News

(2010 captain Dan Heijmen. photo courtesy of scaughty photography.)

PoNY is pleased to announce that Chris Gore, Dan Heijmen, and Ben Van Heuvelen have been selected as captains for the upcoming 2010 campaign. Joining the three captains on the preseason committee tasked with running tryouts and selecting the 2010 roster are Joe “Smash” Anderson, Webster McBride, and Alex Masulis. These six look to make the upcoming season the most successful one yet for PoNY ultimate. If you have any questions about PoNY 2010 feel free to contact the captains directly.

PoNY salutes Fred Morrison, inventor of the frisbee, who passed away recently. Our very own Ben Van Heuvelen published a story about Fred in Salon. Read it here.

PoNY players Ben Van Heuvelen and Jody Avirgan have once again been selected to coach the US Junior National team. Pauline Lauterbach of Portland Schwa fame will also be coaching. The team will comprise 22 or so of the finest under-19 ultimate players in the country and will compete at the WFDF World Junior Ultimate Championships in Heilbronn, Germany, this August. The pair coached the team to Gold at the World Championships in Vancouver in the summer of 2008.

PoNY is in a deep winter freeze (broken up by the occasional winter tournament domination) but already looking forward to the 2010 campaign. The team has convened a series of group meetings to reflect on the past season, elect new leadership for next year, and continue to develop the program towards the highest goals. Expect big things.

If you want information on high-level winter pickup; you’re new to the area; are interested in joining PoNY for next year; or have any questions at all, please be in contact with Mio Panasci.

(photo courtesy of burt granofsky)

PoNY’s 2009 season is over, ending in a drubbing by regional rival Bodhi in the elimination game to advance to Nationals. The team won’t be returning to Sarasota this year, but already has its sights sets on 2010, having taken big strides and made great memories this year. Thanks to all for your support throughout the season. Lots more pictures, results, write-ups and more to come during the long winter months.

This weekend (original weekend postponed, we are now on for Sept 19/20) marks the beginning of the UPA Championship Series with Metro NY Sectionals in Middletown, NY. PoNY will be joined by fellow NY squads (and friends of the Pone) Replicants, Brooklyn, and lots of other local club and college teams looking to qualify for Regionals and then Nationals. Will PoNY be the fierce lion riding the horse, the terrified horse being ridden by the lion or, somehow, both? Answers soon… You can see the preliminary schedule for Sectionals here.

Also, a shout-out to NYC sister-team Bent, who managed to squeeze in their Sectionals in one day. They went undefeated, giving up just five points the whole day. Go Bent!

PoNY’s 2nd trip West this season was a mixed bag, with a disappointing overall performance (2-4 record). Doublewide of Texas put significant pressure on the short-staffed handler squad, a theme that continued throughout the weekend. The Pone was unable to reprise their ECC victory over the Bay Area’s Revolver, and fell apart against the young yet polished Voodoo of Seattle. However, a close loss to Furious George (again!) and a gritty win against End Phase left the team with some tangible positive moments to work on. Also positive: the prettiest fields and the best burritos in the country. The team will have to quickly refocus as the post-season begins with Sectionals this weekend. Full results from Labor Day Tournament can be found here.

The Final PoNY 2009 Roster has been set. Now you can put a name to the face of the people who will be pwning you on and off the field this season. Bios on all the new members of the team, as well as updated information and lots more pictures for returning players, too. Check it out on the roster page.

(photo courtesy of Bil Elsinger)

The Emerald City Classic has come and gone. PoNY ends the tournament with a 4-4 record, losing in the semi-finals to Sockeye 15-11. There were real highs and real lows but overall the team proved it can hang with anyone. Lots of media from the tournament available here:

+ Various Photos from Eduardo’s Brother and Scobel Wiggings
+ Friday: PoNY vs. Revolver (pool play win) || PoNY vs. Goat (pool play loss) || PoNY vs. Furious (pool play loss)
+ Saturday: PoNY vs. Rhino (pool play win) || PoNY vs. Jam (pool play win) || PoNY vs. Sockeye (quarterfinals loss)
+ Sunday: PoNY vs. Sockeye (quarterfinals loss)
+ Ultivillage Footage of the Tournament (note that you may have to pay a bit for the footage. Also note that Ultivillage managed to record PoNY’s two worst performances of the weekend.)

We’ll continue to update as more media and reports roll in. For now: rest, lift, track, and preparations for Santa Cruz, the last regular season tournament.

Strange graffiti has been appearing on the streets of NYC. The people are speaking, and PoNY looks to make it weird for opponents and keep it weird for themselves as they gear up for Labor Day and the UPA club series.