The Cutting Edge of Sports (May, 2014) | Page 7

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YOUTH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

In the summer of 2013, North Carolina sent three teams from the Triangle area to Minnesota to compete in the annual Youth Club Championship (YCC): an Under-19 (U-19) girls’ team, an Under-16 (U-16) boys’ team, and an Under-19 (U-19) boys’ team.

The U-19 girls’ team got 6th place out of 8 girls’ teams that were present. In previous years, they had done better, but with so many new players, it was already a great tournament. “The girls played very hard and never gave up, even at the end. They had the fighting spirit and I am very proud of them,” says Coach Sasha. The U-19 boys’ team got 3rd place out of 19 teams, and the U-16 boys’ team got 2nd place out of 9 teams.

National Tournament in Blaine, Minnesota

All of the teams trained very hard over the summer and they proved themselves at the tournament. “None of the games that they lost were an easy win for the other team,” says Coach Aisling, “they girls and boys put up a fierce fight and many of the points lasted over 10 minutes long!” The girls’ teams had many new players, so being able to work together so well for the first time is quite amazing.

“They set up and executed field strategies perfectly at times and made it seem like they had played together for years. Me and the other coaches for the girls’ team were amazed as we watched them practically read each others’ minds and work the disc up the field for the score,” says Coach Heather Ann.

Now that the 2014 YCC is coming up, players are anticipating the tournament and the training that will be coming with excitement. Perhaps this year they will impress us even more!

mie White

Marketing&Advertising Expert

U-16 Boys': NC Hammer

U-19 Girls': Seattle

Photo credit: Alex Fraser