TeamUSATracker: February 3, 2020
Mikaela Shiffrin, Hannah Roberts, @USARugby Sevens Preview, @USASoccer
In the Starting Blocks….
Thoughts and Prayers with Mikaela Shriffin as she lost her father Jeff Shriffin suddenly yesterday
Full Details from Ski Racing.com
https://www.skiracing.com/stories/jeff-shiffrin-father-of-world-cup-racer-dies
Jeff Shiffrin, father of World Cup athlete Mikaela Shiffrin. Shiffrin died following an accident at his home in Edwards, Colo., on Sunday, Feb. 2. Shiffrin was transported to a Denver-area hospital and was surrounded by family during his final hours, including son Taylor, daughter Mikaela and wife Eileen, who returned home from Europe. A former Dartmouth racer, Shiffrin will be remembered as a loving family man, renowned anesthesiologist, and valued member of the Vail Valley community. He was 65.
Shiffrin is survived by Eileen, Mikaela, and Taylor. Service arrangements are forthcoming. Mikaela Shiffrin is expected to remain in Colorado, and her return to the alpine World Cup tour is indefinite at this time
Mikaela’s Tweet today
🥇 WELCOME TO THE OLYMPICS.. HANNAH ROBERTS
Hannah Roberts Qualifies for Tokyo 2020 in BMX Freestyle
Roberts won Gold at 2019 PanAm Games and has won 3 World Cups in 2019 and the World Championships
The US have 2 other freestylers in the Top 8 but only the Top 2 will advance
4) Paris Bennegas
8) Chelsea Wolfe
11) Angie Marino
Full Rankings
https://www.uci.org/bmx-freestyle/rankings
Sound smart about BMX Freestyle
BMX Freestyle is making its Olympic Debut at Tokyo 2020 Freestyle
Bikes: Same bikes as BMX Racing
Length of Run: 60 seconds (scored on the tricks and difficulty of run)
Competition Venue: Park Venue - that includes spines, wall, box jumps and other obstacles.
More on Hannah and BMX Frestyle
🥈WHAT TO WATCH TONIGHT… USA WOMEN’S SOCCER COUNTDOWN TO TOKYO QUALIFICATION
The Defending World Cup Champs US Women Soccer need to qualify for the Olympics (this is really so dumb they need qualify like this) but it is the main thing to watch Team USA related today
USA Women’s Soccer will play Costa Rica today 830 PMET - FS1. They only need to reach the finals of Concacaf Qualification to make the Olympics and if they beat Costa Rica today they will play the loser of Mexico/Canada. Semifinals are set it will be the US, Costa Rica, Mexico, & Canada.
Full Roster for Viewing Tonight
GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 3/0), 18-Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 25/0), 1-Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 58/0)
DEFENDERS (6): 7-Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage; 55/0), 19-Crystal Dunn (North Carolina Courage; 98/24), 11-Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride; 105/1), 5-Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 126/2), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 173/0), 2-Emily Sonnett (Orlando Pride; 42/0)
MIDFIELDERS (5): 8-Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 96/19), 9-Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 80/16), 16-Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 40/11), 3-Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage; 61/14), 6-Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 16/0)
FORWARDS (6): 17-Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 163/33), 10-Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 289/122), 14-Jessica McDonald (North Carolina Courage; 15/3), 20-Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 132/53), 15-Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC; 162/50), 13-Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage; 23/8)
Sound Smart About the Roster: The two players on the roster who were not a part of the 2019 Women’s World Cup Team are forward Lynn Williams, and midfielder Andi Sullivan.
🥉MEDAL ANALYSIS… WHAT I AM OBSESSED WITH TODAY
@USARUGBY USA MENS SEVENS RUBGY
USA Mens Sevens Rugby finishes with a bronze at Sydney 7s, their highest finish this year on the HSBC Rugby Tour this season.
Last year USA Mens Sevens Rugby took second on the HSBC Tour flirting with a 1st place finish all the way to the final stop in Paris. They made all 10 Semifinals in 2018-2019 as they qualified for the Olympics.
They played Sydney 7s without Madison Hughes and Folau Niua (Niua has missed all of 2019-2020 HSBC Rugby Sevens as he is recovering from a leg injury) Backups Cody Melphy & Naima Fula’au played great filling in plus Carlin Isles & Perry Baker looked unstoppable against Australia to lead USA Rugby to 3-0 in their Pool and their first SF performance of 2020. Ben Pinkelman who filled in for captain with Madison Hughes out was named to HSBC Dream Team as he did it all for Team USA on the offensive and the defensive end especially vs England.
Sound smart about Rugby 7s today: And tell people that both Carlin Isles and Perry Baker will likely go over 200 all time tries (they are tied at 199) for USA Rugby at the LA Sevens Rugby Series February 29.
As we head to 172 Days left to Tokyo some @TeamUSA Tracker analysis here as we focus thsi week on on the USA Men’s Rugby who could be medalists at Tokyo.
Looking at who has played the most for USA Rugby over the last 3 years this might be the roster for Tokyo 2020 but as Mike Friday has developed depth he likely has 20 to 24 USA Players who could easily represent Team USA in the Olympics
1 Carlin Isles Wing
2 Ben Pinkelman Prop/Hooker
3 Danny Barrett Prop
4 Matai Leuta Prop
5 Brett Thompson Prop/Hooker (Thompson has been out for last 5 tournament due to tournament so we need an injury update on him)
6 Kevon Williams Halfback/Wing
7 Folau Niua Halfback (Niua also has been out for all of 2019-2020 with injury)
8 Maka Unufe Center (Unufe did hurt his hand at the Sydney 7s and missed last year with a failed drug test)
9 Stephen Tomasin Hooker
10 Madison Hughes Scrum Half
11 Perry Baker Wing
12 Martin Iosefo Center
Some others meriting consideration
The Wildcards (3 veterans coming back to 7s)
Nate Ebner (Prop/Hooker) who played in 2016 Olympics - he is an NFL free agent which Ebner was in the same scenario in 2016 so he came back before Singapore and Hong Kong after signing an extension. I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back for LA Sevens this time but I believe he wants to get contract for next year done first.
Maloon Al-JIboori (Prop/Hooker) played in Rugby XV World Cup for Team USA and had played for Team USA Rugby two seasons again 2017-2018 Series. Al-Jiboori returned back to 7s by playing for USA Falcons in Fiji this January so he could be on an HSBC Roster soon
Mikey Teo (Fly Half/Wing) also played in Rugby XV World Cup for Team USA and also played in Fiji for Team USA Falcons.
Teo, Al-Jiboori, and Ebner are all very experienced Rugby players who could make their way on to a roster for some of the next six HSBC stops
The Young Guns of Rugby (7 players who could be core players for Paris 2024 but could fit in a role into a 12th or 13th spot for Tokyo 2020)
Marcus Tupuola - Wing/Center
Marcus Tupuola has position flexibility and has been playing in the series since last year. He brings speed and defense off the bench
Ben Brosselle - Hooker/Prop
Broselle is another young US Rugby player who brings position flexibility off the bench. He is also growing into his body and likely the best tackler out of the next generation of Rugby stars. He did leave Hamilton 7s with a head injury so we await an update on that.
Naima Fuala’au- Halfback
Fuala’au is getting better each tournament filling in for Niua. His path to the Olympics would be if Niua could not recover in time. I am not expecting that to happen but Fuala’au played great at Sydney7s
Cody Melphy- Halfback
Melphy got the call with Hughes out of Sydney 7s and he played great. Melphy strength is his ability on offense to be in the right place for offloads and know angles very well.
Joe Schroeder- Prop
Schroeder is one of the main backup props - Team USA Rugby has had over the last few years. He has really had some amazing runs for USA Falcons and if an injury hits any of the props he should be the first one called up before Anthony Wellmers, Harley Wheeler, Pat Blair, Faitala Talapusi who have also gotten some time with Team USA Rugby
Maceo Brown- Center
Maceo Brown filled in for 2018-2019 year with Maka Unufe suspended. Brown has a lot of HSBC experience but C is a position that USA Rugby keeps on developing depth but Iosefo and Unuke are very good twosome
Travion Clark- Wing
Clark has yet to be called up to HSBC Sevens but had a great run at PanAm Games last year. A former track guy he is so fast on the wings but for the HSBC Squad has been behind Baker, Isles, & Tupuola. Would like to see him called up more USA Rugby but he is still learning the game
Looking ahead
Winter Sports World Championships around the corner
18 Days Until Bobsled/Skeleton World Championships (We focus on this one today since USA Bobsled team skipping Latvia World Cup to focus on World Championships)
137 Days Until 2020 USA Track & Field Trials
139 Days Until 2020 USA Swimming Trials
172 Days Until Tokyo Opening Ceremonies
Thoughts and Feedbacks email me back at 247teamusa@gmail.com