Cassia Williams-Rogers

Year	Junior
Major	Biological Sciences
Hometown	Chevy Chase, MD
Position	Cutter

How did you start playing ultimate?

I started for fun freshman year wanting to try something new and make new friends.

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

The second day of the Delaware tournament freshman year it was cold and raining all day. We made it to the final, but by that time the field was so wet that we were just sliding around in mud the entire time. We did get Sheetz for lunch though so that kinda made up for it...

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Running deep and beating people in sky battles

Favorite tournament-route meal

Penn State Creamery and honestly any ice cream stops

Go-to snack?

Ice cream, oreos, or kettle chips

Senina Yang

Year	Senior
Major	Chemistry
Hometown	Brooklyn, NY
Position	Hybrid

How did you start playing ultimate?

I started playing ultimate in sophomore year of high school because I had a friend who was on the men's team. I eventually convinced a bunch of my friends to join with me and the rest is history :)

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

My first ever college tournament (Buffalo/Niagara Falls) rolling down that giant hill on the fields! Playing in DC and exploring all the monuments with teammates

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Flicks!

Favorite tournament-route meal and car game?

"Meal: anything not Chipotle Game: Contact"

Do you have any ultimate-given nicknames?

Panini, in sophomore year of high school all the sophomores on the frisbee team got ultimate hoodies and on the back of the hoodies we came up with a food related pun. Mine was Senini Panini

What's your optimal playing weather?

Little to no wind, on the chillier side, no snow please

If you could have any body part from anyone on the team, which would you want?

I wish I had Victoria's legs (hops) because she's proof that tall people can jump (I can't)

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

Anything food related, watching sports (basketball, football, tennis), and playing Neopets lmao

Go-to snack?

HOT CHEETOS

~ Noodlehead Order ~

Pad Thai (Shrimp) Level 2 spice

Maria Stang

Year	PhD
Major	Materials Science and Engineering
Hometown	Mason, OH
Position	Cutter

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

Sectionals 2021 - I went for a layout D (didn't actually get the D), but the team cheered for me anyway and called me cool <3

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Layout D

What's your optimal playing weather?

"I'd have to say April 25th because it's not too hot, not too cold."

If you could have any body part from anyone on the team, which would you want?

Sara's brain - I want all that ultimate intuition!!!

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

Bouldering at Iron City Boulders (follow my alter ego insta page @sendswithvandri !); bioprinting scaffolds for tissue engineering in my lab

~ Noodlehead Order ~

See Yew with a side of Thai Fried Chicken

Vivian Shen

Year	PhD
Major	Robotics
Hometown	San Mateo, CA
Position	D-line cutter

How did you start playing ultimate?

Joined as a freshman at Columbia University

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

I had a ton of fun getting to know the team and playing at sectionals!

Favorite throw or move on the field?

I would say an IO flick if I could actually consistently throw one

Favorite tournament-route meal?

Dunkin' Donuts right before getting to the fields

Do you have any ultimate-given nicknames?

Unfortunately I've never had a serious one, although everyone calls me Viv instead of Vivian and I think it would be fun to be called Ian sometimes (the other half of my name)

What's your optimal playing weather?

ZERO wind and chilly, no sun

If you could have any body part from anyone on the team, which would you want?

I wish I had Ash's calves because they look very strong and capable

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

Spend way too much time doing research

Go-to snack?

Green grapes (but NEVER the red)

~ Noodlehead Order ~

Chiang Mai curry spice level 3

Victoria Chen

Year	Freshman
Major	Statistics & Machine Learning
Hometown	Basking Ridge, NJ
Position	Cutter

How did you start playing ultimate?

A bunch of my friends who played ultimate kept suggesting I should tryout for our high school team. It took until my senior year for me to finally give it a go, and while I definitely struggled to throw in the beginning, I enjoyed the sport and its culture so much I stuck with it and have not looked back since :)

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

Our entire Fall 2021 regionals tournament was a blast despite the wet, snowy, and windy as heck conditions. Our universe point against Temple in the quarter-finals was very very satisfying (s/o to Rachael and her gorgeous, 50-something-yard huck assist in snow and high wind), especially after the previous line played a grueling 20+ minute point with a million contested endzone catches to get us tied at 7s.

Favorite throw or move on the field?

I do love a good chicken wing, but I never do it on the field because mine always go vertical under pressure (maybe I'll work on that and break it out eventually).

Favorite tournament-route meal?

Roots, all day.

Do you have any ultimate-given nicknames?

I don't have any ultimate-given nicknames, but I do go by Vic. "Big bird" was attempted by some after they found out that I really like birds- very glad it didn't stick.

What's your optimal playing weather?

Between 50-75 degrees and mostly sunny with a bit of wind (10 mph tops) and no gusts.

If you could have any body part from anyone on the team, which would you want?

No amount of adjectives can describe just how solid Sara's catches are. A 50/50? A D-ed disc rocketing to the ground? Doesn't matter. Sara's hands will make those catches all day. Literally if a disc is within a 10 yard radius of her (maybe even more), I wouldn't even try to contest for it.

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

Outside of ultimate I do a bit of TA-ing, piano, NYT crosswords (trying to slowly rely less on autocheck), chess puzzles, and ofc good old schoolwork :D

Go-to snack?

Definitely bananas. I nearly always have one on me that's usually stored in one of my backpack's water bottle pockets (after some tough experiences, I've learned it's a much better option to avoid squishing the banana to a pulp- highly advise).

Sara Liang

Year	Junior
Major	Biology
Hometown	Pittsburgh, PA
Position	Handler

How did you start playing ultimate?

I went to a summer camp at Gesling Stadium when I was 7 (pink skirt, Hello Kitty shoes and all), and the rest is history.

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

Probably day 2 of Delaware Classic this past fall when we surprised ourselves by making it to finals, and ended up playing Pitt A in a mud pit :D. There were some sweet plays, I learned what waterproof paper was, and I lost odds to Ash (as usual) and had to eat an everything bagel that had been sitting on a bleacher in the pouring rain all day (not my finest moment).

Favorite tournament-route meal?

Grapes, snap peas, cantaloupe... yeah definitely some sort of produce.

Do you have any ultimate-given nicknames?

My nickname throughout high school was Stud, which came about out of necessity because we had 5 Sara/h's on my youth club team my freshman year. There had been a preview written on the USA Ultimate website about some spring tournament, and I was referred to as a "freshman stud." My friends thought this was hilarious, and thus my nickname became "young stud," which got shorted to just "stud." I was not a fan of it at first, but it stuck. On the Mellons, I've had a variety of nicknames thrown at me by the nickname queen herself, Hannah Lyness—Simba, Produce Kid (for my love of fruits and veggies)—but as I'm the only Sara, none of them have stuck... yet.

What's your optimal playing weather?

70s, sunny, no humidity, and the slightest of breezes. Pillowy but dry grass field because as much as layouts are fun, wet socks are the worst.

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

A couple months earlier I would've said wdym not playing ultimate :'(. I suppose now the more accurate answer is schoolwork, TAing, doing NYT crosswords, and playing intense games of Sporcle bingo when I really should be sleeping.

Go-to snack?

I love popcorn, but ever since I dropped a disc at a tournament because I had popcorn grease on my hand (and obviously not because I was just bad), I've trusted it less. The other answer is produce, but we all knew that.

Chloe Chen

Year	Senior
Major	Neuroscience
Hometown	Taipei, Taiwan & Tampa, FL
Position	Handler

How did you start playing ultimate?

Kidnapped by high school friends.

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

Extinction romp Fall 2021. We all dressed up for Mario Kart themed Halloween. It was super fun making the costumes with friends and seeing the creativity and talent of my fellow Mellons. Running around on the field in matching outfits with my teammates was definitely a memorable moment.

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Crossfield flick

Do you have any ultimate-given nicknames?

Spaghet. Named after my favorite pasta.

What's your optimal playing weather?

65 degrees and sunny. Just a slight breeze

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

Read, play video games, skate, procrastinate, do two weeks' worth of homework in one day

Go-to snack?

Chips!

~ Noodlehead Order ~

Chicken Pad See Yew (no spice)

Karen Li

Year	Sophomore
Major	Electrical and Computer Engineering
Hometown	Collegeville, PA
Position	Hybrid

How did you start playing ultimate?

I was convinced by a friend to attend a practice, loved the vibes, and joined the Mellons!

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Forehand

What's your optimal playing weather?

60 degrees, partly cloudy, no wind.

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

Reading, geeking out about the newest tech gadget, hiking, or something else outdoors!

Go-to snack?

Fruit is yummy.

~ Noodlehead Order ~

Shrimp pad thai

Emily Ma

Year	Freshman
Major	Mathematical Sciences
Hometown	Poughkeepsie, NY
Position	Cutter

How did you start playing ultimate?

I played a little bit of ultimate for fun throughout high school and started playing more after joining the Money Mellons during my freshman fall semester.

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

Spending time together at Poolside and huddling like penguins on the field during Regionals in Ohio when it felt like blizzard weather.

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Backhand

Favorite tournament-route meal and car game?

McDonalds / Say the Same Thing

What's your optimal playing weather?

50ish degrees with sun and little wind

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

Watch movies, go on walks, make Kraft mac and cheese

Go-to snack?

Cheez-its

~ Noodlehead Order ~

Street Noodle 1

Rosa Vitiello

Year	Masters
Major	Language Technologies
Hometown	Boston, MA
Position	Handler

How did you start playing ultimate?

My older brother taught me how to throw so he could force me to practice with him (i.e. sibling abuse). After that, I took my throwing ability to youth frisbee clinics and schooled all the other children with my crisp hucks at the ripe age of 9

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

All the hype after Vic caught Rachel's huck to win the Temple game at fall regionals

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Around backhand (breaks 'em every time) and 7 cut (tricks 'em every time)

Favorite tournament-route car game?

Team "Essences" -- car game in which you choose a category and group brainstorm a type from each category that matches to someone on the team (e.g. for Mellons "Sesame Street" Essences, Carolyn would be Count von Count because she's hella good at math and Mimi would probably be the Elmo Fire Meme, Hellmo, because idk it just feels like the right vibe).

Do you have any ultimate-given nicknames?

Zazu/Zaz/Z. I was eating pizza with some upperclassmen who were brainstorming nicknames for me, and it went something like this (some creative liberties taken): "Rosa, Za, *points to pizza*, Zazu. Heck yea Lion King."

What's your optimal playing weather?

Scorching summer weather, so I can look hot ;) while playing

If you could have any body part from anyone on the team, which would you want?

Carolyn's arms in a cup so I can get some spicy blocks

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

Ideally, eating or napping

Go-to snack?

For tournaments: Apple sauce and gushers

~ Noodlehead Order ~

Sorry, I know it's sacrilegious, but have yet to go to Noodlehead -- currently accepting any offers of Noodlehead lunch dates <3

Mimi Marino

Year	Senior
Major	Physics
Hometown	Trumbull, CT
Position	O-line cutter

How did you start playing ultimate?

Idk what ultimate is

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

The friends we made along the way

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Pointing with my right index finger

Favorite tournament-route meal and car game?

Apple Cider (and gummies)

Do you have any ultimate-given nicknames?

Meme

What's your optimal playing weather?

Fall Regionals 2021

If you could have any body part from anyone on the team, which would you want?

An inch of height from every CMWU player

~ Noodlehead Order ~

Pad Thai with chicken spice level 2

Ella Maxwell

Year	Freshman
Major	Architecture
Hometown	College Station, TX
Position	Cutter

How did you start playing ultimate?

I joined freshman year at CMU! I played a little with my friends and always dreamed of joining a team but never did until college

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

Watching the All Too Well 10 minute long (Taylor's Version) music video in the hotel room at regionals with Saumya and Mimi

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Playing in the cup

What's your optimal playing weather?

Snow storm!

If you could have any body part from anyone on the team, which would you want?

Vics legs so they could make me fly

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

I'm architecturing (that's a verb, right?) I also love songwriting

Ashley Li

Year	Senior
Major	Artificial Intelligence
Hometown	Pittsburgh, PA
Position	Cutter

What's your favorite memory from being on the Mellons?

Team dogpile after my first layout

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Sitting in the endzone waiting for Sara or Senina to drop me a dime. If I'm lucky I'll get a bladey flick from Mimi instead.

What's your optimal playing weather?

50 degrees so my hands are sweaty enough to be sticky but not slippy. No rain, no wind, no pollen.

If you could have any body part from anyone on the team, which would you want?

I'd want Karen's left hand and Chloe's right hand so I could be ambidextrous and get incredible one-handed snags left and right.

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

I really enjoy doing NYT crosswords and Sudoku puzzles. During the semester, you'll usually find me doing puzzles at poolside or in an especially boring class.

Go-to snack?

Various things on toast - avocados, peanut butter, bruschetta, etc. I swear, there's nothing out there that is not vastly enhanced by slightly warm bread.

~ Noodlehead Order ~

Kee mao w/ tofu, spice level 5

Rachael Liu

Year	Senior
Major	Statistics and Machine Learning
Hometown	San Diego, CA
Position	D-Line handler

Favorite throw or move on the field?

IO backhand

Favorite tournament-route car game?

I think some people call it the ratings game. One person, the rater, chooses a category. The other players each use a random a number generator to get a number between 1 and 100. They then pick something in that category that they think the rater will rate as their number. The rater then rates each of the things the other players say and the winner is the person with the smallest number differential.

Do you have any ultimate-given nicknames?

During my freshman year, I think I did or said something dumb and then Elisa was like "haha chicken from moana." But except in her classic Elisa voice so it was more like "CHICKKKKEN FROM MOANNAAA." And it kinda stuck. And then during my sophomore year, I was drinking pickle juice from the jar and spilled it all over myself and then Mimi was like "chickle."

What's your optimal playing weather?

61 degrees. Overcast. Slight wind. Grass is still a bit damp from last night's rain.

Go-to snack?

Apples + peanut butter

~ Noodlehead Order ~

Vegan pad kee mao with tofu, spice level 2

Rachel Swindell

Year	Junior
Major	Neuroscience
Hometown	Wilmot, NH
Position	Cutter

Carolyn Lee

Year	Senior
Major	Math
Hometown	Albany, CA
Position	D-line cutter

Favorite throw or move on the field?

Do something awkward in the background during a timeout on the field

Favorite tournament-route car game?

Asking probing questions

What do you do when you're not playing ultimate?

Spacing out, drinking water, breathing etc