Central Washington Names Recruiting Class

Central Washington Names Recruiting Class

Central Washington University finalizes their recruiting class.

Aug 9, 2017 by Alex Goff
Central Washington Names Recruiting Class
Central Washington University has announced its incoming freshman class for the 2017-18 season.

Boasting 20 true freshmen, the recruiting class is the largest in the program's history. Three transfers also join the Wildcats -- George Fulton, Makani Mafua, and Alex Walker -- who all have three years of eligibility.

The incoming class has representatives from five different states and four different countries (including the USA). Michael O'Malley, Max Riseham, and Fulton hail from Ireland, England, and New Zealand, respectively. Fulton is a transfer from Missouri State who played football there but is returning to rugby.

Top West Coast high school programs feature prominently in the list, with Carlos Gomez, Tyler Nunnery, and Elijah Tafao-Braganza all having won a pair of Pacific Cup titles with the Danville Oaks. Danville fell short of the Pacific Cup in 2017, and the Kahuku Red Raiders won the tournament. Two members of that Kahuku team, Joseph-Thomas Kalill and Kawika Macy, are also heading to Central Washington.

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"This is a very talented recruiting class, which is a credit to our coaching staff, current student-athletes, and our wider CWU community for playing their part in attracting these outstanding new Wildcats," CWU coach Todd Thornley said in a release. "I am very excited to get to work with these young men and expect them to come in and contribute to our team on and off the field immediately."

In addition, the Wildcats possibly the best prop in high school rugby in Liberty Patriots (WA) front-rower David Ainuu. Like Ainuu, fellow CWU recruit Ivan Pula is a High School All-American and also a Washington local.

2017-18 CWU Men's Rugby Recruiting Class


David Ainuu
5-foot-10 | 245 pounds | Prop
Olympia, WA/Capital HS (Liberty Patriots)

High School All American
Senior USA Eagles Camp Invitee




Chase Capiti
5-10 | 210 | 8/Flanker
Los Angeles, CA/Venice HS (Santa Monica)


Jackson Cooley
5-10 | 190 | Center/Wing
Fife, WA/Fife HS (Rainier Highlanders)

2017 Washington Loggers selection

John Dupree
5-11 | 195 | Hooker
Lincoln, CA/Del Oro HS (Granite Bay)

Sac Valley All-Stars Selection
On 2016 National HS Club champion team

 
Will Fox
5-10 | 230 | Prop
Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad HS (Calrsbad Thunder)

SoCal Griffins Selection
2016 and 2017 Carlsbad MVP


George Fulton
5-10 |175 | Flyhalf
Clydevale, New Zealand/Monett HS/Missouri State (Transfer)

Springfield RFC
Kicker and punt returner on Missouri State football team


Carlos Gomez
5-9 | 185 | Wing
San Ramon, CA/California HS (Danville Oaks)
HS All-American
 
Barton Hasz
6-0 | 225 | No. 8/Flanker
Kent, WA/Kentwood HS (Kent Crusaders)

 
Joseph-Thomas Kalill
6-2 | 215 | Lock/Flanker
Hau'ula, Hawaii/Kahuku HS (Kahuku)

 
Jeremy Lennartz Jr.
5-10 | 195 | 8/Flanker
Yakima, WA/West Valley HS (Yakima Griffins)
 

Kawika Macy
5-10 | 155 | Scrum Half
Laie, Hawaii/Kahuku HS (Kahuku)


Makani Mafua
5-11 | 235 | Prop
Kent, WA/Kentwood HS/ University of Washington 

Washington Lancers

Quinnten Notah
6-2 | 235 | Prop
Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS (Kitsap Renegades)


Tyler Nunnery
6-6 |250 | Lock
Castro Valley, CA/Castro Valley HS (Danville Oaks)


Michael O'Malley
5-8 | 180 | Scrumhalf
Ratoath, Ireland/Castlerock College

Castleknock College Senior Cup Team 2015-17

Ivan Pula
5-11 | 235 | Prop
Yelm, WA/ Yelm HS (Budd Bay Barbarians)

HS All-American

Max Riseham
5-10 | 195 | Center
Hull, England/Wyke College

Hull U19 Academy (UK)

Enzo Steiner
5-6 | 165 | Scrumhalf
Hillboro, OR/Liberty HS (Beaverton Barbarians)

Two-time Oregon state club champions

Jake Szumski
6-2 | 205 | Fullback/Flyhalf
Pendleton, OR/Pendleton HS

Oregon Redhawks selection

Elijah Tafao-Braganza
6-1 | 230 | 8-Man
San Francisco, CA/Clayton Valley HS (Danville Oaks)

HS All-American

Elias Taylor
5-10 | 180 | Hooker/Flanker
Kent, WA/Kent Meridian HS (Northside Eagles)

2017 Washington Loggers selection

Mark Thompson II
6-1 | 195 | Flanker
Tacoma, WA/Clover Park HS (Tacoma Rugby)

 
Alex Walker
6-4 | 245 | Lock
Camas, WA/Camas High School (Clark County Warriors)