USA Ultimate

2016 High School Southerns Day 1 Girls' Recap

 

The 2016 High School Southern Regional Championships started out well enough in Atlanta, with cool temperatures and a shining sun. There was a sense of anticipation as game play geared up to start promptly at 9 a.m. in the girls’ division. As the day wore on, the temperatures rose, but players managed to stay cool thanks to the frequent gusts of wind rolling through. The wind had a definite impact on gameplay and caused many teams to change tactics. So how did the girls fare?

 

Heading into the weekend, Paideia Varsity was the number one seed and was highly anticipated to win the girls’ division. It was without surprise that they maintained their top position throughout the day, winning all three of their games, with two being shutouts, while the eighth seed, Yorktown-Washington Lee, fought for four points during their game. Despite their loss, Yorktown-Washington Lee held onto their seed as well, defeating North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in a tough game where Yorktown sophomore Katherine Sanz stood out by wrangling seven defensive plays and seven assists. Blackman did not move from their last-place seed, but that doesn’t mean the team is one to count out for an upset tomorrow. Only 10 strong and a relatively new team, they kept their spirits high throughout the day and fought hard every point, without regard for the score. Though they might have missed the championship spot this year, they are certainly a team to keep an eye on.

 

POOL B
 

Carrboro High maintained their second seed throughout pool play but stumbled slightly during their crossover game against the number four seed, HB Woodlawn. Initially trading points, a bad break caused them to lose their lead and, eventually, the game. Paideia JV did not fare as well as their varsity counterparts, getting shut out of the championship bracket. However, their games were thrilling to watch, as the Paideia girls worked hard for points, often being overturned by sudden changes in the wind. Despite what the scoreboard shows, the Paideia JV team showed knowledge and skill on the field. Their quick dump-swings allowed them to gain yardage, only to be thwarted by an unintended huck, courtesy of the inclement weather, and the impressive interceptions made by the girls of University School of Nashville. The USN girls held seed and kept their cool by joking around on and off the field.

 

POOL C
 

With a near upset in Pool C, the most tense game was between third seed East Chapel Hill and sixth seed Brookwood, who took game play up to the final horn. With long points due to tough game play and windy conditions, the two teams traded points until East Chapel took half. Brookwood came into the second half strong, trying to close the gap, before East Chapel Hill’s Ellie Cubrilovic managed to intercept the disc and help her team close out the game. Despite this loss in their first game of the day, Brookwood went on to defeat Independence, as well as Paideia JV in their crossover. Independence pushed for points during their game play, and they had great spirit on the sidelines. 2016 marks the first time in the three years they’ve been playing that they have come to the Southern Championships. The team works well together, though their occasional hesitance for making cuts and throws prevents them from taking full advantage of the obvious skill their girls possess.

 

HB Woodlawn held seed and defeated their opponents during pool play, with their toughest fight being against Carrboro in a crossover game. The win over the second seed put the players in high spirits and sets them up for a game against sixth seed Brookwood tomorrow morning. Grady also stayed stagnant, even though their players worked hard to move the disc up the field. Their understanding of the game is clear when calls are made, but they still show trepidation offensively as they near the end zone. Grady still defeated North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, who will face Green Hope tomorrow.