Central Washington Names Recruiting Class
Central Washington Names Recruiting Class
Central Washington University finalizes their 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.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/jah_tafao/status/851819781967589378" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
"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.
Olympia, WA/Capital HS (Liberty Patriots)
High School All American
Senior USA Eagles Camp Invitee
Los Angeles, CA/Venice HS (Santa Monica)
Fife, WA/Fife HS (Rainier Highlanders)
2017 Washington Loggers selection
Lincoln, CA/Del Oro HS (Granite Bay)
Sac Valley All-Stars Selection
On 2016 National HS Club champion team
Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad HS (Calrsbad Thunder)
SoCal Griffins Selection
2016 and 2017 Carlsbad MVP
Clydevale, New Zealand/Monett HS/Missouri State (Transfer)
Springfield RFC
Kicker and punt returner on Missouri State football team
San Ramon, CA/California HS (Danville Oaks)
HS All-American
Kent, WA/Kentwood HS (Kent Crusaders)
Hau'ula, Hawaii/Kahuku HS (Kahuku)
Yakima, WA/West Valley HS (Yakima Griffins)
Laie, Hawaii/Kahuku HS (Kahuku)
Kent, WA/Kentwood HS/ University of Washington
Washington Lancers
Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS (Kitsap Renegades)
Castro Valley, CA/Castro Valley HS (Danville Oaks)
Ratoath, Ireland/Castlerock College
Castleknock College Senior Cup Team 2015-17
Yelm, WA/ Yelm HS (Budd Bay Barbarians)
HS All-American
Hull, England/Wyke College
Hull U19 Academy (UK)
Hillboro, OR/Liberty HS (Beaverton Barbarians)
Two-time Oregon state club champions
Pendleton, OR/Pendleton HS
Oregon Redhawks selection
San Francisco, CA/Clayton Valley HS (Danville Oaks)
HS All-American
Kent, WA/Kent Meridian HS (Northside Eagles)
2017 Washington Loggers selection
Tacoma, WA/Clover Park HS (Tacoma Rugby)
Camas, WA/Camas High School (Clark County Warriors)
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.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/jah_tafao/status/851819781967589378" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
"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 | PropOlympia, WA/Capital HS (Liberty Patriots)
High School All American
Senior USA Eagles Camp Invitee
Chase Capiti
5-10 | 210 | 8/FlankerLos Angeles, CA/Venice HS (Santa Monica)
Jackson Cooley
5-10 | 190 | Center/WingFife, WA/Fife HS (Rainier Highlanders)
2017 Washington Loggers selection
John Dupree
5-11 | 195 | HookerLincoln, CA/Del Oro HS (Granite Bay)
Sac Valley All-Stars Selection
On 2016 National HS Club champion team
Will Fox
5-10 | 230 | PropCarlsbad, CA/Carlsbad HS (Calrsbad Thunder)
SoCal Griffins Selection
2016 and 2017 Carlsbad MVP
George Fulton
5-10 |175 | FlyhalfClydevale, New Zealand/Monett HS/Missouri State (Transfer)
Springfield RFC
Kicker and punt returner on Missouri State football team
Carlos Gomez
5-9 | 185 | WingSan Ramon, CA/California HS (Danville Oaks)
HS All-American
Barton Hasz
6-0 | 225 | No. 8/FlankerKent, WA/Kentwood HS (Kent Crusaders)
Joseph-Thomas Kalill
6-2 | 215 | Lock/FlankerHau'ula, Hawaii/Kahuku HS (Kahuku)
Jeremy Lennartz Jr.
5-10 | 195 | 8/FlankerYakima, WA/West Valley HS (Yakima Griffins)
Kawika Macy
5-10 | 155 | Scrum HalfLaie, Hawaii/Kahuku HS (Kahuku)
Makani Mafua
5-11 | 235 | PropKent, WA/Kentwood HS/ University of Washington
Washington Lancers
Quinnten Notah
6-2 | 235 | PropPoulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS (Kitsap Renegades)
Tyler Nunnery
6-6 |250 | LockCastro Valley, CA/Castro Valley HS (Danville Oaks)
Michael O'Malley
5-8 | 180 | ScrumhalfRatoath, Ireland/Castlerock College
Castleknock College Senior Cup Team 2015-17
Ivan Pula
5-11 | 235 | PropYelm, WA/ Yelm HS (Budd Bay Barbarians)
HS All-American
Max Riseham
5-10 | 195 | CenterHull, England/Wyke College
Hull U19 Academy (UK)
Enzo Steiner
5-6 | 165 | ScrumhalfHillboro, OR/Liberty HS (Beaverton Barbarians)
Two-time Oregon state club champions
Jake Szumski
6-2 | 205 | Fullback/FlyhalfPendleton, OR/Pendleton HS
Oregon Redhawks selection
Elijah Tafao-Braganza
6-1 | 230 | 8-ManSan Francisco, CA/Clayton Valley HS (Danville Oaks)
HS All-American
Elias Taylor
5-10 | 180 | Hooker/FlankerKent, WA/Kent Meridian HS (Northside Eagles)
2017 Washington Loggers selection
Mark Thompson II
6-1 | 195 | FlankerTacoma, WA/Clover Park HS (Tacoma Rugby)
Alex Walker
6-4 | 245 | LockCamas, WA/Camas High School (Clark County Warriors)
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