Pat Niles, Endorsement for Robyn

Over the past four years, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Robyn Fennig develop from a clueless rookie to one of the most dominant women that I’ve seen on the college ultimate fields. I have been her friend, teammate, and coach at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire (UWEC). Robyn has been very influential in making me the ultimate player and leader that I am today by challenging my previous approach to the game. Her overwhelming intensity, focus and skill makes her a clear standout at tournaments and makes her a prime candidate for the Callahan award.

Robyn has the field awareness and abilities of a player who began in high school, and she’s learned it all in five short years in college. Her pulls are insane, her man defense is fearsome, and I wouldn’t ever recommend hucking when she’s playing the deep in a zone. Her offense is cool and collected. Robyn can get open at-will, and once she has the disc, she’ll unleash a barrage of I/O forehand breaks and deep hucks. Anybody that has played against her knows that she is a force to be reckoned with. Her abilities were part of the reason that a very, very young UWEC SOL team (founded in 2005) was noticed nationwide and was knocking on the door of college nationals in their first few years of existence. I could go on and on about her being the best woman on the playing field, which is what the Callahan award is known for, but it also honors sportsmanship, leadership and outreach.

As a coach and teammate I’ve not only been inspired by Robyn’s dedication to improving her own skills, knowledge and spirit, but especially her commitment to helping grow the women’s ultimate community. For example, after talking about ultimate with a non-traditional student, Robyn asked if he would like his daughters to learn how to play. This led to the UWEC team teaching a local Girl Scout troop the basics of throwing, catching and marking. The following year the workshop was repeated with the same troop and their new recruits, and they all had their throws down and were able to play with Sol in combined scrimmage game. It is this dedication to the sport that will continue to spread ultimate throughout new areas and to more youth athletes.

The enthusiasm that Robyn exudes when she gets to talk about ultimate is extremely contagious. She makes everyone around her want to learn more and push themselves; luckily for them, she’s willing to spend the time to teach. In her time at UWEC, I can’t express how valuable she was at spreading her understanding of skills and strategy. Robyn truly made work as a coach a lot easier with her uncanny ability to re-explain things that I didn’t present clearly. She’d constantly be thinking about ways to improve offensive and defensive strategy, develop drills, and promote team camaraderie.

Robyn, being the overachiever that she is, didn’t limit the spread of ultimate knowledge and support to our own team. In her years at UWEC, she spent a great amount of time discussing the hurdles that a new team must overcome with other University of Wisconsin school leaders. She discussed strategy, drills, and recruiting techniques with captains and coaches at other small schools to assist with getting their programs off the ground.

In my mind, it is clear that the Callahan winner for 2011 should be none other than Robyn Fennig. She displays all of the characteristics of a great ultimate player and leader. It has been a wonderful four years watching her develop the skills, personality, and respect for this game that any top player would strive for. Please consider Robyn when you place your vote.

Pat Niles
Four year Coach of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire SOL
World Champion - CLX 2010
Club Teammate - ACS, Drag’n Thrust 2008-2010
And sadly, as I write this, I’m also having to game plan against her for Regionals this weekend….

Saucy Players Endorsements for Robyn

Though Robyn has only been playing on Saucy Nancy for one year, she is as involved and committed to this team as a 5th year senior. Robyn has undeniably given a lot of herself for this team in heart, time in and out of practice, practice/drill planning, game strategy, skills, teaching, and in overall dedication to the sport as a whole. I knew people could be crazy about Ultimate (as she is), but Robyn has shown me what true dedication and contribution to the sport of Ultimate really is. From Women’s Conference Coordinator (while also being a key player ON the field), to following other team’s seeding like a March Madness bracket, to staying late almost every practice to work on throws and help others, to watching MORE video than was asked of us to prepare for tournaments, Robyn really has a commitment and passion for all aspects of the sport. I have played on Saucy Nancy for 4 years, and to see Robyn just as dedicated, passionate, and invested in the team as I am truly inspires me as a player and person. As a player, Robyn displays superior throwing ability as well as athleticism. The confidence I have in her throws as well as her ability to be a play-maker is unwavering even in the worst (and windiest) conditions. I cannot think of, nor have personally met, another person more deserving of the Callahan award.

Kelli Parsons
^5th Year Player on Iowa Saucy Nancy
2011 All-Region Nominee
*As an Iowa City native, KP has played with Saucy since she was in high school.
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Whenever someone from another team approaches me about Robyn’s outstanding Ultimate skills, the conversation always turns into me telling them about how wonderful she is, not only as a player, but as a teammate. This is Robyn’s first year playing with Saucy Nancy but I truly feel like she has been my teammate for many years. She has put her heart and soul into our team from day one by motivating us to be the best players we can be, whether it’s through leading work-outs outside of practice, making us team-spirited gifts, or putting in the extra time to help us improve our skills. Something else I really admire about Robyn is her ability to see the good in every single player on our team; she appreciates everyone’s contribution to the team and is never hesitant to let us know the difference we are making.

Robyn is not only dedicated to our team, but the entire Ultimate community. She put so much time and effort into organizing our Conferences tournament and made sure that we had fields to play on, despite the not so ideal weather. This is Robyn’s last year of eligibility but, knowing her character, I am confident that she will continue to have a positive influence on our team by providing us with her input, advice and support as she finishes her degree at the University of Iowa. I truly believe that Robyn displays all of the outstanding qualities of a Callahan winner, not only as a player, but as a teammate and as a friend.

Hannah Rohret
4^th Year Player on Iowa Saucy Nancy
New 2011 Addition to the Handler Line
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Robyn was the definition of intimidation when I met her this year when she came to join Saucy Nancy. She can throw any throw in the book, come out of nowhere and d anyone, and has a fierce mark. Everyone who has played against her can tell that she has mad skills. But what makes Robyn a great

player and the whole package is her personality and dedication. She is one of those players that inspires people to be better, not just because she is insanely good, but because she still works, and wants, to be better. I can't count the number of times Robyn has texted me to go outside and throw or asked me what I want to work on as a player. I also can't count the number of times I see her chatting with her defender during a pause in the game. Robyn truly cares about the experience others are having during the game, spreading her feeling of love and excitement for the game with everyone, which is something that makes her different than the other standouts and Callahan nominees. She will never forget the joy of the game, which will continue to inspire me and numerous others across the nation, making her the best Callahan nominee for the 2011 season.

Sara Timko

3^rd Year Player on Iowa Saucy Nancy

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The first time I met Robyn, I really did not know what to expect. I knew she was a great player and I was truly excited to have her on our team, but I was unsure of how well she'd fit in, whether she'd cut or handle, and how much time she'd be able to put into Saucy Nancy, having just entered a busy graduate program here at Iowa. Within a few short weeks, however, I knew that she was going to be an incredibly valuable addition to our team, and now I cannot imagine Saucy Nancy without her. She quickly learned all of our names and positions (when I was a rookie it took me FOREVER to learn everyone's name), figured out our individual strengths and weaknesses, and helped us to develop and grow as a team throughout the year. She has put so much time into our team despite her busy schedule, and her spirit and positive energy have kept us going all year. What I think makes Robyn most worthy for the Callahan award, though, is a comment she made on a picture of our teammates from a tournament this spring. It was a picture of a veteran hugging a rookie after her first (totally awesome) layout d, and Robyn said "I honestly think that this is the best picture from our entire season. This picture pretty much sums up how I feel about this team. I am getting all warm and fuzzy just thinking about Saucy." The love that Robyn shows for our team is outstanding, and the heart that she puts into ultimate makes her more than deserving of the 2011 Callahan award.

Justine Hart
3^rd Year Player on Iowa Saucy Nancy

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Besides Robyn’s obvious talent and athleticism on the field, where even the strongest wind can’t touch her hucks and her deep zone d is unparalleled, her love of the game and of her team is what makes her stand out. Through knee injuries, tough losses, and insane weather conditions, Robyn’s positivity has shown every step of the way, never allowing herself or her teammates to forget that we play this sport because we love it. She joined the Ultimate world five years ago and has countless wins under her belt, but can still get teary-eyed after throwing the game winning huck. The passion that she feels for the sport is undeniable.

As a teammate, the spirit and love that she shows for the team is obvious. It seems almost every tournament she shows up with a surprise to get our spirit up right away; pump up mix CDs, badass spray tattoos, necklaces, the list goes on. Robyn is constantly pushing us to be the best we can be, not only simply getting together to throw, but asking what you specifically want to work on, giving tips and making sure that every throw is working toward improvement. She respects the potential in every rookie just as much as she respects the talent in the starting line. One of my most memorable experiences with Robyn was at Easterns this year, during the championship game. I was out with a quad injury. After going to the endzone with the team to celebrate a score, she took me aside for a moment and told me that she knows how hard it is to be sidelined but that she can’t wait to have me with her on the field again. After giving me a huge hug, she headed back to the line, leaving me speechless. It meant so much that in the middle of a championship game, she appreciated her teammates on the sideline just as much as she does the ones with her on the line. I feel so lucky to have Robyn as a teammate and feel that she embodies everything the Callahan award stands for.

Michelle Cartier
3^rd Year Player on Iowa Saucy Nancy
Team-Designated Lefty
Robyn’s Favorite Throwing Partner

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My first memory of Robyn Fennig is from Chicago Invite 2010. As a rookie standing on the sidelines, I was miserable. My feet were soaking wet, I couldn't feel my hands, and I wondered why I ever got myself into a sport that involves throwing a wet disc around in a blizzard. But when Saucy played Wisconsin Eau-Claire, I finally stopped shivering for a few seconds to marvel at the handler in the orange coat. Why? Because Robyn didn't seem bothered by the cold at all - in fact, she almost seemed fueled by it. She was getting insane d's, catching the swilliest throws, and, of course, working the disc through our cup as though it were 85 and sunny. When I found out she would become a member of Saucy the following year, I was incredibly excited to see how she would mesh with our team. After playing with Robyn for the past semester, I couldn't have a higher opinion of her. And it's not just her undeniable talent - because that part is obvious to all who have watched her on the field. It is the Robyn OFF the field that makes her so incredible. Robyn treats everyone equally - her opponents, her teammates, rookies, vets...she wants everyone to improve and to love the sport of ultimate as much as she does. Twice this season she has carried injured players off the field in the middle of a point she was playing in - and once it was a member of the opposing team. I can honestly say that I owe a huge amount of my personal improvement this year to Robyn, simply because I feel like she believes in me as a player. Whenever I get down on myself at a tournament or after a rough practice, she's always there to say, "Let's throw. What do you want to work on?" But probably my favorite part of Robyn is her passion. When she speaks in the huddle during a game, you can almost feel her adrenaline. She is always buzzing with excitement, desire, and drive. Not only does she want to play her best and have her team do well, she is always concerned about everyone having fun as well - I can't count the amount of times she's done something silly at practice (like ripping a dandelion out of the ground and putting it in her hair) just to get everyone to lighten up and enjoy themselves. Robyn's joy is infectious, and Saucy Nancy simply wouldn't have been as cohesive and determined of a team this year if we didn't have her. Robyn Fennig is the most dedicated, inspiring ultimate player I know. She deserves to win this year's Callahan award.

Chelsea Russell
2^nd Year Player on Iowa Saucy Nancy
Golden Girl featured Baton Twirler at the University of Iowa

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Robyn deserves this award particularly because of her attitude and playing ability. She is a phenomenal player on both offense and defense with her range of throws, ability to read and D discs, and her speed and aggressiveness. Not only is she an amazing player already, but she is always looking to improve her own playing. Along with that, she wants to help the team improve in any way possible. She keeps everything positive with her laugh, huge praises, and constructive criticism; having a leader with that kind of attitude makes me want to come to practice and try my hardest all the time. In games, I have also seen how Robyn treats players on other teams with respect as well and it is due to all of these qualities that I really look up to Robyn on and off the field. She is so dedicated to our team and to Ultimate in general and I feel she is a perfect candidate for the Callahan award.

Anna Pritchard
1^st Year (of Ultimate) Player on Iowa Saucy Nancy
Saucy FOTY Candidate

We did it. We're going to nationals.

Wow this weekend was amazing. I'll just get right down to it.

Pool game 1: Wisconsin

We started out regionals with a very difficult and high-stress game against Bella Donna, the third seed in our pool. There was a very strong upwind-downwind, and Bella won the flip which allowed them to lead by one throughout the game. Saucy played zone the majority of the game, Emelie McKain had a few very good upwind crossfield backhands through the cup however overall Saucy's defense was shutting Wisco down including a Callahan caught early in the game by Kristen. Offensively Saucy had good flow and throws which resulted in numerous opportunites for an upwind score, but had a case of first game drops which led to an uncharacteristic number of unforced turnovers. Once hardcap went on the score was 7-7, an upwinder had yet to be scored by either team and Saucy started the point on defense going upwind. This last point was a long battle, Saucy managed to work it up to the endzone twice but wasn't able to come up with a catch. Wisconsin brought it back to their side but Katie got a pivotal D in the endzone. Back on offense, Saucy worked it up the field and Jen put an end to the team's sloppy drops with a tricky grab on a throw that seemed out of reach, from there she got it upfield a little more to KP who dished to Robyn. Despite the wind fighting against her, Robyn put up a huck to the endzone and Audrey read it well for the score. Emotions were high after this huge win and the playing in that last point set a tone for the remainder of the weekend. Saucy was not going to let up no matter what the circumstances. Every girl on the line would leave everything she had on the field every point.

Saucy over Wisconsin 8-7

Pool game 2: Nebraska

The next game was against the Nebraska Cuddle Raptors. This was Nebraska's first ever trip to regionals, they're a new team with a lot of potential. Saucy won the flip (after it rolled and flipped across half the width of the field) and started the game going downwind. Nebraska's Emily Langland stood out with her very impressive throws, this girl has some of the strongest throws in the North Central region. Jojo, a freshman rookie on Saucy, had many great cuts this game and her speed is going to make her a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

Saucy over Nebraska 13-9

Pool game 3: Carleton

Our final game of pool play was against Carleton. By this game we'd really caught onto some momentum and were connecting well on offense, allowing us to go up 7-2. Defense remained strong from the beginning of the day, one highlight in this game was a foot block by Anna Pritchard - our nomination for FOTY. Carleton began to rack up some more points toward the end with their consistent throwing, it was a good game played by both teams but we were more able to capitalize with breaks and upwind scores. One highlight was when KP and Robyn managed to walk the disc up pass by pass straight to the upwind endzone through their zone. This sort of calm and consistent playing allowed us to get another win. Saucy walked away with the W and sealed 1st place in our pool.

Saucy over Carleton 13-9

Semis game - G2G: Wisconsin

By holding on to our 1st place seed in our pool we started out on Sunday playing semis against Wisconsin (who had beat Minnesota in quarters 10-3). This was the game to go - the very first game to go Saucy Nancy has played in for many years. We knew Wisconsin was going to bring it and it would be a tough game, we were nervous but also fired up and ready to take what we'd been working for all season - a trip to Boulder. The weather was less windy than it was the previous day, although still present as more of a crosswind. Saucy started the game hot with a 4-1 leading into a time out taken by Bella. From there Bella was starting to work it a bit better, but Saucy's zone defense wasn't making it easy on them and the points were very long.

Some highlights from the game:

KJ and KP shut down defense.

Really cool grab by Michelle.

Audrey and Liza relentless playing- these two girls never let up.

Jen's upfield throws.

Kristen's defense - she got 3 layout ds in one point alone.

Robyn's hucks. So. Damn. Good.

Saucy took the line 10-8 going upwind knowing that hardcap would go on during the point and that we had won the game. But even still, the girls brought intensity to the point and were determined to end the game with a score. Robyn put up a huck to Katie or Liza - both wide open in the endzone... Liza (Skyza) caught the disc and we earned ourselves a bid to nationals.

Saucy over Wisconsin 11-7

Finals game: Carleton

Our last game of the tournament was the championship against Carleton, who had defeated ISU in semis 11-3 and secured a bid to nationals. The game started mostly trading points, but with a backhand huck by KP to Kristen saucy broke away. Two other highlights was yet another beautiful huck by KP and a classic KJ sky, we all know she's got crazy ups but somehow she always manages to one up her previous insane sky. I also have to hand it to Elise from Syzygy for her defense - she got multiple handblocks in this game. The game had numerous long points, but Saucy maintained at least a two point lead after the initial break away at 6-4. Katie scored the game winning point with yet another layout - solidifying our title as North Central Region Champions.

Saucy over Carleton 11-8

After a quick celebration of our finish, we headed over to the other fields to watch our guys earn themselves a bid to nationals as they crushed Minnesota 15-3 and then upset Carleton, the #1 team in the country, with a score of 14-6 for the second place title.

It was a beyond phenomenal weekend for Iowa ultimate. This will be the first time any girl on the current team will get to play at college nationals. Saucy earned a spot at nationals for the first time since 2005 and a first place finish at regionals for the first time in the program's history. Saucy and IHUC are making the trip to the championship competition together for the first time since 2004. What we saw this weekend was that wind can play a big factor in games, but fortunately Iowa knows how to work the wind to our advantage both offensively and defensively.

Every saucy put their all into this weekend which should result in us getting a number one seed in one of the pools going into nationals. Best of all we get 4 more weeks to practice and play with a team full of saucy love.

-Alyx

All-Region Nominations

Kristen Appelson U of Iowa Saucy Nancy #1 (Sr) – Kristen is one of Saucy Nancy’s captains and has been a very important part of the team for the past four years. She’s a great leader, always bringing new knowledge in practice and positivity at tournaments. Kristen has been one of our go-to cutters since she was a sophomore and has helped new players learn her skills. As a player, she is very good at getting open and has a sick backhand break once she gets the disc. Kristen is one of our shorter girls but on defense she’s one of the best at reading discs and skying opponents.

Liza Minor U of Iowa Saucy Nancy #3 (So) – Liza is Saucy’s youngest player on the starting line, she played ultimate for the first time when she joined the team in January 2010. Liza picked up the game very quickly and now looks like she’s been playing much longer than she has. She is a very smart cutter, you can tell when she plays she’s analyzing the field to see how and when to get open. She’s also worked hard to develop solid throws and has become great at stepping out and throwing continuations for downfield cutters. As a defender, Liza is often used as an example of how to play a mid in zone at practice and has killer endurance during tournaments, she’s always pushing herself.

Katie Johnson U of Iowa Saucy Nancy #7 (Sr) – It’s clear that Katie’s raw athleticism makes her a huge strength on the field both offensively and defensively (http://skydmagazine.com/2011/01/athl...a-saucy-nancy/ ). I think what really makes her standout though is her drive and fearlessness to go after every disc, even when it may seem unreachable. Last year was her first year on Saucy Nancy and this year she’s worked hard to improve her throwing skills, allowing her to become an integral part in Iowa’s starting offensive line not only as a receiver but also as a thrower. On defense she’s even more of a threat, with a stifling mark and impressive man-to-man defense.

Chelsea Twohig U of Iowa Saucy Nancy #10 (Gr) – Chelsea is an all-around great player. She is spirited and friendly towards opponents, great at bringing her teammates up, and also brings a lot of fire to the field. Chelsea has awesome throws, especially her backhand break and huck. She is a very versatile player, usually a primary cuttwe for Saucy but also a starting handler sometimes as well. On defense she has a very intense mark and is a smart defender in both man and zone d.

Kelli “KP” Parsons U of Iowa Saucy Nancy #17 (Sr) – This is KP’s fourth and final year with Saucy Nancy and she’s been a very valuable part of the team throughout the seasons. She’s brought leadership to the team through her knowledge and love for the game. As a player, KP is a very solid handler who makes smart decisions with clean executions, very rarely turning the disc over. On defense KP is often getting lay out d’s and does everything she can to not let her girl get to the disc.

Robyn Fennig U of Iowa Saucy Nancy #44 (Gr) – Robyn has fit right into Saucy Nancy since coming from Eau-Claire. She’s brought a lot of new insight to our team and is also a great motivator. She’s very dedicated and has put in numerous hours outside of practice to work on her throws, work-out, help her teammates improve, and learn about the competition. She has also helped expand the development and knowledge of ultimate outside of our team. On the field, Robyn is a huge offensive and defensive threat. She has well-tuned incut throws and huge hucks on offense. Defensively, Robyn is very good at reading discs and going up against players in the air, as well as horizontally for a lay out D. Robyn also brings such high energy - you can see on her face how happy she is to be playing, which always helps boost up her teammates.

-Alyx Averkamp #12
Co-Captain of Saucy Nancy
University of Iowa

The Regular Season

It's been a busy past month for Saucy Nancy. I, and much of the rest of the team, did not spend a weekend in Iowa City from the last in February through the first weekend of April. Five tournaments, 2-4 practices a week, extra long spring break, numerous physical therapy appointments, and countless hours in the car have left me with little time or energy to collect my thoughts. I've regret not writing about the past month of ultimate on a regular basis because it's been a very exciting one that I'm sure all of us saucies will never forget, but will want to remember in vivid detail. Fortunately, Robyn somehow has managed to keep up with tournament writeups on her blog . Now I'll try to summarize Saucy's regular season in one entry that will probably end up being ridiculously long from my own perspective - from the sideline. I was unlucky enough to break my leg & ankle and spent the past three months progressing from a cast to a boot to an ankle brace. It's been a rough three months to say the least, but in another light it's given me the opportunity to see our team and the sport of ultimate from another view. I've watched somewhere around 50 games of ultimate since late January, starting with our first games against competition at our indoor scrimmage tournament in the bubble.

I'm not going to lie, this tournament and our first couple weeks of practice after winter break were a little ugly to watch. Saucy seemed very rusty after break and it was frustrating to see girls dropping easily catchable discs. A couple weeks into February though it seemed like everything was suddenly starting to click, and just before our first tournament our team was really starting to come together. At the beginning of March we started our tour of without limits tournament with Midwest Throwdown in St. Louis. We came into this tournament seeded 5th behind Wisconsin, Northwestern, Wash U, and Colorado College. Saturday was a windy, muddy, and cold day with a few really long points. However, in the end Saucy managed to win our pool pretty handily.
8-1 over Saint Louis
15-0 over Wisc Eau Claire
10-5 over Northwestern

That night our team put into place a new routine different from what we've always done in the past - we didn't spend Saturday night partying, and instead spent the night hanging out, doing homework, and going to sleep early. I definitely think this has benefited our team in our Sunday game play. Saucy has continuously started out fairly sluggish during our first games on both Saturday and Sunday, and I think it's been a regular problem for us to take awhile to bring focus and high energy to the first game. (See me last semester at MLC after staying up until 2 and then throwing a bunch of stupid turnovers in our first game of bracket play). This semester there's been significant improvement with starting out strong in our first game, especially on Sundays. We've won our first games on Sundays pretty easily at every tournament this season which is important because a big win in pre-quarters gives us a push of positivity and momentum to take through to the next few harder games.
That being said, we won our first game of bracket play against Carleton B, then moved onto quarters against Iowa State. Iowa State was one of the few games I bothered to take stats during, and the stats I took excited me because it showed how much depth we have on our team. 10 different girls scored points during this game, and a number of different handlers and cutters got assists with very few errors. Next was semis against Colorado. This game against Colorado was important to us because it was our chance to get redemption for a tough loss last semester at MLC (7-13 in semis). We started out very strong and racked up a lot of points at the beginning, not letting their zone stifle us as much as it had in Missouri. We took half 7-0, but they fought back and scored some more toward the end. Saucy had built up a solid lead, though, and made it into the finals. The finals game was a very emotional and intense one for both teams. Wisconsin came out strong and Saucy went down for the first time 0-2. This game Saucy also struggled with a trend we've seen throughout the season - injuries. At each tournament at least 2 girls have been out at some point due to shin, back, knee, ankle, foot, shoulder, etc. problems... the list goes on. At least 2 cutters (Audrey and Timko) were out for this game Fortunately though the remaining girls managed to rally some energy and boost up their intensity, which resulted in saucy taking half 7-6. After half it was a battle for the game, with only 2 points scored post-half. During the 7-7 point the observer got in the way of a could-have-been score by Bella. Hardcap went on, and after we called a timeout on our endzone Chelsea finished the game with a score, getting us first place at Midwest Throwdown.

11-4 over Carleton B

13-4 over Iowa State

10-6 over Colorado

8-7 over Wisonsin

At this tournament Saucy got a little bit of publicity on a local St. Louis news channel by being named "Little Cesars Team of the Week". I love the footage they got of our team because it shows how valuable every girl on the field is... there's so many different touches in the points they taped. Check it out - http://tinyurl.com/6jyc554

The following week Saucy headed to Wilmington for Easterns, coming into the tournament seeded 3rd.

Day one we won all three games of pool play. Although Michigan started out slow against us, we went up 5-0 at first, they definitely ended up showing us that they are some tough competition and foreshadowed a harder game to come at Centex. We were also reminded in the Harvard game that there is little time to lose focus. We came into this game a little drained after the Michigan game and were somewhat complacent for the first few points, which resulted in them going up at first 2-4 and us taking a close half. However during half we regained focus and came out to win the game definitively.

13-4 over North Carolina State

13-10 over Michigan

13-7 over Harvard

The next day we started out against Iowa State in quarters, then played UNC in semis. Without a doubt this was my favorite game to watch and be apart of on the sidelines all season. Although UNC came into the tournament seeded above us, we came into this game really fired up and ready to bring it. There were a number of long points, but Saucy was really on top of things this game and took half 8-3. The sideline energy was high and the on field chemistry was peaking with awesome hammers and hucks. Saucy won the game and met up with Wisconsin in the finals again, giving us the chance to prove our win at Throwdown wasn't just an observer fluke. The sun was out during this game and girls were starting to look pretty tired. The game started out close, with our teams trading points and bringing the score to 6-5. However with a few nicely placed hucks from Twohig we managed to break away into half 8-5 and then took the game 13-7, giving us our second tournament win.

13-6 over Iowa State

13-7 over UNC

13-7 over Wisconsin

After easterns, some of the girls went back to Iowa City while 15 of us headed to Georgia to meet up and camp with our guys team and compete as a girls team in the High Tide spring break tournament. The three sanctioned tournaments we attended this season all had fairly high level competition, especially during bracket play, so Mikey called lines during every game and at times they were pretty tight. We played open lines and fairly laidback at high tide, giving new players a lot of playing time and older players the opportunity to try new things like the hammer they hadn't yet mastered in game situations. The few days spent in Georgia were a nice break from high pressure games to gain more experience for the five rookies who came and for all of us to bond more as a team. I definitely think an ultimate spring break is a necessary part of the college ultimate experience.

Five days after getting back from the 18 hour drive from Georgia, we packed back up and headed to Austin, TX for Centex. This tournament was especially exciting and important because it'd give us the chance to play west coast teams that we hadn't yet had the opportunity to play. We arrived Friday afternoon and spent the evening getting tatted up and practicing our dance for the following night, then slept in our mansion of a hotel. Our first game of the morning was against Washington. This game started out close, with us trading points but trailing 5-6. They took half 8-5 and we struggled to keep up with them the rest of the game. Our main problem was execution, there were a lot more unforced errors in this game than in the following games. Washington won the game, ending our 13-0 run. Our next game was a lot cleaner, which earned us a solid win over Northwestern. The final game of the day was against UCLA. This game the rookies really stepped it up and I could see a lot of confidence and improvement since playing the previous week at High Tide. We won the game and clinched second placed in our pool, meaning we wouldn't have to play a crossover game that evening. That night we showed off our dance moves in the annual centex dance-off. We danced to a song we've used to boost ourselves in games throughout the season- Rasputin, and with our secret weapon of a fire-baton twirling golden girl we managed to win second place.

7-12 Washington over Saucy

15-6 over Northwestern

15-9 over UCLA

First game of Sunday was pre-quarters against Cal. Our zone defense was working it and our offense was clean and efficient. Next up we played Michigan in quarters. This was probably the most stressful game for me to watch all season. Winning the game would mean we'd at least hold seed but losing the game would mean we'd be out of the championship bracket. We had already beat Michigan once, but this time they came out fired up from the very beginning. We traded points throughout the game with both teams playing a lot of zone. There was a lot of incidences of well-run offense by both teams only to end up turning it over in the endzone. The game came down to universe point on hardcap. Saucy came out of a time out near our endzone with a very tight zone d from Michigan. Our handlers stayed calm and worked the disc until Bekah saw an opening to Katie for the score. After winning the game against Michigan, we headed to Semis to play UNCW. Saucy started out strong in this game, taking the lead from the beginning. Katie really stood out in this game, she got a lot of exciting scores and was all over the place on defense. But then Seaweed battled back and brought the game closer. There was a lot of scrappy playing and aggressive defense from both teams during this game, and it could have gone either way. In the end though, UNCW won on universe point. After this game we moved on to play Tufts for the third place finish. Once again, we started out strong but Tufts caught up and took half 8-6. Our energy was starting to look pretty low during this game, but Saucy continued to fight - Audrey was especially bringing it in this game with her run through defense. We brought the score to universe point for the third game in a row, but couldn't capitalize for the score.

12-7 over California

9-8 over Michigan

11-12 UNCW over Saucy

12-13 Tufts over Saucy

Saucy finished 4th place at Centex against the toughest competition in the country. We were very happy with this finish and not too disappointed with our three losses during the weekend because none of them were a shut out and all could have gone differently.
Going into the series we're feeling confident and looking forward to the improvement we'll see in the next few weeks of practice leading up to regionals.

Boot's thoughts: Life of an injured girl

This post is a little more personal than usual. I'll have another post out tomorrow with a summary of our regular season, right before we head into the series.

After 3 months of not playing ultimate I'm finally starting to get my feet back on the field. At the beginning of January I broke my leg in three places when two guys landed on top of me while playing ultimate inside. This left me incapable of even walking right at the start of my third season with Saucy and my doctor guessed I'd maybe start running at the beginning of April. I've tried not to dwell on it, but everyonce in awhile I find myself thinking 'Damn I sure wish I could go back to that day and not go to practice'. I spent the first month of the season crutching through the Iowa winter in a cast, then once February got here a moved into a boot. My left calf and quad had widdled down to a much smaller size than my right leg. This was frustrating to see after spending November and December lifting weights and trying to build muscle for speed for the first time in my life. Once I was no longer in the cast I could finally start doing physical therapy, which I've been going to 2-3 days a week and have to do on my own everyday. Physical therapy is incredibly boring and I can't wait for the day when I no longer have to do it religiously. Fortunately though I have a physical therapist who understands the urgency of me getting better and has pushed me hard enough so that I've improved faster than he and the orthopedist expected. Unfortunately though it's not soon enough for me, and everyday since I've been able to start walking I go and bug him asking if I can play yet.

When I was at Centex I spoke to a girl on UCLA who was in a cast due to a fracture. When I asked her what happened she seemed pretty pissed off about the situation (understandably so) and told me that she'll cut the cast off herself to play at conferences. Although that's clearly not the best decision, I definitely feel her pain in every sense of the word. I think a lot of people who play ultimate would go as far as to say their addicted to the sport. Not playing for three plus months just really, really sucks.

As the series draws nearer I see the clock ticking down, leaving less and less time for me to fully recover and play at my top capacity. I'm definitely getting there, but there's still progress to be made. Now I'm finding that the end of my recovery is becoming the hardest part in the process. One day my ankle will feel relatively normal so I'll participate the whole time at practice only to find the next day that it's sore, tired, and unstable. I'm trying to keep my body intact, my ankle not sore, build cardio back up, and regain game situation skills. Last week was a rough week for me, I tried playing at fool's fest but was too focused on the mental barrier of not re-injuring my leg to catch even the simplest of throws. Then on Thursday I had trouble walking normal and sat out at practice. This was the first time in awhile I was genuinely upset about the situation, and overall I was just really bitter. I've been very emotionally invested in every point saucy has won or lost this season and feel connected to the success our team has had. At the same time, though, I've selfishly felt jealous that I haven't directly contributed to a single assist or score to lead us to where we are - 3rd in the nation.

This is where I was last week. Pissed off. The last few days though have been the best I've felt since before the break. On Tuesday I practiced the whole time without pain and threw my first perfect throw outside in a game situation since November. It felt so damn good. Although I still have a ways to go with regaining execution and fitness, I'm feeling optimistic now. Last night I was talking to Justine about how happy I was things were finally starting to feel right again. I told her that I felt like I willed it to happen just in time, she responded with "I think we all did". I definitely think she's right. If I didn't feel such a commitment and love for our team I wouldn't have worked as hard as I did to get better. Although it's been a rough few months, and at times I'd get sick of hearing people ask me "how much longer" I've always appreciated that I've been missed. So thank you all for getting me to where I am now, I'm so excited to be playing with you guys again.

-Alyx aka Boot

Introducing Saucy Nancy 2011

Saucy Nancy will be heading to our first tournament of the spring season in a little more than a week. We've been lifting, sprinting, and practicing hard for the past three months but are ready to head back outside and see what we can do against the competition. Midwest Throwdown in St. Louis, Missouri will kick off a busy month of tournaments for us with Easterns in North Carolina, fun at High Tide in Georgia, and Centex one after another until the end of March.

Saucy is returning 16 players from our team that placed 4th at Central Regionals and has 11 awesome new additions.

#1 Kristen "Apple" Appelson, Captain, Cutter, 4th year of sauce - Might be short, but can cut and sky with the best. Will beg to stop at Cracker Barrel on the way to any tournament.

#3 Liza Minor, Cutter, 2nd year of sauce - Absorbs ultimate like a sponge. Avid stumbler and has brown eyes FTW.

#4 Sara Timko, Cutter, 3rd year of sauce - Likes throwing... really far. Occasionally referred to as Coco and will let out a snort here and there.

#5 Michelle Cartier, Cutter, 3rd year of sauce - Saucy's favorite lefty. Never fails to miss a tricky grab. Can fall asleep on the way to all fields no matter how short the drive.

#6 Audrey Erickson, Cutter, 2nd year of sauce - Stellar defender. Runs really fast, especially when bribed with ice cream. BFG.

#7 Katie "KJ/Rage Kage" Johnson, Cutter, 2nd year of sauce - Can jump higher and run faster than most men and look hot while doing so.

#8 Annie Cornell, Cutter, Rookie - Handler in the making? This rookies getting throws.

#9 Lauren Rice, Cutter, Rookie - Very enthusiastic, especially about ultimate and her fear of snakes.

#10 Chelsea Twohig, Cutter, 2nd year of sauce - Killer mark and constant cutting. Loves teeth, spanish, and making woot sounds.

#11 Chelsea Russell, Cutter, 2nd year of sauce - Gets boners for Saucy. She's the golden girl... duh.

#12 Alyx Averkamp, Captain, Handler, 3rd year of sauce - Currently broken and reppin' the name Boot. Often reminded of how she use to suck.

#13 Bekah Hickernell, Handler, 2nd year of sauce - Will lay you out no matter how dirty it gets her or how squishy it makes her knee.

#14 Carolyn Sleeth, Handler, 3rd year of sauce - Small girl with a lot of passion and a big voice... at least until she loses it.

#17 Kelli "KP" Parsons, Handler, 4th year of sauce -Has been playing ultimate since high school and has the throws to prove it. Loves all things rocks.

#18 Hannah "Rowboat" Rohret, Handler, 4th year of sauce - Left us for Spain last year and returned with some handling skillz that are muy guay.

#21 Kelsey "Panky" Defenbaugh, Cutter, Rookie - Developing some really sticky hands.

#22 Victoria Castillo, Cutter, 2nd year of sauce -Saucy Nancy's team mom.

#23 Erin Vorland, Cutter, Rookie - The tall girl Saucy has been asking for.

#25 Jenny Graham, Cutter, Rookie - Catches everything. Rookie who shows up in five shorts on a regular basis = bonus points.

#28 Justine Hart, Handler, 3rd year of sauce - Can throw a disc infinitely farther than she can throw her voice. Also loves all things rocks.

#30 Janet Kang, Cutter, Rookie - Soccer player turned ultimate girl. Brings her cute puppy mascot to the fields.

#32 Jojo Petersen, Cutter, Rookie - Tiny, but fast. Luna Lovegood's doppelganger. Has cool hats.

#33 Anna Pritchard, Cutter, Rookie - Another Sioux City prodigy brought to you by Andrea Uhl.

#38 Laura Kerr, Cutter, Rookie - Bringing her goalie skills to the ultimate field... got a layout D in her first game ever.

#44 Robyn Fennig, Handler, 1st year of sauce - That one SOL girl who kept owning us in Zone-D last year. Wears cool skirts.

#49 Jen Nowak, Cutter, 3rd year of sauce - Has a secret hammer that will one day dominate the world, because she's savior of the universe.

#97 Andrea Uhl, Captain, Handler, 4th year of sauce -Never backs down and is all about snatching. Obsessed with ultimate, the environment, and her manual car.