March 16, 2026 Newsletter

Club Schedule/News 

With winter youngers (U8-U14) season over (thank you coaches, managers, and staff!) and HS season over, we’ve moved into the Spring Thunder season for boys U16 & U18 and girls U15 & U18. First weekend summaries below, this coming Saturday (March 21) we’ll be hosting for the boys (Mustangs) and girls (Encinitas Dragons, Poway Spartans, Mustangs, and Try Time). Come out and support all day with the girls starting at 8:00 am playing through 11:00…boys then from 11:30 - 4:00 (18 Premier, U18 Gold, and U16). All games at Jim Wood Park (4701 Mesa Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056). Go Thunder!!!

U18 Boys

Thunder U18 boys started their spring season away in Costa Mesa. This season our depth and numbers provide 2 U18 teams, one in the top Premier division, and a second in the Gold division. Both divisions will be extremely cooperative this year. The Premier side faced off against Back Bay in their first league game. In the opening minutes Back Bay struck first, capitalizing on an errant pass and scooping and scoring. From there, Thunder would take over, mixing power and finesse and would find the try zone a total of 11 times with outside center Ryan Scully accounting for 5 of those tries. His monster performance was not alone though, excellent defense from the whole team and the forwards hard crashing helped open up lanes for the backs to slice through. Final score for the U18 Premier was 63-14.

U18 Gold had a tough challenge against Santa Monica, with a few players missing they had their work cut out for them. Santa Monica opened up the scoring but Thunder would fire back with a few of their own, one of which came from some powerful running by Nate Leovao. Thunder’s miscues on defense would allow Santa Monica to find the try zone multiple times but Chente Leatherman would steal a restart and carve his way through to 5 points. This would be the last though and Thunder Gold would fall to Santa Monica 40-19.

 U18 Girls 

This week, the Thunder GU18 squad didn’t make their official season entrance on the field, but the spirit of the program was still on full display. Two of our GU15 players stepped up to support their Mustangs sisters, playing up to help provide numbers and keep the team competing. Susie answered the call with enthusiasm. This is her first year playing rugby, having started in U14 where she helped capture a championship. Now she’s rising to the challenge of learning the fast-paced 7’s game, bringing her perseverance and joyful spirit to the team every time she steps on the field. She’s already shown great potential, and there’s no doubt she’ll continue to grow as a player. Kadence also came out to support, showing the same willingness and team-first attitude that defines our program. Her readiness to help the girls’ side when needed made a big difference and reflects the strong culture of support within the Mustangs family. While the GU18 squad didn’t officially debut this week, moments like these show the depth and unity of the program. We’re looking forward to the first appearance of our spring GU18 team—because when they take the field, they always come ready to play.

U16 Boys 

Boys U16 Thunder opened the season with a strong 29–17 victory over Back Bay in Costa Mesa, California, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting year. It was a physical and competitive match from the opening whistle, with both sides trading momentum throughout the game. Thunder showed great composure and teamwork, ultimately pulling ahead with contributions across the roster. Thunder saw four different players cross the try line, highlighting the team’s balanced attack. Maxx Maine led the way with two tries, while Alex Andino, Jaysun Afasene (aka “Mr. Tryguy”), and Richard Felix each added one of their own. Felix’s try marked a special milestone as his first ever try for Thunder. The kicking duties were shared, with Jaden Patolo and Klahsyk Taele each adding a conversion to help extend Thunder’s lead. Back Bay fought hard and mounted a late surge, closing the gap and bringing their total to 17 points to keep the pressure on Thunder late in the match. However, Thunder’s defense held strong when it mattered most. The final moment of the match belonged to Alex Andino, who made a game-clinching defensive steal to shut down Back Bay’s last opportunity and seal the victory for Thunder. With a 29–17 win in their first match of the season, U16 boys showed toughness, teamwork, and resilience—an impressive start to the campaign.

U15 Girls 

This week our Thunder GU15 girls took the field in strong numbers and delivered an impressive performance. A big thank you goes to our amazing captains, Rhya and Merseus. Many people think being a captain is just about wearing the title, but it comes with real responsibility. It means rising to the occasion, looking beyond yourself, and helping guide your team—especially those who may still be learning the game. Leadership also requires patience and clear communication, and both girls demonstrated those qualities throughout the match. Their leadership helped guide the team to a strong 27–5 victory over Temecula Mountain Lions. What makes this win even more impressive is that more than three-quarters of our roster is made up of players who are 12 years old or younger, or athletes who have never played sevens before. We also had over five waivers in place just so some of our girls could take the field—yet they came out determined and earned the win together.

The match also brought exciting milestones, with two players scoring their very first tries. Alana used her incredible speed to break through and get on the board. When she locks in and focuses, her aggression and pace make things happen quickly for the team. It was great to see her effort pay off. Our youngest player, Florentina—only 10 years old—also powered her way through to score her first try. While she’s still learning the ins and outs of sevens, her determination, willingness to show up for her team, and perseverance were on full display. Celebrating her first-ever try with the Thunder girls team was a special moment for everyone.

Lastly, we have to give a big shoutout to Korra. In just about 15 minutes she stepped in and began learning lineouts, showing incredible adaptability. Though she may be small in size, she plays with huge intensity. Korra is fearless on the field and will go toe-to-toe with anyone, always giving 150% to create opportunities for her team. She truly lives up to the Garrison legacy, and we’re excited to see what she brings to the season ahead.