wHagonweel Recap

LONG POST ALERT......

Derrick and I have been extremely blessed to play on our co-ed ultimate team wHagonweel (wHw) for the past three years. We commit close to 9 hours a week, 5-6 full weekends (not including travel time), and a nice chunk of change every June-October to play ultimate frisbee.  For some people it seems crazy. For anyone who doesn't play ultimate it can be hard to understand. Why do we commit so much time to a sport that leaves us exhausted every Sunday evening, makes going to work Monday near impossible due to soreness, leaves us burned to a crisp from the sun, and results in unflattering scars on our hips, knees, and elbows?

Well...here's the thing....

Ultimate is awesome! Derrick and I get to spend 9 hours a week, 5-6 full weekends (not including travel time), and a nice chunk of change every June-October playing ultimate frisbee! We met playing ultimate and then met again playing ultimate. Sorry, I didn't remember you honey :)  Derrick and I have captained 2 losing teams together! Thanks to our friend Joey our teams have become known as "lots of fun, but not much winning." We have competed in multiple leagues, played in several one day hat tournaments, thrown countless honey passes (love to love for you non-ultimate readers), and shared dozens of post practice baked potatoes. We wouldn't change a thing!

For the past three years we have been playing for the triangle area coed team wHagonweel. Derrick and I had an absolutely crazy summer and almost didn't play this year. We didn't want to commit to the team if  we couldn't do it 100%.  After speaking with our captains we decided to go for it and we're so glad we did. We have become so close to everyone involved with wHw both past and present and consider them all family.

This past weekend was Regionals. In it's inaugural year, wHw placed second at regionals and secured a bid to Nationals. This is the ultimate goal of all club teams and it was an amazing experience to have in our first year together. Last year ended in a disappointing performance at Regionals that ultimately comes down to our performance; however, we will share credit with the weather, horrible field conditions, and a heated game with no observers. (I'm not still bitter).

This year also ended just short of a bid to nationals, however, I'm not as bitter this year. We played well this year wHw! The regions were changed this year and NC was moved from the Mid-Atlantic to the Southeast region. We had to travel all the way to Orlando, FL for Regionals...Atlanta would have made too much sense....  Anyways....we came in as the 5 seed. There were essentially 5 teams with a real chance at making it to Nationals and we only had one bid. That meant win it or go home. On Saturday we upset the 1 seed 13-12 but weren't able to topple our sectional rival Cahoots (3 seed).  We ended Saturday 3-1 and headed to quarters on Sunday morning. We had a fairly easy game against N.O.P.P. (New Orleans Party People). They lived up to there name with an underwear point and several shotgunned beers on the sideline. Our semis game was vs. Bucket...the 2 seed but arguably the team to beat.  We put up a good fight but were unable to take them down and lost 12-9.  That was it, we were out...no more Nationals dreams for us.

I'm very proud of our team. Everyone played incredibly hard and didn't give up. We ended our Bucket game with an insanely long point....we're talking 2 time outs in the same point! No one stopped fighting. Derrick and I love this team and love playing for this team. We win and lose together and have highs and lows together. We may not see some of our teammates until next season, but when we do it will be as if nothing ever changed. That's the beauty of ultimate. It's a community and Derrick and I are so blessed to be apart of it.

wHw is coming for you, Nationals!