I’m trying to get this all done before school starts Tuesday. After that I can’t guarantee I won’t write a lot but I will definitely feel guilty about it.
Last year my dad told me we needed to have more trick plays. Although I will not be revealing any of those I will be talking a little about what I expect from us this season.
Tournaments: We’re going to both coasts. Pres Day in San Diego, Easterns in Wilmington, Centex in Austin, and hopefully Nationals in Boulder.
Across the board this is the most athletic team in the history of melee. Texas has produced many incredible players but this year we have depth. Our rookies improved significantly this fall and by the end of the semester they were looking much more confident and comfortable on the field. We took a hit to our starting line losing Diana but her commitment to the team has inspired many of us to work harder and fill that role. I’ve spent enough time on the sidelines to know what it feels like seeing your teammates slack off when I’d give anything to be able to run, throw, even laugh. (That was a weird injury…) Even with the seniors we graduated and the acl tears this season we have the athleticism, speed, aggression, throws, and ups to take control of any game. We’ve been working on discipline the past fall. I have a tendency to get the disc and try to force a play. It’s a common problem across the board. Old habits die hard but as a team we are learning to take care of the disc. I’m very confident in our offense. At CCC we had two games that were tied when the cap went on. In both cases we were receiving. I knew before the pull went up that we had won the game. I was right. We are only going to get better from here.
Struggles? We didn’t spend much time on zone until the very end of the season. I look forward to meeting teams that we had difficulty against in the fall, specifically UNCW. After nationals we definitely have a bone to pick with then, but I will admit they are noticeably spirited than last year. We also lost to a club team at harvest. I cannot give you any information about that game because I didn’t see it after I went out in the first point but it sounded messy. (Remember the “can’t laugh” injury? Yeah that was it…)
Players to watch?
* Captains Whitney and Elise. Short. Aggressive. Relentless. Whit will be all over you all day long. Elise will break you any day of the week. Her long arms are always frustrating me in practice when she catches reaches I swear are uncatchable. I loved playing for them this fall.
* Blanel will beat you in the air every time. Her throws just keep getting longer and more consistent every year but defense is still her game. Basically you just don’t want to match up against her. She is definitely my partner in crime on and off the field and I’m planning on beginning and ending our time together on melee with a trip to Boulder. Have no fear, she’ll be back for a fifth year.
* Polly Pocket exploded out of her shell at sectionals. After surprising everyone on the field and skying one of the captains of A&M (who also played showdown this past year) in the endzone it was all over. Quick. Feisty. Unassuming.
* Red Baron, FOTY 2010, is going to be unstoppable this year. That’s all I can say about that.
* Me. I like to think I make witty comments all the time and you will probably want to hear them.