SuperHeroSuccess

Awesome... pictures to follow. Waiting for the lightrail at MSP Airport before nationals - 5am. Grant being salmoned during the postgame interview

NOFTRAHTCEHE

Officially no plans after college. I fly back to Anchorage on the 15th, Lukeypowpow is coming up for the Jam - possibly Jerome too. Still thinking about the championship.

SuperHero and 'Spring Olympics'

200 yards of fabric arrived today, the SuperHero structure is coming together nicely. Here is another of my favorite shots from the weekend, Grant catching the winning goal against Pitt. Man were we fired up.

Why Not?

Catch block at 14-14 in the Quarterfinals vs Pittsburgh. Amazing weekend, still waiting for it all to sink in. Great alumni (GUT) and parent (PCUT) support over the 4 days. It's weird to realize a dream I've had since I was about 16. I'll do some write ups about the weekend in the coming days - for now, CUT Rulz

Illinois - Santa Barbra - Tufts - Georgia

choseday

Just thinking about frisbee. Here is a great link though, ultimate frisbee video game designed by some Stanford students in 2004 (Mark Slee, Ari Steinberg, and Joshua Wiseman. Jerome, Greg (Curly), and I got way into this game freshman year.

5dac

5 days and counting

May 16, 2009

ssssound!

So we threw a surprise party for Grant yesterday. He shows up, expecting a surprise so nobody jumps out and you can tell he's disappointed, only Kanner and Curme sitting around. This goes on for a few minutes and you can tell by Grant's voice he's a little bummed, I would be too. Then it happened, and he was cheezin like mad. I don't think he remembers much.

Final from the drawing class I took in Italy. There was an informational meeting for the 2010 trip to Florence but nobody showed up, just me and the prof. I don't think anybody is going...

Rule # 2 : Don't txt while peeing

EZ does it

Ok, back on campus, Wednesday never existed. Here's my table from the wood class I took winter term. Lots of people were wearing face masks in SF, it reminded me of this game.

aertyuio

Leaving tomorrow for San Francisco, I will be there for 5.5 hours then back to Nfield (Helluva carbon footprint)

Alumni Weekend Hangover

Everyone is gone. 2 weeks until nationals.

new stuff

Some pictures from practice. Thanks Phil for the tips on largepics! hopefully this layout isn't to massive for your browsers, big photos are fun.

Bob Carlson, Carleton, Soccer, Varisty, Mens, Coach

Dear Bob - I hope somebody googles your name and finds this post, you are a toad.

4 outof 7

Christina and AK came for a visit, Swedish Popsicle is an interesting concoction. Alumni weekend three days and counting. hopefully I'm getting hired here. UVA Night Train, not bad.

Rotblatt aint got shit on us

Hey Chris and Sam.

My name is Mary, I'm a writer for ESPN.com looking to do a story on Ultimate and the college scene. I see Carleton is ranked No. 1. Any interest in talking to me sometime? Email me back and we'll set up a time to chat. Hope to hear from you. -mary

Yeah, that would be great, we would love to. Most of mornings and afternoons are booked, but somewhere in the 12-3 range would work for me most days. We have Nationals on Memorial Day weekend in Columbus, OH. Would you be able to make it out there?
Sam

nationals teams

I dont want to waste my time seeding teams. I think it will be a difficult process especially because of the zany regionals outcomes. so:

Gotta Chance:

Carleton
Wisconsin
Colorado
Michigan
Cal
Georgia

Nope:

Illinois
Stanford
Cornell
Pitt
Texas
Virginia
Tufts
Minnesota
NC State

????:

Kansas
UCSD
UCSB
Luther
Williams

Regionals write up

Thanks to Alex Evangelides for this write up:

CUT had been working hard since spring term began. The weather had been holding up for us just enough that we have been able to practice outside. The week leading up to Regionals was gorgeous and we all had high hopes for the weekend ahead. With the big tournament FINALLY returning to Carleton after a 3 year hiatus the campus was buzzing with excitement over getting to see CUT finally play. Though the school was excited, the team was dying to make opponents beg for mercy after ruthlessly beating down on each other for 4 weeks straight.

As the weekend grew closer the weather report grew drearier, but regardless of weather, CUT vowed to perform at a level not previously seen yet this season at our meeting Friday night. The format was straight bracket with 4 bids to nationals, meaning 3 wins gets us to nationals, and 4 wins CUT the regional title. We all visualized making Hodags cry as we slept in our own beds Friday night.

The day started early with CUT helping to set up the fields at 630 am and with Beloit at 8. Sausage Egg McMuffins outnumbered players on the sidelines as the McDonalds breakfast helped warm CUT’s cold bodies. Beloit stood no chance from the start, and we quickly dismantled them 15-4 with just 1 Offensive turn all game (and no breaks).

Next up was Marquette and once again they just couldn’t match CUT’s fire. The O-line looked untouchable scoring at will, and though Marquette had some talented players, the D-line chipped away at them to chalk up a 15-8 win.

After a bye (where many players took naps in the Rookery, and ate lunch in Sayles) we were faced with our first real test of the UPA Series. Minnesota Grey Duck had put together a solid preseason and we knew they had a lot of talent, but as we warmed up, the sidelines quickly became packed with Carleton fans. Though the weather had claimed it would be cold and raining, the rain held off and it ended up being a beautiful day. We came out of the gates like a racehorse out of the gates. Junior Adrian Chow got an enormous lay out block much to the delight of the fans. Captain Sam Kanner was all over the field shutting down Minnesota’s best player and ripping backhands on the turn, and just like that CUT went up 4-0. Minnesota was not done yet though as they fired right back scoring on O, then breaking twice in a row to make it 4-3.

This was the O-line’s first slip of the series but we knew what had to be done. As we’ve talked about so many times at meetings this spring, every team hits bumps; it is how a team responds to these slides that decides greatness. The O line got back on track and we traded to 7-5. With a stacked D-line of ballers, we quickly got the turn and punched it in to take half 8-5. At halftime the crowd kept growing as the sidelines were lined 2 deep all around the field. The 2nd half both teams hit their rhythm, but Minnesota was not ready to handle a fully firing CUT team.

The O-line was scoring at will with Senior Jerome Potter playing huge all over the field. Sophomore Grant Lindsley showed that he can play D too getting a huge block on an under to secure one of CUT’s two 2nd half breaks. Minnesota stayed in the game, but they couldn’t put up breaks and CUT went on to win 15-10 securing a bid to nationals. The team thanked the fans for coming, and dispersed to their respective dorms to prepare for the afternoon final against the baby blue Hodags.

Though anything can happen at Central Regionals, one thing is always constant: the weather. Though Saturday was beautiful that just meant Sunday had to make up for it. We awoke to rain, rain, and more rain. There were morning lightning flashes, and it was hovering around or below 50 all day. The finals were pushed back 30 minutes, and moved out of the stadium for fear of ruining the nice grass.

CUT used its home field advantage to the fullest as while Wisconsin warmed up out in the cold, we went through our warm up on the stadium track mentally and physically preparing ourselves for the battle ahead. None of us thought the fans would be there in the weather, but apparently we had put on a show Saturday because the Carleton community returned in droves to line the fields for the finals. The crowd was on our side from the first pull to the last. The fields were sloppy from the start with players slipping everywhere and the disc picking up mud weight every turn. Turns came in packs for the first few points as both teams were not quite ready to play in the rain and discs and players were slipping everywhere, but despite the chances, neither team could manage a break and we traded to 2’s. At 2-3 Madison comes down in a poachy zone look, but a soon as the transition is called captain Chris Kosednar took off for the endzone and co-captain Sam Kanner hit him with a monster backhand to make it 3-3. The sloppy marathon points continued to 4’s, when finally the D-line has an epiphany realizing scoring in the conditions isn’t hard with a bit of patience. We worked it all the way up with unders and scored the break to make it 5-4. At 6-5, Madison sloppily turns it on a reset close to the endzone and the D-line immediately starts the fast break. Sophomore Christian Foster gets a quick upline and rips a huge flick to a streaking Kanner to finish the break 7-5. After the point there was a short delay as 10ish Carleton students proceeded to streak the field and do their best impressions of a Hodag finally taking a knee on the hodag line fingers on their noses.

After a Hodag goal to make it 7-6, the O seems to finally be clicking as they score in just 2 throws to take half with the centering pass to Kosednar who throws a bomb to Lindsley for the goal and the halftime lead 8-6. The huddle was filled with excitement as we all knew that we hadn’t yet shown the Hodags what CUT was about. We knew we could possess the disc better and blow the doors to the game wide open. After half there was a bit of a scare as the O-line hiccupped turning it on a misthrown swing and giving up the quick break. The very next point we turned it again around half field via a drop, but the O was not about to let this game slip away as they fought to get the turn and punch it in to make it 9-7. Junior Luke Powers busts ass down on the pull to line up with Madison’s centering handler and comes up with a clutc h foot block to give us the disc 5 yards out. Luck is on our side as we end up scoring a stall 9 desperation goal to break for the 10-7 lead. At this point the crowd becomes the 8th man as the Hodags begin to collapse as CUT amps it up.

Junior Adam Fagin gets a big D to make it 11-7 as the soft cap goes off game to 13. We trade to 12-8, and then stack our D for one last point. The Hodags were simply not ready for a line of so many studs and after looking for 8 seconds of no openings punted the disc away. The D-line worked it patiently and efficiently, and finally Fagin hit Powers on a quick upline for the score and the win. CUT wins the Central Region for the first time since 2005.

The Hodags finished 2nd, Luther took the 3rd bid, and Minnesota the final spot to nationals. Syzgy lost to Madison in the finals but secured the 2 seed to natties as well. News trickled down to the fields that Florida had not qualified for nationals and that Oregon was being disqualified from the series due to a little nudity. Everyone was shocked to hear the news, but unconcerned with the competition that lies ahead.

Fun was had Sunday night as CUT celebrated the big victory. After a successful weekend we realized that we saw glimpses of greatness (O gets broken 4 times in Sectionals and Regionals combined), and we realized that more work must get done before nationals. Winning the region should lock up a 1 seed to nationals for CUT, and we as a team are prepared to not disappoint come the big show. Alumni weekend is less than 2 weeks away (6th weekend), and nationals are 2 weeks after that (8th). Kinks are beginning to iron out, and our bodies, still sore from the winter, are finally starting to heal and peak just at the right time.

Nationals, here we come.

OmeOmy

tish fagin

WOW. Nobody could have predicted today's games in the NW,GL, and NE.

Starting with the GL: Everything goes as expected into semifinals. Setting up Michigan vs Illinois and The Ohio State vs Notre Dame. Michigan is a good team, especially the first round of the day (as we learned at Centex).

However, they are very inconsistent as the day - tournament progresses. In the last round vs. Illinois Michigan took half I believe but Illinois ended up on top. So Michigan goes down to the backdoor bracket (what will this mean for National seeding?) In the other semifinal, OSU used their big game experience to put away Notre Dame 15 - 12. Notre Dame clearly has the talent, but is consistency their strong suit?

So today's final: Illinois vs OSU. Illinois is up 14 - 8 right now, so I'll asssume they win. A very underrated/hyped team going into regionals, and now they will win one of the tougher regions (again what will this mean for seeding at nationals) preregionals Illinois was ranked 39th by the UPA and had a barely over .500 record, 21-19 And as I am typing this, Notre Dame just broke Michigan to tie the game at 14s, from the time slot it looks like they are still 30 minutes from the cap so this ones not over.

Right so, OSU goes down to Illinois but the score (14-8) says OSU might be saving itself for the backdoor game. Either Michigan or ND will surely be tired after their battle, and I will put money on OSU beating whoever goes, in short, no Michigan at nationals. Thank God for the score reporter!

In the New England region, again utter chaos. Everything went as planned into Semis, setting up Middlebury (1) vs Harvard (4) and Tufts (2) vs Williams (3).

I've been ragging on MB, mostly because I've never seen them play or heard about them, but apparently they are the real deal. I've seen (lost to) Harvard play well, I can't believe they would lose if they were on but who knows? (michigan ND is tied at 15s) So Harvard goes down 11-15 to middlebury and Tufts wins a close game vs Williams (16-14)

Finals: Middlebury vs. Tufts, currently tied at 5s I have to pick Tufts to win (Andrew Hollingworth) but Middlebury appears to be the real deal ( they beat Virgina at Easterns 15-10) In the backdoor bracket, Harvard goes down to Massachusetts (is Robin SD still on that team), and just like that no nationals for Harvard (make that 2 teams that beat us who will not be in attendance) In the backdoor is Williams vs Mass right now its 8-5 in Williams favor. Hard to predict this one, I'll say Williams and Tufts, why not?

THEN the NorthWest: Pool play goes as predicted (ie WWU losing to UCSC) but then fireworks in the semis. Washington vs Cal, Cal absolutely stomps 13- 6 and Stanford dominates UCSC 15 - 6. Stanford plays well when it counts, the sign of a good program.

It's a long backdoor battle for teams, some having to play 4 games today to make it to nationals

And Michigan wins a killer 17-16 over ND. Thanks to the dude talpostal@twitter who's been updating. from his tweets, Michigan hucks it at 16-16 calls TO on the goal line, Neff catches the winner.

midterm break

Pictures from Tish. Things are going to see in the GL and NE, but it's only Saturday.

Kanner for Kallahan

Look who's covering last years Callahan winner (Sam Kanner). While the other nomination are all captains of their respective teams, what have they done to further the sport of Ultimate?

Sam Kanner:

• Member of the UPA COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, is Mac/Neff/Foster/Presley? Clearly Kanner is concerned with the future of our sport
  
• Captain of the 2006 junior worlds team
• Here is Sam Kanner, member of the Carleton track team
• Sam Kanner was playing ultimate in 2002, was Mac? Foster? Presley?
• Here is a quote from the 2008 UPA Championship writeup:

" Sub Zero came back immediately with four straight and eventually running off eight of nine points. Part of their comeback was due to Sub Zero’s ability to stay upbeat. Their sideline may be the most vocal in the Open division. PoNY’s captain Ben van Heuvelen also credited Sam Kanner with being a vital part of Sub Zero’s comeback. "

• Has BVH ever endorsed M?F?N?P?
• Antoher example of Sam Kanner promoting the sport of Ultimate in a positive way
• Here is Sam Kanner doing real shit with his life.

Don't be dumb, vote for Sam Kanner.

MAY DAY... over

Website pic

Anybody following the first series of the NBA Eastern playoffs Celtics vs. Bulls? crazy stuff going on, without Garnett I don't think the Celtics can do it.

Comps test today, t minus 4.5 hours.

My picks for regionals this weekend:

Great lakes:

• Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Illinois have the only chance at a nationals birth.
• Michigan is too experienced to miss out
• Notre Dame is good (I only know from results) but I don't think they have the big game/consistency in the program that Ohio State or Illinois have, so they're out
• Leaving OS and Illinois I chose Ohio State.

New England:

• Middlebury, Harvard, Tufts, Williams, and Brown
• Middlebury, again, with little experience in the games that matter, will fall from their one seed and not qualify
• Harvard, too good not to.
• Tufts, Williams and Brown, crap shoot, why not Williams.

North West:

• UW, WWU, Stanford, Cal, UBC
• If i had to put money on somebody... UW and Stanford.
• But, i could see WWU, Cal, UBC playing 2 great games somewhere over the weekend and qualifying