YouthUltimate.com

The youth Ultimate scene is changing; growing.  A new website that is expanding everyday based on the east coast.  The editor and founder contacted me a few days ago and asked me to write for his website periodically.  This is a very exciting gig for me and this goes to show that the demand for news in the ever-expanding Ultimate community is raising.  I would love if any reader of this blog instead switches over to YouthUltimate.com and reads the higher quality content and articles.  The editors and writers have more resources and time than I do and are better prepared to give you the best youth Ultimate information possible.  Like us on Facebook, visit the site, and enjoy my eloquent prose.  I sold out and I feel great about it.

Thanks for reading, to those of you who have been loyal and followed please check out YouthUltimate.com if you need to get that high school Ultimate fix that I alone was unable to provide.

-Vinh

#5 in Our Hearts

        As some of you know already, Connor Ausland and Jack Harnsongkram of South Eugene High School tragically died on Feb. 5 while sitting on a rocky outcropping in Smelt Sands State Park in Yachats, OR.  The Two were finalists in the "Mr. Axeman" pageant run by SEHS to raise money in the community for the Children's Miracle Network.  A sneaker wave caught the two, with a group of other "Mr. Axeman" finalists and friends at roughly noon and swept them into to unforgiving ocean.  As the sudden shockwave of grief and horror spread throughout the community, I couldn't believe what was happening.  School on Monday was surreal.  Sobbing students held each other, teachers broke down in front of class and reality struck.  No more Connor.  No more Jack.  Through the thick, emotional air there was a strong sense of unity.  If one good thing could come of this freak accident it would be an important life lesson learned the hard way; Hold on to those you have, never let the people you love forget that you love them and that life is a fragile, precarious thing-- treat it carefully and with respect.

        Connor Gregory Ausland was 6'3'', strikingly handsome, intelligent, well-liked, musically talented, brazen and wise beyond his years as described by his family and friends.  He played varsity basketball, spoke fluent French and loved Ultimate.  While on the South Eugene Ultimate team he was on the starting line that brought home the Westerns title.  Our boys lost a deep threat and a fiery competitor, but most of all we lost a brother.  A fellow teammate should not be someone to take for granted.  A teammate who practices day in and day out is hard to come by and they should be cherished lovingly.  Ask yourself, how many players come to every practice, the wet and windy days especially?  How many players will put their bodies on the line for you and your team every point?  How many players will drag their soggy cleats out of their bag to run sprints after and full schedule of academics?  The number that you come up with should be equivalent to the amount of players on your team, and if not, than you are in big trouble.

        Connor could be a cheerleader, a coach, a wing, handler (preferably not), cutter or sideline voice.  Connor is my inspiration.  He is the reason why I play the game.  I don't play for scholarships or coaches or even glory, I play for my team.  Connor and the South Eugene squad did what few thought was too impressive.  The "USA Ultimate" magazine only had a small write up of a few paragraphs and no photos of the team.  Most people in the community did not react.  We had a small article in one of Eugene's weekly newspapers, but we thought we deserved a ticker tape parade.  All of the minor annoyances did not really seem to bother us though, we were champions.  Connor proudly sported a long sleeved shirt that he bought from the Five Ultimate booth for weeks after we won.  He will be sorely missed.  I loved him as a teammate and person and I will never forget him.  Rest in peace Jack and Connor.
Love, Vinh

Finals are over!!!

The biannual evaluation of our academic progress worth anywhere from 10-15% of one's total class performance came to a close last week.  For two weeks, students across the country partook in strenuous mental marathons in preparation for these make-or-break exams that, more often than not was the difference between two letter grades.  Why must I have to persuade a teacher into swinging my grade two tenths of a percent up?  Anyway, this is why I have not been posting for a while.  So to all of you who I have given "Blog Blue Balls," I'm sorry I have been such a tease.  I will try my hardest to post at least once a week and provide you with as much High School Ultimate Commentary as possible.

Now, for the important stuff: Spring season has officially started.  Practices are getting harder, committed players stay and future lacrosse players leave, coaches get angrier and your team finally finds its identity.  Fall season is, in retrospect pointless now because it's Spring season baby!  Throw that vertical stack out the window and start teaching your confused little Freshmen such strategic mind-fucks as the cup and end zone offense.  Say goodbye to meager, cold tournaments and look forward to slightly larger, cold tournaments.  While the world holds its breath for Westerns/ Easterns and YCC, now we must prepare ourselves.  Finals are over and Spring season is upon us.

We, at HSUC love your input.  How do you transition from the Fall to the Spring?  What Spring tourneys are you most pumped for?  As a team, how do you best prepare yourselves for the rigors of Spring?  Email me and comment.

Sweet Meat Highlights from 2010 HS Western National Championship

Amherst and South Eugene Repeat?

The extremely talented and prolific teams from both ends of the U.S. definitely proved their worth last year stomping every opponent they had faced.  With a few blow outs between the two teams and impressive wins that never really seemed to come close, these squads deserved to be our outright open winners.  Though the schools are separated by 3,000 miles, two South Eugene Axemen and three Amherst Hurricanes connected to represent Team USA in Heilbronn, Germany for the WJUC over last summer. It is no question, two incredible teams from both coasts.

That was last year.

The question that we at HSUC want you to answer is whether or not these great teams from last year can repeat.  Who are the new stars on these teams?  Which teams can dethrone SEHS and ARHS?  Who is more likely to repeat?

Post a comment and spread the word about H.S. Ultimate Commentary

Lets try this

I am completely new to blogs and to be honest I have never really been much of a computer guy.  My hope for this little project is not to become the next "The Huddle" or use this as a medium to one day become a writer for USAU, but to cater to those eager high school players who understand those references.  I hope that the oh-so important demographic of Ultimate that our governing body loves to talk about is represented well.  I felt the need to create a blog focused on youth Ultimate because I have scoured the Internet for ages searching high and low for a satisfactory site to immerse myself in.  I make daily visits to the usual online magazines and web sites dedicated to our great sport but all only feature youth Ultimate every once in the while or have a small section thrown in as if added as an afterthought.  If this blog cannot deliver the goods, I really do hope that some other site will pop up to feed my Ultimate addiction and enable some more late night homework procrastination.  Anyway, post a comment with any ideas, links, or criticism.

Vinh