Monday, June 06, 2011

Seaweed, the University of North Carolina Wilmington's women's Ultimate Frisbee team is now ranked fifth in the nation.

The club team competed against the top twenty ranked college teams in the U.S. at the USA Ultimate College National Championships in Boulder, Colo. May 27-29. Seaweed took fifth place among competitors that included UNC Chapel Hill and Stanford University.

"Nationals is an incredible opportunity. We get to represent UNCW and compete against some of the biggest and best universities in the nation," said Michelle Guadagno, Seaweed team president.

Ultimate Frisbee is a non-contact sport played with seven people on each team. The game starts with each team lined up on their respective end zone. The defending team "pulls" (throws) the frisbee to the offensive team, similar to a kick-off in football. Offensive team players aim to throw the disc down the field to be caught by one of their players in the end zone. One point is awarded each time this goal is achieved.

Seaweed practiced six times a week for more than two hours to prepare for nationals. Several team members practiced further as players in a local league. The team has high hopes for next year, when they plan to take on nationals again.

"With the continued support of our alumni and coaches, we will set our goals even higher for next season to bring the title back to Wilmington as in years past!" said Guadagno.

The nationally ranked team was started by a small group of Ultimate enthusiast UNCW students in 1988. The team quickly began competing at the national level and won the Ultimate Players Association (UPA) National Championship in 1992. Seaweed continued to soar in the UPA with a second national championship in 1996 and three Final Four appearances.

Media are invited to attend practices. Interviews are available with players and coaches.

Media Contact: Emily Jones, Media Relations, 910.962.3171 or jonesel@uncw.edu