A Dream Realized

At just 19 years old,Sariah Ibarra is poised to make her Rugby World Cup debut for the USA ⁤Women’s team. the young athlete, who has already made a name for herself in the USA sevens program, spoke candidly about her excitement and aspirations ahead of Friday’s ⁣opening match against England. “It’s really special,” Ibarra shared. “Getting to represent my country⁤ just a year out of high school is really special. Getting to represent my family on the world stage in front of 40,000 people will be amazing.”

Beyond the⁤ Game: A Glimpse into Ibarra’s World

Ibarra’s enthusiasm extends beyond ⁣the pitch. She’s eager to embrace the entire World Cup ⁣experience, stating, “I’m most ‍looking forward to getting my ⁣first World Cup under my belt and just taking it all in – learning from mistakes, ⁣learning from the crowd and the habitat.” But even a rising rugby star has her weaknesses.When asked about skills outside of rugby, Ibarra confessed with a laugh, “Cooking. I’m not a chef, so the only thing I know how to cook ‍is some milk and some cereal.”

Quickfire Questions ‍Reveal a Vibrant Personality

• Irrational Fear: Spiders. “I⁣ really don’t like spiders.I hate spiders. No good.”
• Favorite Rugby Fans: New Zealand. “Vrey hearty fans, and I used to live ⁣over there ‍so I’ve experienced it myself.”
• Hype Song: “Nokia” by Drake.
• Unlimited Supply: “Money.Gets me everywhere.”
• Dream Language: Spanish. “I think a lot of people speak Spanish so I would want to be bilingual in Spanish and⁣ English.”
• Dream Vacation: The Maldives or Italy. “I really want to go to the Maldives for the ⁢beach and the ⁤sun. I’d prefer a beachy holiday or maybe Italy ⁣for that good food.”
• Hidden Talent: Lego Building. “I really like to ⁢build Lego. I’m a big Lego girl,so building my collection when I’m not on the⁤ field. I built this Disney set; it’s the Fantasmic!, so it’s got Mickey mouse and a bunch of little sets of other Disney movies.”
• Fashion Comeback: Flarey ‍Tutus. “I ⁣would choose big, ⁤flarey tutus, as why not?”
• Personal Mascot: Mickey Mouse. “Because I love Disney.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Ibarra’s journey is notably inspiring given her age. She emphasizes the importance of portrayal, explaining, “I fell in love with this sport because it’s for everybody and getting to play on‍ the stage at a young age is an example to younger girls around⁤ me that it’s possible at any time in your⁢ life. I’m⁢ 19 and I’m here and⁢ I’m doing it, and I have two younger sisters so⁤ I wanted to be that ⁤example to them that your dream can take you anywhere, and it’s gotten me here to the Rugby World ⁣Cup 2025.”