A Little History

    Four scores (okay, no...our first season wasn't that bad) and one year ago, Ellen Lin, freshwoman at Pomona College decided that the Claremont College's "co-ed" team, the Braineaters, needed to stop scaring away all the women that came out to play.  As an Amherst High Women's Ultimate alum, she had visions  of creating an environment safe from the pressures of the barbaric men's ultimate game, in which women could come together and play their own game.
     Oddly enough, she started with recruiting her own roommate, whom she had neglected to talk to prior to her realization that the amazing athlete could be torn away from a sputtering track career.  Shelley Kunasek forgave her little Ellen for previous neglect, acknowledging that she had always wanted to join the Ultimate team, but had been afraid of the Brains because she couldn't throw a disc better than an iguana.  She agreed that a separate women's team was necessary for women to feel comfortable enough to come out and play.
     The two set out, slowly, enticing the women of the five Claremont Colleges to come muck around with a disc.  Fortunately, Ellen had the help of a few veteran players, Jess and Sarah (Pomona Class of 1999), and Whitney Weitzel (CMC '01).  Jess had played with the Braineaters since she, too, had been torn from her track career.  All were delighted with the idea of a women's team and set out to teach and learn.
     The team grew, despite the irksome presence of boys on the women's field.  Kerry Franzetta, a former field hockey star; Christi (now a captain) and Alicia, former soccer studettes; Eve Filip, marathon runner; Erin Good, ex-swimmer chick; Kristin Dawson, volleyball queen; and Meredith (we're not quite sure where she came from). 

With Ellen's amazing organizational skills, Jess' enthusiasm, Meredith's nagging, and Shelley's cheesy, inspirational emails, the girls became a team and developed a presence.

     Soon, the girls were holding conferences concerning disc designs, t-shirts, and, yes, a name.  Snapdragons was too pretty.  Spingyn was too weird.  Shelley, little entrepreneur, thought they should go with a name that could sell t-shirts.  Bright yellow shirts, with the name "Green Shirt" across the front.  Perfect.  No one saw the light of her brilliant idea until the day came when they absolutely had to order t-shirts if they wanted to look like a team at their first tourney. 

   The Green Shirts were born. 


And, yes, everyone wanted a t-shirt (order today!).