Anthem RC Acquires Six Players in 2024 MLR Draft

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 29, 2024) – Anthem Rugby Carolina selected six players in the 2024 Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft on Wednesday evening. Anthem RC had the first two overall picks in addition to the fifth, 13th, 24th, and 25th picks.

This was the first year Anthem RC participated in the collegiate draft since the club joined the league after the 2023 draft concluded.

Anthem RC is accepting 2025 season ticket deposits for $25. Deposits placed by November 15 will receive priority seat selection before tickets go on sale to the general public. Visit anthemrc.com/tickets/ for more information.

DRAFT SELECTIONS:

Round 1, Pick 1: Erich Storti, Center, Saint Mary’s College of California

Round 1, Pick 2: Neil Trainor, Hooker, Queen’s University (Canada)

Round 1, Pick 5: Jeron Pantor, Fullback, Life University

Round 2, Pick 13: EJ Freeman, Center, University of Arizona

Round 2, Pick 24: Le’Donn Mathis, Lock/Flanker, Lindenwood University

Round 2, Pick 25: Ashawnty Staples, Wing, Notre Dame College (OH)

PLAYER BIOS:

Erich Storti

Position: Center

University: Saint Mary’s College of California

Hometown: Concord, California

Height: 6’0

Weight: 200 lbs

Storti helped Saint Mary’s win the 2024 D1A National Championship, scoring a try in the championship game. The center earned First-Team All-American honors for the 2023-24 season. Storti was one of only two collegiate players named to Scott Lawrence’s USA Eagles Extended Players Squad in May 2024.

Neil Trainor

Position: Hooker

University: Queen’s University (Canada)

Hometown: Columbia, Maryland

Height: 5’10

Weight: 235 lbs

Trainor played for Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where he won a pair of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) silver medals. He also won the 2023 Coast to Coast Cup with the Toronto Arrows Senior Academy. Originally from Maryland, Trainor moved to Canada where he won the 2019 U18 Eastern Canadian Rugby Championship and finished as runner-up in the 2018 U18 Eastern Canadian Rugby Championship.

Jeron Pantor

Position: Fullback

University: Life University

Hometown: Gasparillo, Trinidad & Tobago

Height: 5’10

Weight: 185 lbs

While playing at Life University, Pantor won the 2022 and 2023 D1A USA Collegiate Rugby Sevens National Championship. Pantor also competed with the USA U19 squad for multiple competitions, earning MVP honors at the 2016 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Tournament, 2017 RAN Tournament, and 2017 Rugby Club Sevens Nationals. Pantor placed third in the 2018 Rugby Club Sevens Nationals with Mystic River.

EJ Freeman

Position: Center

University: University of Arizona

Hometown: Marietta, Georgia

Height: 5’11

Weight: 216 lbs

Freeman, a two-time Rudy Scholz Award nominee and two-time All-American, was a prominent player for the University of Arizona. Growing up in Germany, Freeman played for the U16 and U18 German National Teams before moving back to the United States. Freeman received call-ups to the USA National Teams at the U18 and U20 levels for rugby 15s and the U23 team for rugby sevens.

Le’Donn Mathis

Position: Lock/Flanker

University: Lindenwood University

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Height: 6’4

Weight: 256 lbs

Mathis helped Lindenwood to a 52-8 combined record during his two seasons with the Lions which culminated in being named the 2024 Midwest Rugby Conference (MRC) Champions. Before transferring to Lindenwood, Mathis played two years at Iowa Central Community College.

Ashawnty Staples

Position: Wing

University: Notre Dame College (OH)

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Height: 5’10

Weight: 170 lbs

A 2023 Division I National Collegiate Rugby Champion with Notre Dame College, Staples played for the Falcons from 2019 to 2023. He was named to the D1 Hot 100 list by Goff Report at the conclusion of his final season. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Staples was named 2019 Mr. Rugby Ohio due to his success playing with the Toledo Junior Celtics.