What’s one thing you’re proud of achieving during this tournament?
Stepping up to play in the O-line as a handler—something no one trusted me to do last year.
Playing in the final game under pressure. Even though it was a hat tournament, the tension in the final was surreal.
What’s the biggest lesson you’re taking away from this tournament?
How you practice is how you play. The way you run, throw, and scan the field in practice will show up in games. That’s why practice shouldn’t be about winning—it should be about correcting mistakes and trying new things as much as possible.
I truly believe our team can host a hat tournament if we want to. No offense to anyone, but I genuinely think we could do it—even better in terms of organization, food, jerseys, and the party. Well, maybe not the field, since finding a good, large field in the city is tough.
Is there a moment you wish you could redo? What would you do differently?
If there’s one thing I wish I had done better, it would be hucking more. After the tournament, I realized I didn’t throw a single huck that assisted my teammates—not even one. If I remember correctly, I only attempted one huck, and it sailed way off the field. So yeah, I wish I had tried more, no matter how terrible my hucks were—because, in the end, it’s just a hat tournament, and who really cares about the trophy?
Did you make any new friends or connections?
Not really. I think I was too focused on the game, and I didn’t know what to ask to start a conversation. It felt weird telling new players to go make friends at the tournament while I couldn’t even make one myself, lol.
Was there a specific player or team that inspired you?
There was this Vietnamese guy who joined on the second day. My teammate (who’s also his friend) called him the “GOAT of Vietnam”—not sure if that’s true or just a joke, but yeah, he was good. He played both handler and deep, had great hops, and played with confidence, though he still made some basic mistakes.
Funny thing—he’s actually a fan of Bong Reach. Apparently, they met when Bong Reach played at Vietnam Hat years ago. Jason told me about it.
Also, both my female and male captains—they definitely carried the team.
What’s your favorite memory from this tournament?
I don’t think I have one specific moment, or maybe I just can’t think of one. But overall, the best part of the trip was spending time with teammates—talking nonstop, laughing out loud. Those are the moments that keep me coming back to Ultimate. They remind me that sports aren’t just about competition but about the journey—an experience not everyone gets to have.
Can you share a funny or unexpected moment from the trip?
- A lot of farting, especially when we were all crammed in the same room (I guess that’s their love language).
- Got scammed (if you know, you know).
- Pho for two days straight—not complaining, though, we kinda liked it.
- Watching them sing and hold hands while walking through the night streets. It looked like they’d never had a moment like that before—just being kids again. That was special.
Will you come back to Vietnam Hat next year? Why or why not?
- I think I will. One of my goals this year was to carry the team—to be the player who hucks and assists teammates. But I didn’t execute that well. That’s the main reason I want to return—to accomplish that next year.
- I also want to bring new students or players to experience it, just like we did, so they can understand how much Ultimate can mean to us.