We have a hometown athlete West Mecklenburg High School graduate Naya Tapper is headed to the Olympics! Naya, along with her U.S. Women’s Olympic Rugby Sevens Team, is headed to the quarterfinals in Tokyo and we are so proud.

The U.S.Rugby team competed in the Women’s pool round session on Wednesday, July 28th, and took the win. The team beat China 28-14 and Japan 17-7. The USA Women’s National Team XVs is the senior national team in the 15-a-side version of rugby. The Women’s team was formed in 1987 and also goes by the nicknamed the Eagles.

Naya also attended the University of North Carolina. Check out some of these awesome action shots of Naya playing on the field. You go Naya.

• Team USA Portraits For Tokyo 2020

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  WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 20: Rugby player Naya Tapper poses for a portrait during the Team USA Tokyo 2020 Olympics shoot on November 20, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

• 2019 Sydney HSBC Sevens

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  SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: Naya Tapper of the USA is tackled by Ellia Green of Australia during the 2019 Sydney HSBC Sevens at Spotless Stadium on February 01, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

• 2017 HSBC Sydney Sevens

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  SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 03: Naya Tapper of the USA makes a break during the womens pool match between Russia and USA in the 2017 HSBC Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium on February 3, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
• HSBC Paris Rugby Sevens 2018 – Day Two

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  PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 10: Naya Tapper of The United States Of America is tackled during the match between The United States Of America and Fiji at the HSBC Paris Sevens, stage of the Rugby Sevens World Series at Stade Jean Bouin on June 10, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images for HSBC)

• England v USA – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017

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  DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 17: Kay Wilson of England is tackled by Naya Tapper of USA during the Women's Rugby World Cup Pool B match between England and USA at Billings Park UCB on August 17, 2017 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

• 2017 HSBC Sydney Sevens

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  SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 03: Naya Tapper of the USA puts a fend on Heather Fisher of England during the pool match between England and USA in the 2017 HSBC Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium on February 3, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McC/Getty Images)
• 2017 HSBC Sydney Sevens

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  SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 03: Naya Tapper of the USA puts a fend on Sabina Hurtado of Spain during the womens pool match between Spain and USA in the 2017 HSBC Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium on February 3, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

• 2017 HSBC Sydney Sevens

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  SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 03: Naya Tapper of the USA puts a fend on Sabina Hurtado of Spain during the womens pool match between Spain and USA in the 2017 HSBC Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium on February 3, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

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