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#41 - Pat Hammonds
PHamm, Princess
6'1"
190 lbs
D-Line cutter
2005 - Present
History (w/ intention to teach)
Radnor, PA
Single
pjh18 AT pitt DOT edu
Having the opportunity to play Mercer County Summer League during my
off-season allowed me to gain more overall confidence as a player. I was
encouraged to cut more, throw more, and challenge myself as a player. Upon
returning to Pittsburgh in the fall, I was given the opportunity to play
with Burgh. Competing in the elite club circuit helped me to develop more
than I ever expected. Not only was I playing against some big name teams
and matching up against big name players, but I also got a chance to work
with new teammates. Gaining perspective from some of the older guys like
Deo and Truck was a priceless experience.
This year with Pitt was also a very different experience from my first
year. Coming into the fall with a full year of ultimate experience under
my belt allowed me to take on a different role. Last year, I was a rookie.
This time I was a veteran. Being able to help the rookies with rules
questions, technique, and knowledge of the game was new and exciting. It
was fun to be "in the know" for the first time. The addition of several
very talented and very dedicated rookies paired alongside the desire and
experience from all of the returning players proved to make this years
team a serious threat.
Our team motto this year was "Hard Work!" and the desire to live by this
law was contagious. Every single member of this team was hitting the gym,
hitting the track, and hitting the field harder than ever before, and our
work ethic resulted in some good wins and hard fought losses this year.
Despite our successes, we refuse to be satisfied. We refuse to let down;
the series is what matters and we know that. We are working harder than
every one else to earn our third straight trip to College Nationals. Keep
your eyes on Pittsburgh this year.
Hard Work!
This season will mark my first official organized Ultimate Frisbee season ever, but a strong background in baseball and basketball allowed me to pick up the game at a promising pace. My friends and I played pick-up Ultimate every once in a while back home, but our game looked nothing like actual Ultimate. We didn't know about forcing on the mark, stack or spread offenses, and most of us didn't even recognize the need for a flick.
My friends back home always joked that I would go on to play college Ultimate, but none of us really understood that college Ultimate existed at such a competitive level. When I arrived at the first "try-out" for En Sabah Nur I was overwhelmed. I thought I knew what Ultimate Frisbee was; I should have been able to adapt quickly. Instead I was way behind the curve; something I quickly realized was an amazing opportunity.
Growing up on organized sports I had always been competitive in whatever I played. Standing on the Cathedral lawn at Pitt, I was finding myself less than mediocre. I soon realized the opportunity at hand; for the first time in my life I had to work harder than everyone else just to catch up. The game was new and exciting, and all I knew was, I couldn't get enough.
I devoted a lot of time and effort to En Sabah Nur this past fall, competing in a number of tournaments and noting improvement with every one. It is now the day before the UPA Series begins and I am completely comfortable with my abilities and my role on this team.
One of my favorite aspects of Ultimate is that we don't play for money, we don't play for headlines, and we sure as hell don't play for fans; we play for ourselves and for our team. "WE RIDE!"
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