Sun Prairie Ultimate has dreams of statewide glory

Hopes are high for the Sun Prairie United ultimate frisbee team this spring. The vibe is certainly different from 2023, which United viewed as a "rebuilding" season with only one senior on the roster. Instead, Sun Prairie got red-hot in the latter half of the season.

This culminated with a third place finish at Wisconsin Ultimate state. Nearly the entire team returns this season, minus now-graduated Sean Gillett. That abundance of experience, mixed with a handful of promising newcomers, has United eyeing something better than third place at state this season. They want the title.

"We're super excited," Sun Prairie United head coach Creed Hansen said. "We're returning almost everyone from a team that finished third in the state last season and we're adding some exciting new players, too. This is a group of dynamic and confident athletes."

Headlining the group is United's trio of senior captains: Aidan Obregon, Hayden West, and Jamison Williams. All three have been deeply involved with Ultimate, both with United and during the offseason. Their experience also comes with three distinct leadership styles that give Sun Prairie a decided edge.

Obregon plays the "deep" position on defense, directing the rest of his team where to go and how to attack. His communication skills, both on and off the field, are valuable. Williams is an energy guy who pumps up his teammates. As a primary handler of the disc, he can spark things up for the team in a hurry. West is described as a fiery competitor. He holds his teammates accountable and raises the team's expectations and level of play.

Along with other upperclassmen, they're helping introduce a healthy class of freshmen and sophomores not only to the culture of the program, but to the sport as a whole. The team's "big three" at the top has certainly eased this transition.

"Our team chemistry has been really important for us," Obregon said. "We're really trying to build up our younger guys to make our overall team stronger. Our seniors are great leaders that are focused on improving on last season. We feel we have a real opportunity here. The confidence is high with this group."

Sun Prairie's hope for state glory is reflected in its schedule. United has really changed themselves, namely in a pair of tournaments they'll compete in. First is the annual Madison Mudbath, hosted by Madison Memorial. This tournament served as a turning point for the 2023 season and invites the state's best, as well as a handful from Minnesota. Then comes the big one, the Neuqua Knockout. Hosted in Rockford, Ill., this invitational gathers in some of the best Ultimate teams from the entire midwest.

Additionally, competing in the Madison area conference is no easy task. While Sun Prairie occupied the third spot in the state last spring, a pair of conference rivals took the two spots above them. Middleton has developed a strong program and finished as state runner-up. Madison West, the champion, is a juggernaut in the state. Their 2023 state title was the Regents' 11th consecutive.

Sun Prairie's quest for statewide glory kicks off on Thursday, April 4 with a trip to Monona Park to face Madison La Follette. United will play its first home game the following week at Sun Prairie East High School on Thursday, April 11 against Verona.