Thursday, February 9, 2012

Women’s ultimate gains momentum on campus

By on March 28, 2007

Hodawgs club co-captain Jessica Manley (front left) plays with the team
WAITES LASETER
Hodawgs club co-captain Jessica Manley (front left) plays with the team's coach, Eileen Murray, during practice.

Although they are little known on campus, the University’s Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team, the Hodawgs, is ranked 17th in the nation this season and won a national title in 2001.

Kerri Napoleon, a first-year graduate student from Snellville, said although Ultimate Frisbee is similar to football, there are some differences.

“In Ultimate Frisbee, there are seven players from each team on the field at one time,” Napoleon said. “There is a kickoff like in football, and an offense and a defense.”

“The disc is thrown from one player to another along the field until it is in the end zone, which scores a point for the offensive,” she said. “If the disc is intercepted by the defensive, or the disc hits the ground, it goes to the other team.”

The Hodawgs hosted a Fall League last semester to garner interest for the team and to help recruit players for the spring.

According to Sandra Davis, a 2006 alum from Decatur, the event was a success.

“Usually there are not enough girls who are interested in the sport,” she said. “However, things are definitely changing, because we had 52 girls show up.”

More important than the Hodawgs’ wins are the relationships the girls on the team form.

“The best part of the team is the people who play,” Davis said. “They are amazing, and they have become my best friends.”