News

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.

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.

Update 8/3: The NY Invite has come and gone. Despite the heavy rains on Sunday that forced games to be cancelled midway through the semis, the weekend was an overall success. Results are here. Pictures, writeups, and more coming soon. Thanks to all the teams that traveled to Middletown this past weekend; we’re already looking forward to next year!

Details have been finalized for this weekend’s New York Invite, the return of elite-level men’s tournament to the NYC area. Whether you’re a player, family member, fan or whoever, here’s what you need to get ready:

+ Final Schedule and Results
+ Shuttle Bus for Fans on Sunday
+ Facebook Group
+ Driving Directions (note: due to bridge closures and construction, please try to stick to this route! Your goal is to avoid the stretch of Hwy 17 between Goshen and I-84, ya dig?)
+ The Weather

If there are any last-minute questions please email TD Aaron Bell (aaron dot morgan dot bell at gmail dot com) Otherwise, see you on the field!
PoNY

Want to come watch some of the top teams in Ultimate compete August 1-2 at the New York Invite? Don’t have a car? Don’t sweat it! Click here for info on the NYInvite Fan Shuttle!

See the Full PoNY Roster Here.

Pride of New York has confirmed 21 roster spots, with up to 6 more being awarded as the season goes on (taking into account performance and injuries over the next two months). And now, please welcome…

Joe “Smash” Anderson | Scott Arnold | Aaron Bell | Grant Boyd^ | Dave “Duke” Boylan-Kolchin | Tom Burkly | Dan Chirlin | Robbie Gillies^ | Julian Ginos^ | Chris Gore | Dan Heijman^ | Mike Hennessy | Jeff Irvine | Ben Kenigsberg^ | Alex Masulis | Webster McBride | Emilio Panasci | Ben Pauker | Kevin Riley^ | Ben Van Heuvelen | Lionel Wininger

^ Denotes a new Pone!

Lots more info on these men to come soon. For now, the mid-July break is almost over and the New York Invite looms on the horizon.

Pones Aaron Bell and Brandon Contarsy recently traveled to Camp Green Lane in eastern PA to help run a basic Ultimate workshop. About 85 campers participated in the clinic, which began with basic throwing and cutting techniques. By the end, the kids were playing what most agreed was recognizable “real ultimate.” Nice work, Brandon and Aaron, and thanks to Camp Green Lake for hosting. In other coaching news, Ben Van Heuvelen will be at NUTC for one week this summer, and both he and Jody Avirgan have re-upped to coach the US Junior team at Worlds in Germany next summer!