Sea-Hawks Soar to Victory at 2025 CUUC’s

It was a season of growth and triumph for the MUN Women’s Sea-Hawks team – one that saw the MUN women’s team finish FIRST in Division II at the 2025 Canadian Ultimate University Championships (CUUCs).

The university season is short, and the excitement of players was palpable right from the start. After kicking off their season with tryouts, the team quickly transitioned into practicing twice a week to prepare to compete from Oct 17-19, 2025. As the team immersed themselves in their rigorous practice schedule and sought additional opportunities to play Ultimate outside of team sessions, they were building a foundation that would soon be put to the test, culminating in a key moment of the season from the perspective of Coaches Hilary Walsh and Kathleen Sullivan on Thanksgiving Day, just before traveling to CUUCs. The team got the opportunity to scrimmage against Grindmothers and Tempest.

This pivotal scrimmage not only reinforced the team’s practice strategies but also highlighted the strong bond, forged through natural chemistry. Coach Hilary Walsh, in reflecting on the season, stated, “The core of this team has been playing together for four years, since the inaugural Sea-Hawks season, and the chemistry and familiarity were evident from the very first practice.”

Captain Maria Dodd echoed this sentiment, saying, “The growth of this team from the start of the season until competition was immense. Since the University/College Ultimate season is so brief, you often fail to see the level of cohesion observed on club teams; our team turned that notion on its head. Our pre-established team chemistry gave us a significant advantage over our competition: Trust.”

Building on Dodd’s insights about the team’s remarkable cohesion, Moira Costigan, also a team captain, emphasized their fortunate advantage, stating, “We were lucky this year to have pretty much everyone playing together the entire summer for Tempest.” This allowed them to skip over the usual adjustment period and immediately focus on improving their game. Costigan also contributes their success to the “amazing group of rookies who slotted into the team perfectly.”

While Costigan highlighted the advantage of their summer practice together, Juliette Hudson, Spiritcaptain, addressed the importance of maintaining morale during the tournament, stating, “A challenge we faced was keeping general morale high and maintaining a level head. This year, our attitude improved significantly. Even in close games, we rarely let setbacks get us down.” To keep spirits high, Hudson introduced a mantra: “I am energized, I have legs, and I am epic.” She also emphasized celebrating every little win, crowning each player who scored to foster excitement and camaraderie.

The team’s experience was a significant advantage but more than this, Dodd highlighted the team’s focus on three key principles: Effort, Focus, and Support. “We were confident that our team had the skill to help us reach Division II finals; however, we knew our mental game could sometimes get the best of us.” Keeping their mental game sharp was just as important as their offensive and defensive strategies.

While Dodd underscored the importance of mental resilience alongside their skills, Coach Walsh emphasized the broader context of competition, stating, “The learning curve of a national tournament is steep, and every point provides the opportunity to improve.” However, she acknowledged the challenges, particularly the cost of travel for university students, noting that “Competing against teams that have played regionals means we often have to work out kinks in our first games that other teams have already figured out.”

Having been a player and captain in the team’s inaugural season, Walsh has coached ever since. For her, one of the highlights of this season was the team’s unwavering belief in their potential. “This was a team that believed they could win this tournament, and it was clear at every practice and in every game. It always sounds cliché to say that everyone played well, but for this team at this tournament, it was true.”

The Sea-Hawks’ victory is not just a personal achievement; it’s a beacon of hope for women’s ultimate in St. John’s. “Teams from this province are often underestimated on the national stage,” Sullivan noted. “Winning this outdoor tournament shows that we can compete against elite players and programs from larger ultimate communities.”

Walsh added that since the very first Sea-Hawks season, she believed the program could win Division II someday and is hopeful that “this win helps to build and grow women’s ultimate in St. John’s.” For those unsure about competing on a national or international level, Walsh has this advice, “You don’t know until you try. Ultimate is the same game, regardless of where you are playing and who you are playing it with.” She emphasizes the importance of intentional training, urging players to build good habits in local leagues and during club team practices.

With aspirations of reaching varsity status at Memorial University, the championship win adds legitimacy to their goals. “This is just the beginning,” Walsh concluded, as the Sea-Hawks look forward to a bright future in ultimate frisbee.