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