Hannah Griego

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Player Profile – June 2005
Hannah Griego

Name	Hannah Griego
Birthdate	02/01/82
Hometown	Albuquerque, NM
School	Stanford
Year	1st Year Masters
Major	Earth Systems

Hannah was chosen to be recognized by IC Ultimate for her performance at the UPA College Chamionships this year. As one of Stanford's top defenders and receivers, Hannah helped Stanford win the championship in Corvallis, OR. She made an especially big impact in the finals where she covered 2004 Callahan winner Miranda Roth, getting 2 defensive blocks and catching numerous goals. Read below to find out more information about her ultimate beginnings, history, skills/profile, and upcoming college season.

Ultimate Beginnings:

What other sports do you have a background in and when did you play them?

I have played soccer since elementary school and was a middle distance runner in both high school and in my first year of college.

Where and when did you first learn to play ultimate?

I was introduced to ultimate by my freshman/sophomore year roommate who convinced me it would be a fun sport to fill the enormous void that quitting track had left in my life

What about the sport has made you continue to play since then?
Griego at Nationals 2005

A love of sport and competition, the challenge of learning a brand new sport with many skill sets that do not come naturally to me, the fun of getting involved in the ultimate community at large, and a respect for the women in both the past and present who have and continue to make Superfly what it is.

Who would you describe as your main mentor(s)?

Robin Knowler, Karen Hyun, Gwen Ambler, Jenny Burney

Ultimate History:

What teams have you played on?

I just finished my fourth year on Superfly. I have also played as a practice player for Fury in 2003, and will be playing for Skyline this fall.

What has been your greatest ultimate achievement/memory?

I would have to say that winning the national championship this past year has been one of my best experiences playing ultimate to date in large part because it represented the culmination of a really fun season. Other notable moments include winning the team spirit award last year in Seattle, as well as ending a great season with a hard fought win in Austin in 2003.

What has been your worst (most heartbreaking, most challenging, or most embarrassing, etc.) ultimate memory?

The most heartbreaking would certainly have to be losing in the semis of nationals last season to Carleton, most notably because we gave up a lead right at the end, and I know that I did not play my best game or leave it all on the field.

What type of recognition/honors/awards (if any) have you received for your ultimate play?

Sprit of the Game award winner for Superfly in 2005, All College 2nd team as decided by the NUMP voters

Griego at NW Regionals 2005 Ultimate Skills/Profile:

What position do you play? Has this differed on different teams you may have played for?

I am primarily a cutter/deep on offense, but playing on defensive lines, both man and zone, is really where I get to have fun.

What do you view as your strengths on the field?

My greatest strengths lie in my defensive intensity, particularly my mark, and my mix of speed and endurance that allow me to be an effective cutter and defender even at the end of a long weekend.

What are you working on most to improve?

My throws and decision-making with the disc

What is your role on your college team (include leadership roles on and off the field)?

As one of several older players on Superfly, I provide some input into team decisions and strategy, but mostly I get to lead by example on the field in practice and games. Next year, I will step into a more vocal role as I become one of the captains for 2006.

What type of pre-game or pre-tournament rituals (if any) do you have?

Nothing too unusual. A half of a packet of gu before big games always helps wake me up a bit. Lots of visualization about who I will be playing against as well as setting goals for myself about how I intend to play.

College Season:

Describe your team's experience at Nationals this year. How did that compare to previous tournaments of the season?

This tournament was certainly one of the most mentally challenging ones we have played in this year. We hit a bit of a lull after regionals and taking the field on Friday morning, we seemed to play with a sense of tentativeness and low energy that really held us back from playing our best game. Getting crushed by Washington in pool play was certainly a big wake up call. Superfly remains to this day, however, one of the only teams in the history of Nationals to play all the way from prequarters into the finals (in 2002), so there was no question in our minds that we were still in the running, just that we needed to refocus and play our game. This lead to some of the most consistent offense I had seen out of our team this year. Everyone really stepped up their intensity in a big way, resulting in a win that was truly the effort of all 19 women on our roster.

How did that compare to previous years that you have been on the team?

While each year’s team has had its own unique qualities, our team this year has built friendships and has had a chemistry that has made it one of the best Superfly teams with which I have had the pleasure of playing. My teammates are great at reminding me why I love to play ultimate.

Now that it's over, what was your favorite memory from the season?

Getting my first layout d in Santa Barbara, hanging out with my team at Kaimana, and getting a footblock in the finals of Nationals

What are you plans for the summer as far as ultimate is concerned?
Griego and Jenny Burney interviewed by CSTV

I will be headed north for a field research job out of Anchorage, Alaska, so unless the moose want to play, I will probably be taking much of the summer off. I am looking forward to playing the fall series with Skyline.

What are your personal and team goals for next season?

My personal goals are to continue to develop as a player, particularly my throws and to learn how to layout more gracefully. As a team, I know that we have the ability to go all the way again while having a lot of fun in the process.

How strong do you think your team will be next season?

We have the potential to return 15 players from this years roster, including most of our starting line, so I think that we are going to be a very good team next year, building on many of the strengths that we have developed as a team this year while each continuing to develop our individual skills. I can’t wait.

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Photo Credits: Top left photo courtesy of Scobel Wiggins; all other photos courtesy of Andrew Davis

Ultimate Beginnings:
What other sports do you have a background in and when did you play them?
I have played soccer since elementary school and was a middle distance runner in both high school and in my first year of college.
Where and when did you first learn to play ultimate?
I was introduced to ultimate by my freshman/sophomore year roommate who convinced me it would be a fun sport to fill the enormous void that quitting track had left in my life
What about the sport has made you continue to play since then?	Griego at Nationals 2005
A love of sport and competition, the challenge of learning a brand new sport with many skill sets that do not come naturally to me, the fun of getting involved in the ultimate community at large, and a respect for the women in both the past and present who have and continue to make Superfly what it is.
Who would you describe as your main mentor(s)?
Robin Knowler, Karen Hyun, Gwen Ambler, Jenny Burney

Griego at NW Regionals 2005	Ultimate Skills/Profile:
	What position do you play? Has this differed on different teams you may have played for?
	I am primarily a cutter/deep on offense, but playing on defensive lines, both man and zone, is really where I get to have fun.
	What do you view as your strengths on the field?
	My greatest strengths lie in my defensive intensity, particularly my mark, and my mix of speed and endurance that allow me to be an effective cutter and defender even at the end of a long weekend.
	What are you working on most to improve?
	My throws and decision-making with the disc
	What is your role on your college team (include leadership roles on and off the field)?
	As one of several older players on Superfly, I provide some input into team decisions and strategy, but mostly I get to lead by example on the field in practice and games. Next year, I will step into a more vocal role as I become one of the captains for 2006.
	What type of pre-game or pre-tournament rituals (if any) do you have?
	Nothing too unusual. A half of a packet of gu before big games always helps wake me up a bit. Lots of visualization about who I will be playing against as well as setting goals for myself about how I intend to play.

College Season:
Describe your team's experience at Nationals this year. How did that compare to previous tournaments of the season?
This tournament was certainly one of the most mentally challenging ones we have played in this year. We hit a bit of a lull after regionals and taking the field on Friday morning, we seemed to play with a sense of tentativeness and low energy that really held us back from playing our best game. Getting crushed by Washington in pool play was certainly a big wake up call. Superfly remains to this day, however, one of the only teams in the history of Nationals to play all the way from prequarters into the finals (in 2002), so there was no question in our minds that we were still in the running, just that we needed to refocus and play our game. This lead to some of the most consistent offense I had seen out of our team this year. Everyone really stepped up their intensity in a big way, resulting in a win that was truly the effort of all 19 women on our roster.
How did that compare to previous years that you have been on the team?
While each year’s team has had its own unique qualities, our team this year has built friendships and has had a chemistry that has made it one of the best Superfly teams with which I have had the pleasure of playing. My teammates are great at reminding me why I love to play ultimate.
Now that it's over, what was your favorite memory from the season?
Getting my first layout d in Santa Barbara, hanging out with my team at Kaimana, and getting a footblock in the finals of Nationals
What are you plans for the summer as far as ultimate is concerned?	Griego and Jenny Burney interviewed by CSTV
I will be headed north for a field research job out of Anchorage, Alaska, so unless the moose want to play, I will probably be taking much of the summer off. I am looking forward to playing the fall series with Skyline.
What are your personal and team goals for next season?
My personal goals are to continue to develop as a player, particularly my throws and to learn how to layout more gracefully. As a team, I know that we have the ability to go all the way again while having a lot of fun in the process.
How strong do you think your team will be next season?
We have the potential to return 15 players from this years roster, including most of our starting line, so I think that we are going to be a very good team next year, building on many of the strengths that we have developed as a team this year while each continuing to develop our individual skills. I can’t wait.