January 8 - Twenty-three standout players have been named to the Men’s All-Star Championship All-Tournament Team by a committee of selectors and scouts on hand Sunday in Round Rock, TX. Division I quarterfinalist Wheeling, Small College semifinalist Cal Poly Humboldt and Thomas More all landed multiple players on the list.
Wheeling’s Aaron Juma and Joseph Iye were arguably the best players for undefeated champion Great Lakes, scoring or setting up countless tries from flanker and center, respectively. Saints Bautista St. Bonnet and Tshepo Moselane were instrumental for the Great Lakes, St. Bonnet from the flank and Moselane earning MVP honors for his work in the Thunderbirds’ back three. Lumberjacks Logan McDaniel and Isaac Khelo provided a presence to the Pacific Coast’s tight five.
McDaniel and Khelo were joined in representing Small College by New England’s Jordan Chappell (Endicott) and the Midwest’s Joey O’Brien (St. John’s MN). Two Division II players were tapped; Tri-State lock Raymond Santiago (RPI) and Independent Joey Nguyen (UMass Lowell). Three Division I-AA players were picked in the Southeast’s Chase Travis (Alabama), who played his way up from the Rising Stars side over the weekend, the Mid Atlantic’s Hunter Danesi (Virginia Tech) and the Great Lakes’ Seth Lemke (Western Michigan).
By conference, the Big Rivers led the way with seven selections across the Great Lakes and Midwest. The Liberty conference had four players recognized from the Tri-States and Independents. The Rugby East had one player picked from each the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Northern California landed the two Lumberjacks from the Pacific Coast. And the Colonial Coast, MAC, MARC, New England Wide, Northern Lights, SCRC, Southern and Tri-State conferences each had one selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Thunderbirds Sweep All Star and Rising Star Championships
Jordan Chappell: New England Red - Endicott College - Junior
Jeremiah Curry: Southeast - Queens University of Charlotte - Junior
Hunter Danesi: Mid-Atlantic - Virginia Tech - Senior
JD Farrell: Great Lakes - Marian University - Senior
Oliver Fussell: Southeast - Belmont Abbey College - Sophomore
Joseph Iye: Great Lakes - Wheeling University - Junior
Coleman Jackson: New England Red - Northeastern University - Senior
Aaron Juma: Great Lakes - Wheeling University - Sophomore
Isaac Khelo: Pacific Coast - Cal Poly Humboldt - Junior
Seth Lemke: Great Lakes - Western Michigan University - Sophomore
Aminio Manu: New England Red - American International College - Sophomore
Bradley Mayekiso: Midwest - Principia College - Junior
Logan McDaniel: Pacific Coast - Cal Poly Humboldt - Junior
Tshepo Moselane: Great Lakes - Thomas More University - Junior
Joey Nguyen: New England White - UMass Lowell - Junior
Joey O'Brien: Midwest - St. John's University (MN) - Senior
Tony Robinson: Tri-State - Nazareth College - Senior
Raymond Santiago: Tri-State - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Junior
Bautista St. Bonnet: Great Lakes - Thomas More University - Sophomore
Yacouba Traore: Tri-State - Iona University - Sophomore
Chase Travis: Southeast - University of Alabama - Senior
Koen Webb: Midwest - Iowa Central Community College - First Year
Chris Wylde: Mid-Atlantic - Mount St. Mary's University - Junior