Summer 2021 Pathway program inductees
In early August, Silverbacks held its first two identification camps in Cedar Rapids, IA and Hanover Park, IL. These camps served as an entry point to the Silverbacks Pathway Program - a year-round high-performance training environment intended to supplement club and scholastic programs. The ultimate goals is for athletes to realize a training environment comparable to what athletes in Tier I Rugby Nations receive.
Selection criteria was based heavily on mental skills: resilience, active listening, process orientation, etc. In the 2021 Summer Camps, Silverbacks identified and welcomed 16 athletes into its Pathways Program for the Fall:
Ronan Bailey | U14 | Fly Half | Effingham Blackbirds
Nicholas Berger | U17 | Lock | Chicago Lions
Martial Blanc | U15 | Scrum Half | Fond du Lac Stoutmen
Carson Bollinger | U19 | Scrum Half | Fox Valley Predators
Jesse Davies | U13 | Scrum Half | Effingham Blackbirds
Roscoe Davies | U15 | Wing | Effingham Blackbirds
Dominic DiLuciano | U14 | Prop | Illinois Valley Coal Miners
Evan Downey | U13 | Fly Half | Illinois Valley Coal Miners
Robert Downey | U17 | Scrum Half | Illinois Valley Coal Miners
Rachel Hammelman | U17 | Centre | Chiefs RFC
Konrad Kulat | U18 | Fly Half | West Suburban Bulls
Rachel Lechtenberg | U18 | Flanker | Chiefs RFC
Mary Miller | U18 | Lock | Hononegah
Carson Pultz | U15 | Wing | Fond du Lac Stoutmen
David Randall | U17 | Scrum Half | University of Northern Iowa
Fatman Thorndyke | U15 | Fly Half | Arlington Stallions