Midwest
Augspurger, Nate
Bender, Garrett
Brandenstein, Nick
Cochran, Ryan
Gasparella, Jamie
Highberger, Jordan
Johnson, Nick
Kraemer, Josh
Narewski, Max
Porter, Ethan
Schatz, Mike
Thiem, Lucas

Pacific Coast
Byrd, Matt
Craigwell, Miles
Green, Ben
Hawley, Garrett
Maka, Kisi Unufe
Niua, Folau
Pulu, Mile
Punimata, Nu'u
Sakalia, Siupeli
Timoteo, Mose
Tuilevuka, Pate

Southern California
Boyd, Justin
Gafa, Talalelei
Council, Corey
Howden, Taylor
Iosia, Pase
Lanigan, Taylor
Leituala, Faaletonu
McKenna, Eddie
Sanonu, Iopu
Sio, Peter
Soalo, Apelu
Tualaulelei, Ailao

West
Chaffin, Curtis
de Achaval, Maximo
Guillen, Brian
Haapapuro, Ben
Hayes, Matt
Hunter, Leland
O'Sullivan, Sean
Reed, Dewon
Scott, Ken
Scott, Spencer
Spaur, Bryce
Tofte, Chris

South
Allen, Bobby
Bourgeois, Justin
Cabbell, Mu
Ceasar, Rod
Elkins, Ty
Farrell, Will
Hamilton, Dylan
Hughston, Matt
Nowakowski, John
Truss, Chris
Whittler, Clint

Mid-Atlantic
Ambrogi, Greg
Boyle, Pat
Cima, Matias
Goodman, Josh
Koon, Nick
Lourens, Gareth
Paul, Ben
Raymond, Akinola
Rosato, James
Sucu, Junior
Wilk, Mike

Northeast
Collinson, Jared
Cullen, Eddie
Granby, Kyle
Jordan, Pete
Moore, Brennan
Ondi, Pete
Otundo, Chris
Petermann, Cory
Quick, Terry
Vota, Duran
Wareing, Dominic


All Americans
Muhammed Abdul- Shakoor      Dartmouth College
Timothy Acker   Kutztown University
Nate Brakeley   Dartmouth College
JP Eloff Davenport University
Will Holder          United States Military Academy
James Bubba Jones         St. Mary's College
Duncan Kelm     San Diego State University
Garrett Lambert               Life University
David Martini     University of California, Los Angeles
Rocco Mauer     Bowling Green State University
Dustin Muhn      University of California, Berkekely
Don Pati               University of Utah
Tim Stanfill          Central Washington University
Brett Willis          California State University, Sacramento

A year ago the Pacific Coast Grizzlies fulfilled their potential to win the 2010 Men’s 7s National All-Star Championships, with Mile Pulu earning the MVP award.

And while Pulu was superb, everyone knew that the injection of pace from Isimeli Daveta didn’t hurt, either.

Head Coach John Tyler fashioned his team around Daveta and Pulu, getting smart role players to win ball and get it to the speedsters in space.

This year, it’s a different Grizzlies team. Daveta has not been chosen because he is not, yet, USA eligible. Pulu is back, but he is by no means the only star. Matt Byrd, not that long ago the MVP of the college all-star championships, and Miles Craigwell join Pulu in a potent backline. And of course the new sensation, Maka Unufe, could well electrify fans once more.

Tyler still has his role players, but they are very experienced, and often have some star quality of their own. Pate Tuilevuka has reinvented himself as a 7s forward. Mose Timoteo is the link between ruck and attackers, and Ben Green brings a worldiness from having played all over the globe.

It’s hard to see the Pacific Coast being challenged in their pool, but if they are, it will be by Southern California. Despite being with Shalom Suniula (pro club commitments), and Matt Hawkins (surgery), the Griffins can look to Belmont Shore champion and USA player Justin Boyd to provide a physical attacking flair to rival that of Pulu. They add to that lineup the classy Taylor Howden, a transplant from Denver, and Corey Council, a crossover who has shifted to SoCal because the West didn’t want him.

Add to that the constant presence of Peter Sio and the tireless Eddie McKenna up front and you’ve got a SoCal side, complete with some young guys with pace, who could challenge Pacific Coast.

The Northeast and South are not there to make up the numbers, but they will be challenged to match the other two teams in pure athleticism. The South is a very young squad, including 2010 Rugby Magazine U19 Player of the Year Will Farrell, and Mu Cabbell, a 20-year-old who played cornerback for Georgia Southern. Head Coach Julie McCoy is as technically proficient a 7s coach as anyone in the nation, and will have the South playing a smart game.

Sean Horan’s NRU side is certainly more experienced, with Duran Vota, Dom Wareing, Brennan Moore, but the guy to look at might be Peter Ondi. He was the high-schooler who showed up at the Mid-Atlantic open combine and blew observers away with his pace.

Still Pool A appears to be Pacific Coast’s to lose. The Grizzlies, however, have to go into the event thinking differently, or they might be in for a nasty surprise.