Team rebounding after slow start

With the weather finally warming up and the gates to Woodlawn Field unlocked, the men’s ultimate frisbee team, known as the HoosierMama?s, is hitting the turf in hopes of continuing their tradition as a powerful ultimate team while heading into the end of the season.\nLast year, the HoosierMama?s came in fourth in regionals where they faced teams including Michigan, Ohio State and Oberlin. This was the second year in a row that the team placed in the top five. Along with their winning record, the team has also seen its membership grow over the years. \n“When I first came here we had enough to play,” senior Rob Greenberg said. “But over the last couple of years we’ve had enough for B-teams to send to tournaments with the goal of development rather than winning.”\nThis year the roster adds up to about 30 members. However, the team has decided to play as one big team rather than splitting up into A and B teams.\nBecause ultimate frisbee is a club sport and may not be offered at some schools, the seasons are set up so that schools host tournaments and invite other teams rather than regularly scheduled games as done in other varsity sports. Although these tournaments act as the “regular season” for the ultimate teams, the results offer little basis for who will continue on to sectionals or regionals.\n“The emphasis is on the college series.” Greenberg said.\nThe Mama?s face off against teams from Bradley, Northwestern, Illinois and Purdue during sectionals, but also make appearances at several of the national tournaments. \nThe team attends a Mardi Gras tournament in Baton Rouge, La. every year during the weekend prior to Fat Tuesday, as well as a tournament in Atlanta during spring break. \nThis year, the team tied for ninth in Baton Rouge and tied for 13th in Atlanta.\nThe HoosierMama?s had a rough start this season; losing games and placing poorly in tournaments. However, after a long winter of practice and conditioning, the Mama?s are looking forward to heading into sectionals.\n“The fall was a tough time for us,” says fifth-year senior Cody Andrews. “I’m feeling better about our chances. I think that we’ll really capitalize and just reap the benefits of the hard winter we put in.”\nSectionals begin April 13 in Naperville, Ill. and regionals will take place in Champaign, Ill. later in the spring. The Mama?s have not had a squad advance to nationals since 1991.\nSophomore Ben Mertz, who played in high school and was introduced to the Mama?s by his brother when he began attending IU, agrees that the end of the season is looking hopeful.\n“I think we’ve gotten much better as a team,” Mertz said. “We had some really intense winter practices so we really got better from the fall and I really think we have a good shot at getting to nationals.”