2011 Preview – UNC-Wilmington Seaweed

[stextbox id=”alert” color=”050505″ bcolor=”6cc3f8″ bgcolor=”ffffff” big=”true” image=”null”]School Name: University of North Carolina Wilmington
Team Name: Seaweed
Captains: Claire Chastain, Jessica Patrick
Coaches: Danny Wrenn, Meg Young, Nikki Zeldin
Founded: 1989
Jersey Colors: Black, Green, White
Website: http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/camprec/clubs/UltimateClubWomens.htm
2010 Record: 41-7
Score Reporter
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Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get involved with Ultimate at SEAWEED?

Jessica: I’m a senior studying Physical Geography and Geospatial Technologies. I have always played sports and decided to try something new my freshman year. I fell in love with the team and the sport, and haven’t looked back since.

Claire: I’m a junior looking to go into nursing. My older sister played in college, and I decided to try it out. I instantly became hooked.

What was the highlight of your last season?

Jessica: We made it to the College Championships in Madison, WI. We finished 5^th overall. The most memorable moment for our team was battling back from a 6 point deficit in semis and a 5 point deficit in the finals at the AC Regionals to clinch the number 1 spot.

Claire: UNC is one of our biggest rivals. They are a very talented team which makes for great competition and close games every time we play them. The most memorable game we’ve played against them occurred during ’09 Regionals, when we battled back from a deficit and through universe point to win the region, sending us to the College Championships for the first time since 2001.

Tell us about your coaches.

Jessica: Our head coach, Danny Wrenn, is a phenomenal coach and person. He molded a team that, four years ago, didn’t even make it past sectionals into a team that has competed on a national level the past two years. He is very committed and invests a lot of his free time to helping our team grow and become stronger.

Are there players on your team who deserve consideration for Callahan, All-Region, or Freshman of the Year?

Jessica & Claire: Callahan: Kelly Tidwell (5^th yr. player, solid handling and receiving skills, determined)

All-Region: Claire Chastain, Jessica Patrick, Sara Casey, Kelly Tidwell

Freshman of the Year: Sadie Gosselin (quick to understand the game, athletic, very coachable, looking to be an impact player in the coming spring season)

What players are most likely to make a huge play as a thrower or as a receiver?

Jessica & Claire: Thrower: Claire Chastain, Kelly Tidwell.

Receiver: Jessica Patrick, Anne Marie Wilson

It’s easy to see when someone throws a huge huck or gets a layout D. Who’s a player you have to watch more carefully to see how valuable she is to your team?

Claire: Jessica Patrick is always consistently playing as hard as possible, she’s the most reliable player on the field.

How does your team bring new players up to speed?

Claire: We usually just throw them into a scrimmage. It’s really hectic at first, but as Danny says, “the only way to learn is to play.” Our rookies have been really quick to adapt.

Without giving too much away, what does your team like to do on offense and on defense

Jessica: Retro vertical stack, and zone defense.

Has your team set any goals for this season? What are they?

Jessica & Claire: Win the College Championships!

What has your team been doing to prepare for the spring?

Jessica: We had vets playing on competitive club teams, practice 3X a week, going to several tournaments, working with 2^nd year players to develop leadership skills.

What tournaments do you plan to attend in the spring? Which one are you most looking forward to?

Claire: Queen City Tune-Up (Charlotte), Easterns (Wilmington), Centex (Austin), Sectionals, Regionals?, College Championships? We’re looking forward to Centex the most because we have never played in this tournament and we’ve heard it’s really fun. The competition should be at a national level, and we’ll get to see new styles of play from other regions.

What does your team do to get pumped up for a big game?

Jessica: Most of the players on our team have such an individual desire to win that we fuel each other and pump each other up. FTB

What song would you pick for the soundtrack to your team’s 2011 highlight video?

Jessica & Claire: “Fat Chance by 311” and “Wagonwheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show.

What do you think about the USA Ultimate College restructuring?

Claire: Our region gained some teams that make it stronger, which is exciting because it will bring a higher level of competition.