmouth flyer who won silver at the 2019 Pan-Am Games. Joanne Fa’avesi and Kacey McCravey will travel as reserves with Madrid Sevens standout Nia Toliver identified as a non-traveling alternate.
The team will compete at the ‘Quest for Gold’ Sevens in Los Angeles next weekend. It represents their final tournament before departing for Japan in mid-July.
USA WOMEN’s EAGLES 7s
Kayla Canett, Lauren Doyle, Cheta Emba, Abby Gustaitis (co-capt.), Nicole Heavirland, Alev Kelter, Kristi Kirshe, Ilona Maher, Jordan Matyas, Ariana Ramsey, Naya Tapper, Kris Thomas (co-capt.)
TRAVELING RESERVES
Joanne Fa’avesi, Kasey McCravey
