BARBOS NAME TWO STRONG TEAMS MIXED WITH YOUTH AND WISDOM
24 men will have the honor of donning the Green & White on Saturday as the Denver Barbos 7’s program takes on a challenging field of competitors at Cook Park.
Cambell “Soup” Johnstone returns to the fold for a 5th straight summer …
The core of the 2022, 2023, 2024 squad remain in tact through veterans Alex Wormer, Mickey Bateman, David Hightower, Campbell Johnstone & Jack Miller. Playmakers Cody Melphy and Iosefo Salavasia brings pizazz to a group of backs that can move in space. In the forward pack, the Barbos look to fill the shoes of recently retired 7’s great Eric Sykes. Sykes has been a defensive juggernaut over the last decade, and the team will need to fill his voice and tackling tenacity. Alex Wormer and Jack Miller’s strength at the breakdown will be critical to gaining and maintaining possession.
Marco LaPierre (son of Barbo great J.R. LaPierre) and Luke Neely make up the young collegiate contingent on the A side. Andrew Wulf and Cian Barry make their Barbo debut and will look to make an impact early and often. Full squad below:
Denver Barbarians 7’s A:
Mickey Bateman
Alex Wormer
David Hightower
Jack Miller
Nick Johnson
Campbell Johnstone
Cody Melphy
Marco LaPierre
Luke Neely
Iosefo Salavasio
Andrew Wulf*
Cian Barry*
*Denotes a Barbo Debut
Ian Wormer looks to lead the Barbos 2nd side into the knockout rounds …
For the Barbo B Side, we see the continued theme of experience mixed with young talent. The side leans heavily collegiate, with 10 of the 12 players aged 21 years or less. Ian Wormer will return for his 4th Barbo 7’s summer, while speedster Zach Thies looks to get loose on the edge in his 3rd summer in the Green & White. Anthony Rice, Arnoud Agasse, Logan Lair and Zach O’Rielly return after debuting in summer of 2024.
First year Barbos Cole Williams, Zach Maughan and Brad Kissinger will make their Barbo 7’s debut, while Rashon Jennings and Gavin Oleson look to improve off their debuts down in Austin Texas earlier this month. Veteran Sean Kilfoyle will look to keep the ball moving in the hot summer heat. Full squad below:
Denver Barbarians 7’s B:
Ian Wormer
Anthony Rice
Cole Williams*
Zach Maughan*
Arnaud Agasse
Sean Kilfoyle
Logan Lair
Gavin Oleson
Rashon Jennings
Zach Thies
Zach O’Rielly
Brad Kissinger*
*Denotes a Barbo Debut
Full schedule of pool play can be found in Wednesday’s preview article.
See you all at Cook Park!
As Always, Bleed Green