It's funny how dreams take seed. I don't remember many things, but I remember being at the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan when the team manager announced that the 2013 World Games were to be held in Cali, Colombia. That was all it took for an emotionally laden nerve signal of hope to worm its way into my brain and settle like a dormant seed. Fast forward 3 years through two weddings (a super secret one, and a super fun public one), 3 years of teaching, a USAU National Championship, and summer adventures to Europe, Alaska, & India. Numerous times during this 3 years we spoke of wanting to teach abroad, and Colombia was always our go to pipe dream (mountains, beaches, and a country-wide competitive Ultimate program...what more could a person ask for?!). Suddenly, 2013 was upon us.
Mike came into tryouts fresh off a USAU National Championship and playing the best Ultimate of his life. I came into it injured and unsure if I was even going to tryout. We both flew to San Francisco over our Spring Break to the West Coast tryout. Once again one of the most rewarding experiences of the entire process was the tryout, a grueling 2 day affair involving full field 3 vs 3 and other torture games devised by Alex and Matty, our coaches.
Mike got the email saying he had made the team one morning in April before school. With a dose of chutzpah that still impresses me, he told me (with a huge smile on his face) to check my email. Immense excitement and workout extravaganza ensued.
In short, here is a breakdown of what the next few months involved:
It's been a whirlwind journey, but we've both worked super hard and are itching to get on that field and defend the USA title together. There are a few ways you can keep up with the action, including:
Mike came into tryouts fresh off a USAU National Championship and playing the best Ultimate of his life. I came into it injured and unsure if I was even going to tryout. We both flew to San Francisco over our Spring Break to the West Coast tryout. Once again one of the most rewarding experiences of the entire process was the tryout, a grueling 2 day affair involving full field 3 vs 3 and other torture games devised by Alex and Matty, our coaches.
Mike got the email saying he had made the team one morning in April before school. With a dose of chutzpah that still impresses me, he told me (with a huge smile on his face) to check my email. Immense excitement and workout extravaganza ensued.
In short, here is a breakdown of what the next few months involved:
- working out 5-7 days a week, sometimes two-a-days
- trying to avoid becoming crappy teachers
- traveling to practices and tournaments all over the country (San Fran, Boston, Poultry Days in Ohio*, Raleigh, Denver)
- meeting our incredible USA teammates and bonding over AMA (it's a game called "Ask Me Anything")
- a near finger-losing brush with frost bite when Mike improperly iced his finger with a cold pack (see photo evidence below*)
- Mike traveling for free to Russia to coach a womens team*
- Showdown and Doublewide tryouts and practices on non-USA weekends
- summer break!!
- a Natenberg family cruise to the Bahamas!*
- visiting Granny Bea and Aunt Faye in Arkansas
- a few wonderful days in Austin
Team USA at Poultry Days. We lost to Canada by one after beating them on Saturday in pool play, so we're one and one. It will be an awesome re-match in Colombia!
Mike's finger a few days after the frost bite scare. This happened the day we found out we both made the travel squad, so it was a tense few weeks while we waited to see if he would lose part of his finger.
Another frost bite pic. Ewww. It remains to be seen if he'll ever grow that fingernail back since it popped off a few weeks later.
Our teammate Chase Sparling-Beckley. It was such a blast to get to meet and play with him after hearing so many good things from Chelsea, my 2009 teammate and bud.
Nicky, Ashlin, Russell, Rohre, Georgia, and me during a rainstorm at a practice in Denver.
Mike, Martin, Katie, and Kostya in St. Petersburg for a coaching clinic.
Baby Laila rockin' it on the Natenberg family cruise!
It's been a whirlwind journey, but we've both worked super hard and are itching to get on that field and defend the USA title together. There are a few ways you can keep up with the action, including:
Team USA blog: general team shenanigans and a link to the live streaming for all games (in Central time zone)
Team USA Twitter : @USAUltimateWG
USA Schedule:
- July 28:
- 11:30 am - USA vs. Australia
- 7:10 pm - USA vs. Canada
- July 29:
- 10:00 am - USA vs. Colombia
- 4:10 pm - USA vs. Japan
- July 30:
- 11:30 am - USA vs. Great Britain
- 4:00 pm - bronze medal game
- 6:00 pm - gold medal game
1 comment:
Congrats on the first two wins! It's not quite feasible for me to catch the streams, but I've been checking in on the team blog. See you when you return in triumph!
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