Posted by Alena Colborn on Friday, September 22, 2017 in News.

Vanderbilt University Ultimate Club Frisbee member, Jin-Mi Matsunaga, will be representing the United States on the U24 Mixed National Team at the WFDF 2018 Under 24 World Ultimate Frisbee Championships.

Jin-Mi started playing ultimate frisbee during her freshman year of college with VUDU, Vanderbilt’s women’s ultimate frisbee team, and later captained the team for two years in 2014-2016. Growing up, she played different sports–softball, cross-country, volleyball, and soccer. As a first generation American growing up in an underprivelged neighborhood in Enterprise, Alabama, sports helped her build self confidence and develop friendships. During Jin-Mi’s freshman year at Vanderbilt, VUDU and the ultimate frisbee community in Nashville helped her with much of the same while she navigated academics, social life, and community and campus involvement.

Her journey to be a part of this team was encouraged by past teammates and coaches. In 2014, Jin-Mi attended the U24 Tryout Camp for the first time because a teammate on Hairy Otter encouraged me to go through the application process. She didn’t make a National Team that cycle. After receiving a rejection email, she promised herself that she would make every effort to improve her ultimate frisbee skills and apply again for the next cycle. Jin-Mi tried out for and made the best club team in the southeast the following season, Atlanta Ozone, and continue to compete and refine skills with Ozone.

Jin-Mi returned to the U24 Tryout Camp in June 2017 and was offered a spot on the U24 Mixed National Team. Being a part of the Mixed National Team means that she will be competing alongside men and women from across the US.

Join the Vanderbilt Recreation & Wellness Center, Vanderbilt Club Sports, and the Vanderbilt University community in congratulating Jin-Mi on this incredible accomplishment and wish her the best of luck at the World Championship tournament in Perth, Western Australia from January 7th-13th, 2018.