USA Ultimate

Friday morning, teams were once again taking the fields to resume their quest for a national title, all with an opportunity at a fresh start in the pre-quarterfinal round. As I passed the time browsing last-minute event coverage, I came across an October 11 tweet posted by Without Limits founder Michelle Ng, quoting soccer great Mia Hamm:

"I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it."

Little did I know, Hamm’s words would serve as somewhat of a premonition on the day. I would soon have the fortune of meeting two ladies who epitomize those words and, in a greater sense, reflect the very nature of the highest caliber of ultimate.

Seasoned veterans Alex Benedict and Sonia Komenda have spent several years playing for Toronto Capitals but were not with the team during their run to Championship weekend. The two currently make their livings in Europe (Benedict in Switzerland and Komenda in England). They could have easily devoted themselves solely to playing in the European scene and probably would have been plenty content in doing so. But when USA Ultimate Nationals beckons, you answer the call. Five thousand plus miles and one hemisphere later, they landed in Frisco, Texas.

Turns out it was two roster spots well spent.

Facing game point, down 11-13 in their pre-quarter match against compatriots Vancouver Traffic, Toronto came surging back, bringing the game to universe point at 13-all. Simply unable to put together enough consecutive throws late in the game, Vancouver’s offense would falter, allowing Toronto to march up-wind for the break and winning score. The final connection? Alex Benedict assisting on a Sonia Komenda score. 

Appropriately so, I ran into the two together on a post-game stroll of triumph, the rapture of such a win still fresh on their faces. Their immediate reactions to their victory reflected just how much the win and the Nationals experience meant to them.  

Said Komenda of the win, "We both came from Europe to play really high-quality ultimate, and that’s exactly what it was….It just feels really, really great to come back after a year of being away and being able to play such good ultimate and have such good battles all the way through. And to come back [from down 13-11, to win 14-11] is the best feeling…might be one of my best games that I can remember.

In the grand scheme of things, the high-quality ultimate she speaks of was a beautiful collaboration of which she and her teammates were a small fraction.

Every player present this weekend has sacrificed in some sense of the word. But to be able to hear first hand the stories of individual sacrifice allows for a whole new appreciation of the final result. After all, this whole event is the culmination, a celebration of everyone’s sacrifice. From the organizers, to the players, down to the very last volunteer.  Alex Benedict and Sonia Komenda are simply microcosms of the greater ultimate community. Many have labored – many overseeing thankless jobs – to create a quality product of ultimate, and what a product it has become. It’s something often worth putting life on hold for.

Alex and Sonia are two of a countless number who would tell you so. Many of them took to the fields here in Texas this weekend. 

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