This season WashU’s women were given important and exciting awards from the region.
One of Iron Horse’s coaches, Anat Gross, won All Region Coach of the Year for the South Central Division. Anat took Iron Horse and transformed them in a matter of just one season. She is a Washington University alumni and helped lead the team as a player from 2011-2015. She returned in the 2017-2018 year to co-coach with Michaela Ward. In one season, Iron Horse went from being ranked in the mid 60s to 21th in the nation, a few points away from qualifying for Nationals. Anat has an unbelievable ability to simultaneously think about the big picture and the details for the team. She is constantly bringing in new drills to practice to challenge her players physically and mentally. All of the drills she runs in practice build on each other and culminate to an intense and focused scrimmage in which players can hone in on one skill. Anat motivates everyone to work hard for themselves and each other on the team. She encourages players to put in the necessary hours outside of practice in the gym, throwing and doing sprints. Anat cares about every individual on the team equally from the star graduate students who will only be with Wuwu for a year to the rookies who had never touched a disc before this fall and are the future of the program. She sees value and worth in every person and she works with all of her players to improve as individuals so they can better serve the team. Anat has transformed Iron Horse and is most deserving of this award.
Additionally, Iron Horse senior captain Steph Wang (#9) was named to the first All Region team and Iron Horse junior Sylvia Snyderman (#17) was named to the second All Region team. Both girls worked hard all season. Coach Anat Gross had this to say about the players:
#9 Stephenie Wang – she is a reliable handler, moving the disc with great give n go’s and solid break throws. She has saved countless points with her huge flying lay outs on O and D. She has been a huge contributor on both sides of the disc for us all season, picking up big match ups and taking on difficult upwind break points.
#17 Sylvia Snyderman – She is a powerhouse cutter. Sylv is able to get open on any defender and is very good at using her body to make the most heavily contested grabs. She plays with so much grit and passion, and is the driving force behind the team’s intensity.
Congrats to all three and the entire program for the honors!