THIS IS OUR
COMMUNITY.

Lauren has called the Triad home for the last 10 years. She originally came down for school (go Deacs!) and just couldn’t bring herself to leave. She discovered Ultimate in college and immediately fell in love with the sport, but even more so with the wonderfully quirky, welcoming community that seems to surround Ultimate everywhere.

By day, Lauren works in Alzheimer’s Disease research at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Outside of work she puts on her league-running hat. As the Treasurer and League Chairperson, Lauren organizes the recreational mixed leagues in the Triad and keeps the financial gears turning.

She’s thrilled to help keep Ultimate in the Triad fun, accessible, and thriving, and if you find her off the field, you’ll probably find her knitting, doing yoga, or going on walks/hikes with her dog, Weston.

Schmidt has lived in the Triad for most of his life and began playing Ultimate frisbee in 2010, but wasn’t involved in the Triad Ultimate frisbee scene until winter league of 2020. Graduating from ASU and UNCG in 2015, Schmidt worked for PwC as an auditor for 7 years across the US and Australia before ending his corporate career at Boeing, and hopes to use his time as a CPA to support the vision, operations, and legal requirements of TUF as a non-profit.

Since 2020, Schmidt’s time has been shaped by unexpected experiences and filled by Ultimate across the world along with a growing desire to help others by fostering mutual understanding and bringing together communities. As the DEI Chairperson & Director and Social Director, Schmidt hopes to foster an intentional culture of support and authenticity that attracts and retains others into our community.

While you might not see him on the field too often, you can probably find him hiding away somewhere in the mountains, listening to music, learning about ourselves and the world or otherwise waiting for the collapse of man (let’s yap about it).

Jess started her ultimate frisbee career during undergrad outside of the Boston area in 2016. Much like the Triad, the local league was looking for more FMP to join, and thus spurred a more intentional connection with the community surrounding ultimate frisbee.

After moving to Winston-Salem in 2018, she sought out Ultimate opportunities hoping to find a similar community and culture. During her time in the Triad she has helped organize and build up local leagues, hat-tournaments, and club teams, and making several deeply meaningful friendships along the way.

During the day, Jess works for a non-profit that provides relevant biological products surrounding birth tissues to researchers around the world. As the Mixed Club Chairperson & Director and DEI Director, she hopes to promote the growth of our local Ultimate scene while continuing to foster the warmth of the community that took her in when she first moved to the area.

When she’s not on the field, Jess spends her time curating her living room gym, taking care of animals, and being a novice home barista.

Scott started playing Ultimate in the Washington Area Frisbee Club (WAFC) click leagues in 2001. He moved to The triad in 2003 and started coaching high school ultimate at both Page and Grimsley high schools. He was elected the NC coach of the year in 2009 while coaching teams to the HS State finals in 4 consecutive years, culminating with a win with a blended team from 2 different schools in 2010.

He has played with various mixed and open club teams in the area, going to sectionals, regionals, and nationals. Scott has coached high school or middle school for 22 years and his former players have participated in college and club nationals (including a 3 time college national champion!) as well as competing professionally in the UFA.

Scott knows the importance of our youth and the crucial role they play in creating a dynamic Ultimate scene. While he’s currently coaching at Grimsley high school, there are high school practice opportunities open to all high schoolers in the area, so don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Scott is a husband, father of 6 (3 bonus children from Eritrea and 3 born to us), and a high school math teacher of countless more, and knows how to run a tight ship from a place of love. When he’s not with his family or church, he’s probably trying to get people to cut deep for him on the breakside or helping teach someone at pickup or league.

Natalie started playing ultimate frisbee at the University of Florida (go Gators!) much like many former high school soccer players searching for a fun club sport to join. Natalie works as a Nurse Practitioner for a pediatric clinic at Cone Health in Greensboro.

Since moving to Winston-Salem in 2016, she has been involved with playing in the different Ultimate scenes and teams that the Triad Area has had to offer. Since 2020 she has coached Wake Forest’s Women’s Ultimate team- Ruckus! She currently plays for a regional women’s club team- Juice Box, but has big dreams to have Triad Area Ultimate grow to support a female matching league or club team, and eventually both!

As the Collegiate Women’s Matching and FMP Clubs Chairperson, she works to connect with colleges and players across the Triad and beyond, build and maintain an inclusive environment, and continue to bring more FMPs into the sport of Ultimate!

When Natalie’s not on the field playing or coaching, she enjoys traveling with her friends and husband, Alex, hanging out with her two cats, listening to audio books, and spending time gardening.