This past weekend Andover Ultimate competed in the annual Andover Cup. Every year at the end of the season, Phillips Andover and Andover High School compete on the Andover High turf to close out the spring season. Andover defeated its cross-town rivals for the second time this season to bring home to title. Earlier this spring, Andover and AHS met during the Andover Invitational. The first meeting of the two teams resulted in a 12-6 win for Andover. “Knowing it was our last game of the season, we had to give it our all and go out in style. It’s kind of AHS’s showcase game, and we knew they would bring it. We just took it the momentum right from the start and never let up,” said Josh T. Feng ’10. Andover took control of the game from the start, scoring a few quick points and only allowing Andover High one. The score went back and forth with both teams trading touchdowns, until Andover took off and jumped ahead 15-4 for the win. “It felt great to win by such a large margin. Last time we faced AHS we didn’t play to our full potential. In the Andover Cup everyone brought their A-game, and it showed. We made great plays on offense and was very strong on the defensive side of play,” said Lucas Christopherson ’12. There were many highlights throughout the game. The most amazing of which was a diving catch in the end zone by Rob Stevens ’10. “Rob Stevens made an exceptional layout grab in the endzone for our fourteenth point. It was absolutely amazing, sensational. I gave him a bandana before the game and told him ‘A wise man (Eli Grober ‘09) once told me, in order to be able to dress ridiculously, you have to be able play ridiculously.’ That diving grab in the back of the end zone he had… it was bandana worthy. It was ridiculous,” said Feng The Andover Cup also marked the last game for the members of 2010 on Andover Ultimate. The six graduating Seniors are Captain Duncan Crystal ’10, Feng, Stevens, Kyle Leahy ’10, Amanda Brisco ’10, and Sam Percival ’10. “Ultimate is legitimately the most fun sport I’ve ever done in my life. While it’s nice to have won NEPSUL and had an overall pretty successful season, I would’ve been just as happy without all the wins, because playing with the guys and girl on our team has been incredible. I love every single person on our team, and am absolutely going to miss Blue Steel when I graduate,” said Stevens Coach Scott Hoenig said, “I feel fortunate to have been able to coach all six of our graduating players – whether for just one season, or for four. They’ve all given their best and they’ve all grown considerably as Ultimate players. I will miss each of them.”
