When: September 15-16, 2001
Who: 15 Club teams
Result: 1-5
Pool Play:
9-8 victory over Duke A
9-10 loss to Appalachian State
4-13 loss to Thor
3-13 loss to Ring of Fire
Sunday Pool Play:
8-13 loss to UNC B
6-13 loss to Duke B
Our team was comprised of 12 of the best juniors players in the Triange area. We were coached by Chip Depew who also played with us in the tournament.
Roster:
Nan Gao (LRHS) Thomas Konneker (Sanderson)
Ian Pratt (LRHS) Bill Ladd (Jordan)
David Liu (LRHS) Rimas Vilgalys (Jordan)
Marty Schlesinger (LRHS) James Murray (Cardinal Gibbons)
Brett White (LRHS) Mike O'Malley (Cardinal Gibbons)
Chip Depew (LRHS) James Ellis (Carolina Friends)
Comments:
We definitely considered this tournament a success. Although our record does not reflect our success, we achieved many of our goals through other means. We gave everything we had in those games out there. We knew it and so did our opponents. Every opponent congratulated us for our effort and skill. We were the first ever (I think) juniors team to participate in NC Open Sectionals. We defeated a strong Duke team and came very close to defeating Appalachian, which would have put us in the quarterfinals. Above all, our mere participation in this tourney refects the continued growth of juniors ultimate in the Triangle.
Report by Bill Ladd from the Homespun Newsletter:
It was a weekend to remember. At this year's North Carolina Club Sectionals Tournament, the Tomacco Farmers, a juniors team consisting of some of the best high school players from the Triangle area, made an impressive stand. In their first game of the tournament, the team showed poise and confidence by coming from a 6-1 deficit to defeat Duke's "A" team 9-8. Later that same day, the Farmers went the distance with Appalachian State, taking half 7-6 and coming within one goal of a second upset and a trip to the quarterfinals. After the game, ASU graciously invited the Tomacco Farmers to the Blue Ridge Blowout, a college tournament they were hosting the following weekend.
Building and sustaining a strong high school ultimate community benefits both college and club teams. As these players move on to college, college teams benefit by having a pool of experienced freshman players. Club teams then benefit by having a larger pool of experienced college players. Over the last few years, juniors ultimate in North Carolina has grown far beyond anyone's expectations. With a solid 7th place finish at the Juniors National Championship tournament last May, the Triangle's high school players have proven they are among the best in the country. With the emergence of powerhouses Leesville Road and Cardinal Gibbons, and first year teams like East Chapel Hill, it's safe to say that competitive juniors ultimate has arrived in the Triangle.
So what can YOU do to help juniors ultimate continue to thrive? Come out and be a coach! Jordan, SE Raleigh, Enloe, and several other schools are looking for volunteer coaches. These kids are practicing on their own, but they currently have no one to show them the finer points of the game. More teams means higher quality competition. To learn more about coaching opportunities, contact Paul Mullin�[email protected] or Chip Depew�[email protected].
Many of you will have one or more high school players on your Winter League team this year. Take some time to mentor them, help them continue to improve, and share with them your love of The Game. It takes a village to raise an Ultimate player!