Whitefish’s Heavirland gets called to the Tokyo Olympics

The last time the U.S. Olympic women’s rugby 7s team had its jersey ceremony, in 2016, Nicole Heavirland didn’t hear her name called.

This time she did.

That’s not all that made the late June ceremony special for the 26-year-old: It seemed like a good portion of her hometown of Whitefish was in Los Angeles to see it.

“The jersey ceremony is unique,” she said Friday, a few days before the U.S. team heads to the Tokyo Olympics. “I don’t think any other sport actually does it. It’s a tradition that the coach, or a captain, will hand out the jerseys. Coach will say a few nice things and then hand it out.

“This one in LA was really special because my family was there. That included my mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, both brothers and some really, really close friends.”

The assembled crowd got to watch a short highlight film of each of the 12 selections, which was another unique touch.

“I loved it,” Heavirland said. “It was special for sure.”

On Tuesday the team takes off for an 11-hour flight to Japan. A short training camp will commence ahead of the opening ceremonies in Tokyo July 23. The rugby competition takes place in Kitakyushu, some 12 driving hours from Tokyo.

Rugby 7s matches are physical and quick, lasting 14 minutes. The U.S. plays China and then Japan on July 29; powerful Australia — the Aussies won Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 — awaits on July 30. Before that day ends there will be the quarterfinals, involving the top two teams from each of three pools (U.S. is in Pool C).

The hunt for gold, silver and bronze concludes July 31.

“I mean, every game is going to be like a gold medal match,” Heavirland said. “We do have Japan and China that aren’t ranked high, but are obviously going to bring their best lineup. Australia, which is a really good club, is there too. I’m super excited to play them in pool play.”

In late 2015 Heavirland left West Point — she’d gone there to play basketball, then slid over to rugby — for the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

The key word is elite. She was an alternate on the team that went to Rio.

“I just watched,” she said. “I didn’t know what it felt like. Now I know what it feels like to get a 12. And it’s pretty special. It’s more pressure — as a reserve you have nothing to lose. As a 12 you know you have a job to do and it’s not going to be easy.”

She’ll play scrum-half for a team that has risen to among the top four programs in the world. It’s rare air, and Heavirland isn’t pinching herself. This is the byproduct of talent and 12-hour training days.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “I think I love being in this pressure environment. It’s been a wild ride. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, you know? My teammates, my closest friends, shooting for gold.

“There’s a lot of pressure involved, but we’ve trained very hard going up to it, so we’re also super excited.”