First year sophomore ultimate frisbee player Lindsey Prestholdt anticipates the team’s upcoming West Metro conference championship game, looking forward to the time she’ll get to spend with her teammates.

Prestholdt said the prospect of winning the championship game May 16 against Eden Prairie with her friends invigorates her.

“I’m really excited for just the whole thing,” Prestholdt said. “It’s going to be at eight o’clock at night at Benilde’s field so that’s going to be cool because it’s going to be at night and we’re going to have the lights. I just like being there with the girls and the sport is a lot of fun too.”

According to head coach Seija Stratton, the team has a 3–2 league play record so far this season. She said she believes the team will play hard to win the big game.

“I’m hoping that the team will continue to demonstrate how well they can work together and I really hope that some of our top players will step up to match up on some of the more experienced players on Eden Prairie’s team,” Stratton said.

Stratton said winning the conference championship would validate the team as a top tier contender in the conference.

“(Winning) would be incredible,” Stratton said. “This is only our second season of ever playing, and to be recognized as a conference champion team is pretty special.”

Junior captain Anna Gleason said she looks forward to the team’s championship game.

“I’m really excited about (the championship), especially coming in from last year because we were last in our conference and now we’re going to go play for first place. I think that’s really cool and I’m really proud of everyone,” Gleason said.

The team has spent time preparing for the big game by practicing harder than ever, according to Gleason.

“We’ve been having practices all week and we’ve been doing a lot of conditioning and looking at plays and strategies,” Gleason said.

According to Prestholdt, attendance at practice has played an important role in game preparation.

“We’re making sure everyone comes to practice and they’re really enforcing that you have to come,” Prestholdt said. “During practice we’re doing a lot of drills to prepare for (the game) and we’re learning new strategies on what we can do to fake them out and on how we could win.”

Team communication will help the team succeed, according to Stratton.

“I can’t emphasize enough how important (communication) is on a team just so that we don’t have miscommunications where the disc gets turned over for a silly reason,” Stratton said.

Prestholdt said the atmosphere the team provides makes the sport enjoyable.

“I like the team and all the girls on the team. It’s really nice to be a part of that community because they’re all such great friends,” Prestholdt said.

As a captain, Gleason said she loves watching the team grow and improve.
“I really like the sport and it’s a big part of my life and I like being able to express that through leadership,” Gleason said.

Stratton said the atmosphere of the team makes her love coaching.

“I love everybody’s passion for ultimate. You can just tell that the players love it,” Stratton said.

The West Metro conference championship game takes place at 8 p.m. May 16 at Benilde-St. Margaret’s stadium against Eden Prairie.