the tryouts have all finished, the impressions are all but made, the hype has been let to air out.
now theres really nothing left but the choosing. so keep your sets tuned here sportsfans, cause when the teams are announced PlayUltimate will be the first on the scene with all the information.
for now though, those who went to tryouts - any thoughts? how was the level of comeptition? did you feel like there were obvious differences between different programs the players were coming from? how do we think the USA is going to stack up against the rest of the world? thoughts on the prospect of playing on behalf of your entire country?
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Junior Worlds team - stay tuned to PlayUltimate...
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Check out the PHUL message board, in the topic Junior World Applicants. The last five or so messages pertain to this topic.
Saturday in Atlanta:
We started out at 8:45 check-ins. The entire group of 36-ish women and 40 men combined for the first and only time all weekend for roll-call and introductions to the head coaches (Michael Baccarini and Vida Towne) by Kyle Weisbrod. Then we split into our respective groups, with the men going to one side of Python Park and the women heading off to another. Each group had different schedules and different objectives, so I'll speak only of the men's tryouts.
To break the ice, the tryouts circled up and called out our names. Naturally, we expected everyone to forget them instantly and face hours of reintroducing ourselfs to both the coaches and the other tryouts. However, Mike instantly gained the respect of every tryout that didn't know him by doing one of the most impressive feats of mental capacity I've ever seen: he repeated the names of all forty kids in the circle in reverse order, with one error. He switched the names of the first two kids; not the first two kids in order, but the first two who said their names.
Afterwards, Michael explained the schedule for the day to the tryouts, mentioned that we should be proud to be here, and reminded us that no matter what, the faces of the people circled around us are the people we will be playing with or against at the highest level of competition in college, club and masters. He told us what he and the assistant coaches were looking for, stressing team unity and supporting each other through the upcoming ordeal.
The plan for Saturday was apparently to judge the desire of every tryout to compete while undergoing physical exhaustion, as well as the ability to perform in such extremes. That being said, Saturday was grueling. After active stretching and warmups, we did a command drill with one partner which involved throwing, sprinting, or doing pushups and crunches according to what the coaches called out. Then we were split up into four groups, based on Red Hot Chile Peppers (4 groups of 10), and set to task. First, we did one simple drill, a hard in-cut to catch a pass and then a quick dish into the next cutter. Then moved on to the second, most tiring, stage consisting of interviews, agility tests, athleticism tests, pulling. Barring the self-explanatory, agility involved a timed ten yard shuttle, a measured Double Leap Bound (3 jumps with feet together), and an unmeasured step-ladder; athleticism was two sets of 30 yard sprints and one 320 shuttle. The 320 shuttle is the thing that killed us all: a full field sprint (120 yards) and four sets of 25 yard shuttles. The fastest time was around 48 or 49 seconds, the average 53. We had lunch afterwards and then scrimmaged, or maybe we did a little scrimmaging before lunch... it all gets a little hazy after a 320 shuttle. I'm pretty sure we had a forty-five minute break for lunch because my legs could not have handled a scrimmage immediately after that shuttle.
Anyway, it was 70 degrees and the sun was shining on a beautiful Atlanta day around 1 o'clock and everyone was psyched to be there. We began scrimmaging and the level of play was incredible. Basically, everyone brought it back to the fundamentals (run, catch, throw, run), and then played with the intensity and heart deserving of Junior Worlds. Everyone ran one hundred percent, if you didn't, you got shut down. Sometimes you got D'd running at one hundred percent because the defender was running at one hundred and ten percent and then laid out past you, but as Ryan said, that was rare. It was rare because once the offensive player gained one step off the fake the throwers led the sprinting players well. The Reds, Hots, Chiles, and Peppers had a little round robin scrimmage, and before we knew it, it was 4 o'clock and we headed off the Avondale High School to run the mile.
Now, we were a bit tired after an eight hour day of ultimate and testing, and the mile did indeed set apart those who trained; however, that's not the point. The point was every person not running the mile (we ran in 4 groups of 10) cheered on those poor souls at every lap like brothers-in-arms. We had gone through a tough day together, and everyone wanted to run their hardest past whatever levels of exhaustion during the long third and fourth laps. And on the last stretch, you saw your teammates cheering and you put in everything, knowing that this was the end... of the first day. But not quite, first we had to go back to the fields and cool down. Mike told us to stretch in silence, so we spent twenty minutes studying ourselves and what we learend about each other, or just staring at ground in an exhausted daze.
We circled up, listened to Baccarini speak, said our goodbyes and left.
was it just a 1 day try out? or even two days, all finaled by the mile?
Sunday in Atlanta:
We began the day at 9, greeting our new friends and warming up together. The weather was a refreshing low 60 degrees, with rain and a little bit of wind. It was a pleasant transition from the previous day; the cool spring air kept the temperature well regulated (for the tryouts). Baccarini introduced Monarch to the players, and we played one full game with forty people. Monarch is a game of tag with a disc, preferably soft. One person begins as "It" and tags a second player. The first person is able to run to tag the second player, but after there two "Its" are tagged, they must work the disc and set a pivot foot. The game ends when everyone has been tagged. It was fun, and everyone enjoyed the game enough to ignore their exhaustion. Most people were tired, but maintained physical stamina throughout the day. Some injured people played on, due in part to their desire to compete and the excellent Paideia trainers; one player refrained from playing the second day, due to injury. He is going to send in a video to the coaches.
After Monarch, we circled up, discussed what Sunday's schedule looked like, and broke into groups of three. We ran a three person handler, with emphasis on breaking the mark and straight up marking.
After the drill, we again split into groups of four by Fee(sp?) Fi Fo Fum(3 groups of 10 and one of 9), and drilled cuts for breakmark for thirty minutes. Then we scrimmaged each other.
After finishing our little round robin, we again split into four groups. This time by Einie Meanie Minie Moe. We scrimmaged a few games, with emphasis on zone defense and offense (because of the slight wind), then broke for lunch. Then we drilled the Triangle of Death in our groups of ten. Fun Times. Afterwards, we scrimmaged once again. Then we broke into straight run down and sky drills for a half hour.
Sunday was shorter by two hours, and for some reason most of it is a blur. However, the finale was unforgettable. We ran a slow jog around the fields to cool down, ending in the middle of the soccer field. The leader of the jog split the runners into two groups, following the lined circle in the soccer fields in opposite directions. When we crossed, we slapped hands and congratulated each other on making it through two wonderful days of Ultimate. While we were stretching out, Baccarini and the coaches spoke to us for a while, and then handed paper and pencils to all of the tryouts. He asked us to write down the names of three lines for defense, offense, and a universe point. Many of us spent twenty minutes speculating every player's prospects and listing our top choices. It was not one solely focused on skill; we had to consider personality, chemistry, experience, and friendship.
After turning in our cards, we circled up for one final time and began the first and only chant all forty kids will say together. We poured our hearts out during that cheer. At the end, every tryout understood the meainng of a team greater than the individual sum. It was perfect.
Overall, Sunday seemed more relaxed; one of the girls believes this was true as well. Mostly, Sunday was designed for building team chemistry and showing off individual and team skills, as well as providing coaches prime opportunities to examine players and discuss talents amongst themselves. If you were looking for my expose of the best individuals at that tryout, seek elsewhere. To name the best players, the most likely to get on the team, would be contrary to the premise of that weekend: team. Junior Worlds will not be won by an outstanding player, though there will be outstanding players present. Junior Worlds will be won by the U.S.A. Team. Period.
A Tryout,
U.S.A.
p.s. Supposedly, the girls have recieved their acceptance e-mails, and information will be posted on the UPA Wednesday.
fyi - for those reading this, and all blog readers.
play ultimate will announce the teams seconds after the upa puts them on the website. i assure you of it - so keep it here for all the latest developments.
So I know two women that received confirmation emails, and they're on the team... but it's definitely Wednesday, and I haven't seen any mention on the UPA website... but i'm anxiously awaiting...
Chris Brenenborg PA
Ben Feldman MN
Christian Foster MA
Eli Friedman OR
Andrew Hollingsworth MA
Ollie Honderd GA
Casey Ikeda WA
Sam Kanner MA
Alex Kapinos MA
Chris Kosednar AK
Taylor Lahey CA
Grant Lindsley GA
Adam Miller WA
Jeremy Norden WA
Stephen Panasci NJ
Darden Pitts MA
George Stubbs GA
Matty Sung CA
Eli Friedman OR - former South Eugene HS player (currently at Colorado)
Casey Ikeda WA - (NORTHWEST)
Chris Brenenborg PA
Ben Feldman MN
Christian Foster MA (AMHERST)
Eli Friedman OR (SOUTH EUGENE/U of COLORRADO)
Andrew Hollingsworth MA (AMHERST)
Ollie Honderd GA
Casey Ikeda WA (NORTHWEST BOYS)
Sam Kanner MA (AMHERST)
Alex Kapinos MA (LONGMEADOW)
Chris Kosednar AK (ALASKA SUMMER LEAGUE/CARLETON)
Taylor Lahey CA (CASTRO VALLEY)
Grant Lindsley GA (PAIDEIA)
Adam Miller WA
Jeremy Norden WA (NORTHWEST)
Stephen Panasci NJ (COLUMBIA)
Darden Pitts MA (AMHERST)
George Stubbs GA (PAIDEIA)
Matty Sung CA (CASTRO VALLEY)
Ben Feldman - Hopkins HS MN
Alternates:
Nate Castine WA
John Hirschberger NY
Sam Kittross-Schnell WA
Michael Rubin NJ
Noah Saul PA
Ryan Schwartz NY
Robin Stewart-DiMartino MA
Paul Weeks NC
Does anyone know who is college, and who is HS (also what grade they are if in HS) That information would be appreciated...also does anyone know how long these guys have been playing for?
Chris Brenenborg PA
Ben Feldman MN (HOPKINS)
Christian Foster MA (AMHERST)
Eli Friedman OR (SOUTH EUGENE/U of COLORRADO)
Andrew Hollingsworth MA (AMHERST)
Ollie Honderd GA (PAIDEIA)
Casey Ikeda WA (NORTHWEST BOYS)
Sam Kanner MA (AMHERST)
Alex Kapinos MA (LONGMEADOW)
Chris Kosednar AK (ALASKA SUMMER LEAGUE/CARLETON)
Taylor Lahey CA (CASTRO VALLEY)
Grant Lindsley GA (PAIDEIA)
Adam Miller WA (NORTHWEST)
Jeremy Norden WA (NORTHWEST)
Stephen Panasci NJ (COLUMBIA)
Darden Pitts MA (AMHERST)
George Stubbs GA (PAIDEIA)
Matty Sung CA (CASTRO VALLEY)
Alternates:
Nate Castine WA (Former Nathan Hale/MoHo)
John Hirschberger NY
Sam Kittross-Schnell WA
Michael Rubin NJ
Noah Saul PA
Ryan Schwartz NY
Robin Stewart-DiMartino MA (AMHERST/Graduated?)
Paul Weeks NC
Chris Brenenborg PA
Ben Feldman MN (HOPKINS-Senior)
Christian Foster MA (AMHERST-Senior)
Eli Friedman OR (SOUTH EUGENE/U of COLORRADO-Freshman)
Andrew Hollingsworth MA (AMHERST)
Ollie Honderd GA (PAIDEIA)
Casey Ikeda WA (NORTHWEST BOYS-Junior)
Sam Kanner MA (AMHERST)
Alex Kapinos MA (LONGMEADOW)
Chris Kosednar AK (ALASKA SUMMER LEAGUE/CARLETON-Freshman)
Taylor Lahey CA (CASTRO VALLEY Senior)
Grant Lindsley GA (PAIDEIA)
Adam Miller WA (NORTHWEST graduate now at Bates-Freshman)
Jeremy Norden WA (NORTHWEST-Junior)
Stephen Panasci NJ (COLUMBIA)
Darden Pitts MA (AMHERST-Graduate)
George Stubbs GA (PAIDEIA)
Matty Sung CA (CASTRO VALLEY-Senior)
Alternates:
Nate Castine WA (Former Nathan Hale/MoHo -Freshman in college?)
John Hirschberger NY
Sam Kittross-Schnell WA (Junior at NWS/MoHo - Junior)
Michael Rubin NJ
Noah Saul PA
Ryan Schwartz NY (Duke-Freshman)
Robin Stewart-DiMartino MA (AMHERST/Graduated?)
Paul Weeks NC
Chris Brenenborg is from Central Catholic (Pittsburgh), whose team isn't very strong at all. Chris plays for Pittsburgh's main open club team, Burgh.
The girls and guys teams were just officially announced on the upa site.
see the main page for all the latest - both teams were announced and miranda roth has posted a recap of tryouts
playultimate.blogspot.com
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