2007 Callahan Winners
BY: Gwen Ambler
2007 saw many talented women in the race for the Callahan award. Right before the College Championships, Charles Kerr usually announces the top ten names from the voting to generate anticipation during the coming tournament. There was a tie for the last spot, so twelve names were announced instead (in alphabetical order):
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Name
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School
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| Caroline Chow |
Tufts |
| Christina Contreras |
Stanford |
| Sydney Fleischer |
Claremont |
| Kira Frew |
British Columbia |
| Holly Greunke |
Wisconsin |
| Lorig Hawkins |
Texas |
| Mia Iseman |
NYU |
| Emily Jenkins |
Wellesley |
| Becky Lei |
UCLA-B |
| Anna Nazarov |
UCLA |
| Sarah Welch |
UC-Berkeley |
| Laura Wishingrad |
UC-San Diego |
The winners were announced after the semi-finals on Saturday of the College Championships. Here is a brief bio of the top five finishers:
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1. Anna "Maddog" Nazarov (UCLA) was a freshman on the UCLA BLU team in its inaugural season, and she has been an integral part of BLU's rise to the top ever since. She helped lead UCLA to the finals of the College Championships in its first qualifying year (2006) and is her team's go-to player with the disc. With explosive throws, Nazarov is comfortable breaking the mark and hucking it long. She is also known for her gymnastic agility, quickness, and big lay-out bids. Nazarov currently plays for the women's club team Zeitgeist in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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2. Holly Greunke (Wisconsin) was recognized on the Central All-Region team for the past three seasons. Greunke was instrumental in getting Bella Donna to the semifinals of the 2006 championships, and she has helped turn Wisconsin from a perennial qualifier to a true contender. Spectators have been awed by the distance of Greunke's pulls and the way she can continuously get the disc on every other pass. She currently plays for the women's club team Rare Air in Boulder, CO.
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3. Sarah "Scoops" Welch (UC-Berkeley) started her ultimate career on the Tarts, UC-Berkeley's B team, but she quickly matured into a reliable, confident handler that led the Pie Queens with her play and her enthusiasm. The Pie Queens have consistently made quarterfinals at the College Championships, and are a mainstay in the top of the nation's rankings. Welch has been a big part of continuing UC-Berkeley's legacy as a top-notch women's ultimate program.
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4. Laura Wishingrad (UC-San Diego) developed her reputation as a speedy receiver with great hands and impeccable timing. She was a freshman on the team that lost a heart-breaking semi-finals game in 2004 and has been helping the Psychos rebuild ever since. Despite her quiet demeanor, Wishingrad is a fierce competitor and a great leader. She currently plays for the San Diego women's club team, Safari.
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5. Caroline Chow (Tufts) has been a stand-out player on her team for years, something her opponents recognized as they voted her on to the New England All-Region team for the past two seasons. Chow is a skilled handler with precision throws and the composure to lead her team's offense. She helped the E-wo qualify for the championships in 2007, leading them to an 11th place finish.
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