Danny Schmitt, senior in biology, dives for the disc during a tournament last fall. The Wolfpack is ranked No. 31 in the nation." />
Photo courtesy of N.C. State Ultimate Club
Danny Schmitt, senior in biology, dives for the disc during a tournament last fall. The Wolfpack is ranked No. 31 in the nation.
An experienced N.C. State club Ultimate team is looking to turn some heads among the Ultimate community as it heads into the final stretch of its season. The team has seen a lot of success this year even though they are in a tough region. Having defeated reigning national champion Pittsburgh, finishing third in the ACC Ultimate Championships, the Pack has seen tremendous improvement throughout the season as it continues to climb higher in the rankings of the Atlantic Coast Region.
During pool play of the ACC Championships, the Wolfpack beat No. 4 Pitt, Virginia, and Wake Forest to clinch the No. 7 seed in the bracket. State pulled off the upset in the tournament beating the No. 5 seed, Virginia Tech, in the quarterfinals to take on No.1 UNC-Chapel Hill, in the semifinals. The Pack fell to UNC, 15-9, but beat No. 4, Georgia Tech, to finish the tournament in third place with a final score of 10-7.
The Pack continues to improve its skills, finishing higher in each tournament it participates in. The team had a slow start to the season, placing 10th in the Queen City Tune Up, but bounced back two weeks later, placing seventh in the Eastern Qualifiers tournament.
Senior captain Mason Gardner and senior Clayton Carey believe that the team has great potential. The Pack has been working on playing faster and smarter in order to be consistent on offense and maintain a high intensity of defense.
“For teams to do very well, they have to play a very fast-paced game,” Carey said. “So we have been working on fast touches with the disc and consistency.”
According to Gardner, junior Blain Taylor has been the most impressive rookie. Coming in with high school experience, Taylor has concentrated on improving his skills and has stepped up as a first-year player to help an experienced team play with consistency and confidence.
“[Taylor] is a tough guy and doesn’t get flustered,” Gardner said, “You put him on the line and don’t get worried about him throwing the disc away.”
Other standouts include junior Davis Mossman who, like Taylor, has stepped his game up this season. Gardner has seen Mossman’s desire to win increase and believes he has stepped up and become a leader among younger players, hoping that other young teammates will follow in his footsteps.
“He has made the biggest leap,” Gardner said. “Last year he was kind of a joker but this year he really wants to win and when the disc is up in the air he wants to jump as high as he can and land on them. His refocus is what we want to get out of the younger guys.”
Wolfpack Ultimate is preparing for the sectional tournament from April 12-13.
The team is ranked No. 31 in the nation and looking to improve that standing as it heads into sectionals with a high level of confidence due to success in past years. With a win at sectionals, the team would travel to regionals, something State has not missed in Gardner’s four years.
“We are on an up curve heading into sectionals,” Gardner said, “With the way we’re playing, we’re good to go to regionals and then it’s a two of three between us, UNC and UNC-W going to nationals.”