AMUC 2024: Krank it Up!
What was the X factor that led Krank to their first ever medal at AMUC?
By Kieran Stodart and Annalise Hedditch
This season for Krank was a special one. A talented one some might say. It was built on a longstanding foundation, with key members of the club tirelessly working for years to keep everything running smoothly and continue to push Wollongong Ultimate to new heights. AMUC 2013 was the first inception of Krank, claiming its first national beach title in 2015. National beach medals are littered throughout Wollongong's history, but have been paired with mixed results at national grass events. Although if the last two years are anything to go off, Wollongong Ultimate has been trending in the right direction recently. The Krank Opens team from 2023 provided the blueprint for grit and determination, Surge 2024 realised that winning is a choice, and the UOW Ducks showed us that winning and fun can co-exist.
And yet, this season was not without its setbacks. The team was scattered across NSW, along with one Melbourne dweller. WUC and Unigames only added to the chaos, with already small training sessions shrinking in size as we continued building towards AMUC. Then add a season ending injury to one of our elite O-line throwers, a wedding during the middle of nationals, and Sunday of AMUC being the first time the whole team played together, it was far from ideal preparation.
The four hour drive from Wollongong to sunny Nelson Bay provided lots of time for bonding, conversation and most importantly quality banter. This included no shortage of Half Moon chatter and the WUC-littered team they had assembled. Come Friday morning, they were just another team of frisbee players. Krank came out firing on defence, getting early turns and punishing mistakes. After a gritty game of back-and-forth Half Moon dealt the final blow, taking the game 14-13 on universe.
We brought that intensity and a “foot on the throat” approach for the rest of Friday and into Saturday, the D-line grinding teams into the ground, while the O-line put on a ruthless clinic of consistency and patience. Thanks to the lack of wildcards at AMUC this year and the oddball draw it produced, we wouldn’t face the reigning champions Pompey Magnus or Half Moon again until the final.
This left us with Puggle, our friendly yet fierce rivals. Filled with some of Wollongong’s own and other close connections, the games against them were always some of our favourites. Krank went up 5-1 to start the quarter-final and never looked back. Chilly Chimichanga awaited us in the semi-final on Sunday morning, a team full of threats that we knew would be dangerous. With a few tactical adjustments and even more grit, Krank stormed into its first ever AMUC final, beating Chilly 15-6 and securing the club's maiden grass medal in the process.
While frisbee was important, the moments we had with each other off-field outweighed anything we could do on-field. Beers at the beach, stunning firework displays in Hanabi, our favourite game unky wunky bunky, late night shenanigans, lots of charades, acrobatic feats off the jetty, scrumptious team meals, silly car rides, and a talent show to top. Wollongong Ultimate has always fostered an inclusive culture, allowing each individual to be themselves, feel valued, and continue to grow as both athletes and people. A culture that encourages highuality frisbee, cares for the people involved, and focuses on enjoyment no matter the result is a culture worth fighting for. Fresh off a Dingoes campaign full of energy and learning, Coby Ryan was at the heart of this season's culture. Everyone played their part, but Coby deserves to be acknowledged for the way he led this team.
The final was an elite showcase of Ultimate. Krank and its consistent depth vs Half Moon and its world-class but tired legs. After four timeouts (to fight exhaustion) and some incredible frisbee, Half Moon claimed the title of AMUC 2024 Champions, 15-14. Little did they know the weekend had already been won by Krank.
“Every time I think back on what Wollongong just achieved I’m just so overwhelmed with happiness” - Rosie Nicholls
Damn right Rosie. In the end it was the full-circle tournament. Universe to start, universe to end. Four generations of Wollongong Ultimate coming together and producing a club best result at grass nationals. Can’t ask for much more than that. It was a performance that the club can be incredibly proud of and one that has lit a fire under Wollongong Ultimate. We bleed red and we want MORE! Let's see what the future brings.
#bleedred