Armstrong Grad Makes Team USA

Erynn Schroeder, a 2011 graduate of Robbinsdale Armstrong High School and a student at the College of St. Benedict, will have to wait a little while to go shopping for college supplies this summer.

Erynn has been accepted onto Team USA at the upcoming World Junior Ultimate Frisbee Championships, which will compete against fourteen other countries in Dublin, Ireland, from August 12-17. She will be the only female representative from the state of Minnesota on the team of 20, and one of only three Minnesotans on any Team USA roster at the championship.

Ultimate is a fast-paced game with two teams of seven facing off. It is an endurance sport like soccer that requires razor sharp precision passing skills, and has an end zone, such as in football.

The object of the game is to score points by catching a “pass” in the opponent’s end zone. What is even more unique, the game is governed by Spirit of the Game, where the players are self-refereed, so it requires a tremendous amount of integrity and respect for each other – including the opposing team.

“This is an amazing opportunity!” stated Erynn. “It is a huge honor to be representing our country, and I am confident that my team and I are ready and will represent the United States."

Erynn was chosen after two competitive sets of tryouts, but knows a lot about stamina. A former swimmer and Ultimate Frisbee player at Armstrong High School, she is studying for a physics or pre-engineering major. In March 2012, she was invited to Seattle to try out for Team USA and earned a spot as an alternate. In June, she was invited to the team’s training camp and proved her mettle, earning a spot on the active roster.

“Erynn showed phenomenal promise from the first day she picked up a disc,” remarked Christie Dosch, former Armstrong High School Women’s Ultimate coach and current women’s coach at the University of Minnesota. “Her athleticism, combined with an insatiable appetite for improvement, has turned her into a great player in only a few years… I expect great things from her in Dublin and beyond.”

The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) World Junior Ultimate Championships is held every two years, growing with every event and now having over 1,000 participants in several age groups. This is the first time the event will be held in Ireland.

Editor's Note: The informtion above was provided by Robbinsdale Area Schools.