The Lady Panthers continued their winning ways in Tampa, taking two of the three top tiers at Tropical 7s. For the second year in a row, the U14 Lady Panthers took the U14 Title and this year they were joined by their U16 counterparts who took the U16 Elite title. The U14s defeated a very strong Lady Hawkeye squad in the Semis and then won a revenge match vs. always tough Upright Rugby (Canada) in the Finals. Several of the U16 Elite ladies have won three events on the spin having taken SLC in 2023 sandwiched between their two Tropical victories. The U14 Championship Lady Panther team was led by Captain Anna Eversole whose calm aplomb and high Rugby IQ aided the team on several occasions with her quick thinking and instinctive play. In addition to Anna, Ilikea Kalama and Kesa Lomu were standouts for their defensive power, breakaway ability in the attack, and fitness level allowing them to play major minutes throughout the weekend.With the U16 Elite, Captain Tewairua Kalama kept the team on their toes and loaded to go with her high energy and infectious smile. Ariane Moea’i and Lilly DeSoto were two among numerous standouts with this group who should be noted for their scoring acumen and defensive consistency. The other Lady Panther sides (four more teams in total) had mild to moderate success but grew with every match. To a player, they played without reserve and a No Quit attitude. They cannot wait to get back together and show their growth the next time out!