Lithuania open

Profile

The Lithuanian open team is coming to the Worlds for the first time! Ultimate was started just a few years ago in Lithuania, so we do not have much experience playing in world level games. The start of frisbee in Lithuania was highly inspired by Swedish frisbee players.

In Lithuania there are three clubs consisting of open, women and junior teams. The teams are called Zeppelins, Spiders and Taskas. This is the first time Lithuania has its national team in the worlds, though Lithuania junior boys and girls have played in the world juniors championship in Latvia in year 2002. We are all very excited about the tournament and hope to bring home a lot of experience. We have heard about the good spirit, the trading night and other friendly events that we strongly look forward to.

It feels an honour to play against USA, because we have understood they are the best team in the world, so we hope we will probably be happy with some points in that match. This team maybe does not excel in the all the skills of Ultimate, but we have enormous drive and energy and give 100% percent on every point with crazy layouts without forgetting fair play. We had some problems in financing our match uniforms but through some help from Enskede Frisbee Klubb it was fixed. If any one else wants to contribute, you will be able to buy your own Lithuanian team kit at Worlds.

We have players from 3 clubs,  Zeppelins (Vilnius), Spiders (Vilnius) and Taskas (Zarasai).

Goals for Worlds: Look at the ranking! Just do not make the wrong conclusion! The main goal is to move at least two positions in the ranking.

Lithuania on offense

Vertical stack is the most common offence, and we like running and want to give the opponents some hard work. Look out for our long passes!

Look for these players when Lithuania has the disc.

Kestutis Backis #77 the main handler and thrower. Runs fast and makes precise throws to the end zone. Look at his dives which are always very spectacular!

Justas Valaskevicius #5  has incredible high speed and high jumps which he catches the disc. If you are lucky you will be able to see Justas catch the disc in the end zone over the defender’s head. A very talented player who has not been playing for a long time. But in the future he will be the great one we believe.

Andrius Navickas #2 A hard working runner who always does his best. In offence he cuts and throws preferably in good give-and-go style.

Lithuania on defense

We play as hard as we can, mainly man to man, but if it is windy we will use two different types of zone D.

Look for these players when Lithuania has the disc:

Tadas "Sugar" Uselis #66, the soul of the defence.

Arunas Puriuskis #7 works well with his long hands and long legs. Blocks lots of throws.

Team colours:
Yellow, red and green

Roster:
16 players 

Captain/Coach:
Kestutis Backis

Written and compiled by Saulius Skripskas and Edmund England