Chula Vista, California, June 28, 2019 – USA Rugby announced the 12 players selected to the 2019 U.S. Pan American Games Men’s Sevens team earlier in the week, with Life University alumni Harley Wheeler (2019) and Cody Melphy (2017) both being chosen for the squad. Wheeler will be making his national team debut, while Melphy is already a senior player and will serve as captain.
Both Wheeler and Melphy were two-time All-Americans at Life University. This past year, Wheeler received the RudyScholz award as the best collegiate player in the country, and Melphy is currently a member of the USA Sevens Residency Program.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Harley who has put in so much effort and performed consistently very well at every level he has played thus far,” Life University Men’s Rugby Head Coach Colton Cariaga stated. “Cody has cemented himself as an integral team member within the USA 7s program, and though we know he’s only scratched the surface of his goals, we are delighted to see him earn yet another international opportunity to compete and grow further.”
The games will take place in Lima, Peru from July 26 to August 11. The PanAm Games come after a remarkably successful season where the USA men qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, reached a No. 2 world ranking and won seven tournament medals.
The Competition in Lima will be used as a tool to ready a collection of up-and-coming players for the demands of senior international competition as the Olympic year approaches.
Founded in 1951, the Pan American Games are a multi-sport event hosted every four years in the year preceding the Olympic Games, featuring countries from North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean.
The 2019 PanAm Games will kick off on July 26 with the Opening Ceremony. Both women’s and men’s rugby sevens competition will be played from July 26-28. A final schedule and broadcast details will be confirmed closer to the Opening Ceremony date.
You can read more on the full rosters for the Pan American Games by clicking here.
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