Start off with a bang?

Well, as you may have guessed from the monstrously large version of the picture on this page, I am technologically challenged. Not as bad as my grandmother but worse off than either of my parents if that gives you an estimate.

Whether or not you knew it before, I am the dashingly trendy player in the Crossword flannel. Did I even have to buy the PJ's for this costume tournament like the majority of Melee? Answer-- no.

I am a fourth-year at UT and am hoping (fingers crossed) to use my fifth year of eligibility as I begin grad school next year. Let's assume that will work itself out. In the meantime I am about to begin the Spring Season with the most talented group of female athletes I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Led by our coaches Terry and BS the well-rounded roster of sophomores to really old ladies (aka our law student and our.. seventh year?) hope to do great things on the ultimate field. Other teams-- watch out. We are an athletic force to be reckoned with. ;)

So, my story begins back in Houston, TX my sophomore year of high school. A lifelong cross country/track runner and soccer player, I first discovered an addiction to plastic when cross country would play ultimate after our Friday morning easy runs. I had the pleasure of growing up with several soon-to-be college ultimate players (including a fellow Texas teammate and the current Georgia Tech men's captain). My high school soon partook in the "Houston high school league," though rough around the edges, organized as a labor of love by said former GATech captain. I met Michelle "Tool" Ng my.. senior year of high school maybe?.. and soon learned that college had a whole other level of competition to offer women like me.

As fate would have it I did end up at UT and joined Tool and about 50 other amazing, life-changing players my first semester of college in the journey to Ultimate greatness. Nerd that I am, I elected to play a season on the B team to make sure I could keep my grades up. That first season of college is one you will never forget. It doubles the size of your brain's "frisbee" lobe. Anyway, I managed to do well in school and moved up to Melee second season. That was the year we had a heartbreaking loss in the game to go at Regionals, after which all the returners vowed to take the spot for Nattys. My third year we accomplished our goals and finished undefeated through the series and on the plane to Madison.

This season got off to an interesting start. Our goals high and our commitment hopefully just as high we will be on our way to our best-ever Nationals finish (knock on wood) if everything goes as planned. We have a larger roster than initially intended and an unplanned freshmen-less one at that. We had two ACL tears between Harvest and JPN but apparently got a new teammate? Though attendance hasn't been stellar Melee is ready to buckle down and kick our butts into high gear to do whatever it takes on the road to Boulder this year.

I have no idea how often I will be writing or "blogging" as the pros call it.. but I will touchbase when I can! First practice back is next Tuesday and we've been doing our winter workouts so hopefully we can get off to a great start!

Until next time-- Melee Love

ps.. is this how blogs are supposed to be? :)