Bella Donna has been a strong supporter of my tournaments for the past few seasons. Callahan winner, former captain, and current coach Courtney Kiesow brought Bella to faraway locations to attend some of the first tournaments I ran. Another former captain, Holly Greunke, was my teammate on Showdown last season, and another famous Bella alum, Anna Schott, is my current coffee break buddy. Little known fact: less than 5% of Bella players (past and present) know how to say my last name. They also once gifted me a dead bird’s head. All of their off-field antics aside, the Wisconsin women’s ultimate program has grown into one of the most respected in the country. See below for Danielle Hirsch’s take on Bella Donna.
This week’s featured blog is the team blog of University of Wisconsin Bella Donna. With multiple writers, the Bella Donna blog offers a unique team view of the collegiate ultimate season, from tournament write-ups to a fully updated 2011 roster, complete with photo pages!
Bella Donna will be competing in the North Central Region along with perennial contender Carleton College Syzygy. Iowa University Saucy Nancy, Wisconsin-Eau Claire Sol, and Iowa State University Woman Scored will likely challenge Bella for the regional title.
In 2010, Bella Donna placed 3rd at the National Championships after losing a heartbreaker to the Burning Skirts in the Semifinals. This weekend, Bella will return to the national ultimate scene hungrier than ever.
Seeded 3rd heading into Pres Day this weekend, Wisconsin will be an exciting team to watch. If you’re lucky enough to be in Southern California this weekend, keep an eye out for captains Emelie Mcain, Jenny Gaynor, and Rebecca Enders, and up-and-coming handler Al Ellis. Track this weekend’s action on Score Reporter and the Without Limits Twitter, and find out who will make a name for themselves early in the women’s’ season.
Bella Donna is certainly poised to be one of the top women’s teams this college season. Follow their journey this season on their blog.
