Featured Element 3: Shannon O'Malley

The start of the 2006-2007 College Season (preseason, whatever) marks a new era in college women's ultimate: Shannon O'Malley is finally eligible. This woman/immortal morph is taking the field with Washington Element (duh) alongside longtime highschool teammate and fellow baby riot girl Claire Suver. Below is an exclusive interview:

"Alright, I started playing in 6th grade, which i think means I started my
9th year of playing ultimate this september. I started with Eckstein
Middle School (seattle ravenna area) and then played with Nathan Hale
(coed city league champs, state champs 04 and 05, kinda nationalish
champs 04, westerns 05....uh maybe you can tell im proud of my hs team
heh heh) ***interviewer would like to interupt to announce that HALE RULE!*** I found element by practicing with the ladies in the fall of my
junior year. They invited the suvers out and I kinda tagged along because
I was addicted by that point.

There been a lot of highlights....I'd say the best was winning
the last ever high school nationals with a combined team. 5 of us from my
highschool (Molly and Claire Suver, Hana Kawai, Alyssa Weatherford and I)
joined up with a canadian team, Yale, and we went in as last seed, no one
expected anything from us. But come semis on sunday we beat the 6 year
undefeated Amherst Varsity 11-10. It was epic. Then we went on to take
the title against a Eugene team. Both teams, Amherst and the Eugene team
bageld us or came close the day before.

Playing for RIOT is pretty intense. 4 practices a week for a good chunk of time is reallya commitment. I didnt realize how crazy it was until I finally started
college and had more than Ultimate in my life. Theres up and downs as
well. I think it was a huge shock for everyone to go from an undefeated
season to a not so undefeated one the next year, people just gotta know
to watch out for next year. But, yeah, its still the most amazing
experience, plus everyone on Riot is just awesome at the game and in
general.

Q: how does club differ from college? what are you looking forward to
about this college season?

Oh man! So I hate to say it but I was dying to play college all through
the club season, shhh dont tell anyone ;). Ever since being the water
girl at last years regionals Id been edging to play the game. Itd say the
biggest and most obvious difference is definately a different skill set.
College is where most people start their careers and thats sweet. Its
actually what Im most excited about because seeing everyone improve is
awesome and I love passing knowledge about the sport on. I love it so
much I just want to keep spreading its seeds!

Q: what have you enjoyed about element so far?

Well, considering what ive experienced isnt too much so far but Sundodger
was awesome. I hadnt really met anyone yet and I was actually kinda
nervous to just come out and start playing without any real practice with
the team. But everyone was awesome and nice and I was really impressed
with everyone, especially when I would say "That was an amazing play!"
and someone else would go "yeah, shes never played before!" It was so
cool. It psyched me up like nothing else.

Q: what are some of the crazy things you have done for a team (shaved
head, ect) that has made you famous??

Well, I dont really know how crazy it is anymore but I usually dye my
hair different colors for every tournament. Whether its the teams colors
or just random its usually dyed and put into a fauxhawk if its a big
tourney. But last year for club natties I went as far as to shave the
words RIOT into the back of my head.

Q: tell us a few more cool things about yourself!!!

Coaching Ultimate is a huge part of my life too, my middle school kids
teams took 3rd in each of their divisions! Pretty cool for pretty new
(and small!) players. I really like indie music, or really, just music in general so if you have some cool sweet music, i probably want to hear it and you should
pass it on. I totally rock at beer pong. But only if im completely wasted. Re: UW
Kegger 06. Techno music = also the shit. Not to brag but I have 5 gold medals...oh and two silvers...those are okay too ;P

Im so Awkward. Like right now. Like through this whole answering process.
Oh and im going to be in "go girl go" magazine, or something weird like
that.

....The end.

Check out shannon on ultivillage clip of the day archive! See you on the field, bebe...it's about time we was teammates!