Ultimate Sends Off Seniors, Coach Moore with Impressive Showing at State
After inclement weather closed the Ted Rhodes Fields, all of Tennessee's boys ultimate teams converged on the River Campus for a one-day, single-elimination tournament. Thanks to the USN boys' performance in the Nashville league, they earned themselves a first-round bye.
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Game 1: USN vs. Brentwood
Brentwood was ready for the matchup, coming off of a close win against Riverdale. "We can do this! We can beat USN!" they yelled on the sidelines. Brentwood ran a lot of its offense through one player, who touched the disc nearly every other throw while working his way through USN's zone defense. His forehand was particularly strong, and he was able to find Brentwood's athletic receivers in the end zone multiple times with creative throws. While USN earned a small lead early in the game, Brentwood's star kept them in it, eventually bringing them within two at the half.
USN adjusted at halftime, forcing Brentwood's star to throw backhands, his weaker throw. After a nervy start, USN pulled away to win comfortably -- 13-8 -- and advance to the quarterfinals.
Game 2: USN vs. STEM
Game two pitted the boys against Knoxville's STEM Academy, the tournament's #1 seed and the 17th-ranked team in the nation.
STEM proved they were the real deal, coming out fired up and taking a quick 3-0 lead with clean offense after USN turnovers. After a timeout, USN worked its way back into the game, with junior captain Jake Wolfson '19 completing an impressive hammer into the wind to senior Joe Bailey '18 to bring the score to 3-2.
STEM shifted into another gear, showing its quality on offense with quick throws and decisive movement and its tenacity on defense with a pressure zone. Nevertheless, USN had some strong moments late in the game, punching in a few more scores against the nationally-ranked squad for a final score of 13-5.
Game 3: USN vs. McCallie
While the loss to STEM ended USN's state championship dream, the boys still had the opportunity to play a consolation game to see off Joe and Ben Harris '18, our two seniors on the weekend. With Joe and Ben playing nearly every point, the boys took on McCallie in a matchup of two academically excellent and evenly-matched squads.
USN/McCallie games this year have followed a formula: USN jumps out to a big lead and McCallie claws its way back into it, leading to a tense and contested finish. This game was no different. McCallie's coach observed that both McCallie and USN believe they should be beating each other, and perhaps that's why they always play close games. In the end, McCallie was able to pull out a one-point win, ending both teams seasons.
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The future is bright for the USN boys' team, as we graduate only three seniors this year. Special thanks to seniors Joe, Ben, and Sam Bergeson '18, all of whom provided fire and leadership throughout the season. Joe, Ben, and Sam have left the program in good shape, with particularly strong junior and senior classes ready to take the reins. Sophomores Shai Rice '20 and DJ Lewis '20 will attend the elite Spin Ultimate Camp in Atlanta this summer, and the team expects significant improvements from everyone on the roster.
Another special thanks to the boys' team parents, who were an active and supportive presence throughout the season!
Finally, I have to mention head coach Justin Moore here. Justin's wife -- Dr. Maya White -- has placed as an oncology fellow at Stanford, so Justin will be taking his talents to the Bay Area this summer. As a tech guy, Justin will do just fine in Silicon Valley. However, we will miss him greatly on the boys team. Justin has put plenty of his time and effort into transforming the team over the past three seasons. He's helped the team become mentally tougher, develop skills, and learn life lessons. He's one of the best coaches in the country, and as both a former player on the team and as his assistant coach, I think I speak for everyone involved with the team in saying that we can't thank him enough for everything he's done for Brutal Grassburn.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Athletes beyond Edgehill
Read MoreIt is common to have five or more University School of Nashville student-athletes sign college athletic commitment letters each year, and this year, USN saw eight more student-athletes commit to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. USN has several alumni participating in their chosen sport at the collegiate level from the Classes of 2021 through 2025. Continue reading to learn more about where Tigers are competing beyond Edgehill. -
Tech Bytes: Tips for summer
Middle School Educational Technologist Kari Luecke shares must-read articles and suggests options to declutter your smartphone and reduce screen time this summer.Read More -
6th graders head to capitol for spirited debate
Read MoreDuring a fun field trip to wrap up the year, students were able to debate on the House floor during a visit to the Tennessee State Capitol. See more photos from their final lesson here.
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.