Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 1, 2018) – USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States and member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is excited to announce the athletes who will represent the U.S. this summer on the Under 20 Women’s National Team at the World Junior Ultimate Championships (WJUC).
“It was awesome to go through the application and tryout stages of National Team selection,” said DeAnna Ball, women’s team head coach. “There is so much talent, and the decision-making process is never easy. I am very excited to get to work with this group of experienced, gritty and athletic players. And I am excited for fans of ultimate to have the opportunity to watch these athletes as they represent the U.S.A.”
The 48 athletes named to the two 2018 Under-20 U.S. National Team rosters – men’s and women’s – are some of the world’s best youth ultimate players. The final rosters were selected after two weekends of tryouts that included more than 200 athletes, who were selected from a pool of nearly 400 initial applicants. Four athletes return to the U-20 Women’s National Team, after winning silver with the 2016 team at WJUC in Wroclaw, Poland: Carly Campana, Jenna Krugler, Kate Lanier and Claire Trop. Caroline Tornquist was an alternate for the 2016 team.
WJUC 2018, which represents the 18th edition of the tournament, is expected to host 37 teams and approximately 1,000 athletes from 19 countries. WJUC was first held as a division of the World Ultimate and Guts Championship, beginning with the inaugural event in 1983. WJUC has since become its own event which takes place every two years.
The United States first competed at the World Junior Ultimate Championships in 1988. Since that time, U.S. teams have earned 21 WJUC medals: 10 gold, five silver and six bronze.
WJUC 2018 is set to be held August 19-25 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and will be hosted by the World Flying Disc Federation and a tournament organizing committee led by Andrew Portwine of Ultimate Canada and Ontario Ultimate.
2018 World Junior Ultimate Championships
U.S. National Team
Women’s Division
Head Coach: DeAnna Ball
Assistant Coaches: Jason Adam, Alyssa Weatherford
Roster:
Robin Anthony-Petersen – Alameda, CA – Roke School
Carly Campana – Seattle, WA – Seattle Waldorf
Lauren Carothers-Liske – Oakland, CA – Lick-Wilmerding
Dawn Culton – Chapel Hill, NC – East Chapel Hill High School
Anna Dreher – Portland, OR – Grant High School
Alyssa Ehrhardt – Sugar Grove, NC – High Country Homeschoolers
Skye Fernandez – Highland Village, TX – Marcus High School
Stacy Gaskill – Golden, CO – Lakewood High School
Abby Hecko – Seattle, WA – Bishop Blanchet
Rachel Hess – Arlington, VA – Washington-Lee High School
Tess Johnson – Lexington, MA – Lexington High School
Ella Juengst – Arlington, VA – HB Woodlawn
Jenna Krugler – Nevada City, CA – Nevada Union High School
Kate Lanier – Chapel Hill, NC – Carolina Friends
Erin McCann – Minneapolis, MN – Salem High School
Amy Nguyen – Seattle, WA – Franklin High School
Hazel Ostrowski – Seattle, WA – Franklin High School
Clil Phillips – Chapel Hill, NC – Chapel Hill High School
Stephanie Phillips – Seattle, WA – Roosevelt High School
Peixian Rong – Seattle, WA – Franklin High School
Bailey Shigley – Seattle, WA – Roosevelt High School
Clara Stewart – Arlington, MA – Arlington High School
Caroline Tornquist – Arlington, VA – HB Woodlawn
Claire Trop – Seattle, WA – Lakeside High School
