Chasing Greatness: From the World Stage to a National Championship
There are moments in sports that stay with you forever—not because of the score, but because of the people you shared them with.
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to compete with Well Done at the World Masters Ultimate Club Championships. Pulling on the jersey and stepping onto the field against some of the best players in the world was both humbling and exhilarating.
Over six days of competition, we battled through physical fatigue, mental challenges, and the emotional highs and lows that come with tournament play. Every game demanded focus, resilience, and trust in one another.
When the tournament was over, we walked away with a 5th-place finish in the world.
Of course, athletes always strive for more. But that finish represented months of preparation and the commitment of an amazing group of women. Competing at that level reminded me why I returned to this sport: it pushes me to grow, challenges me to be better, and surrounds me with teammates who inspire me every day.
But the summer wasn’t finished.
After returning home, there wasn’t much time to recover before we were back on the field for the USA Ultimate National Championships. If Worlds tested our endurance over six days, Nationals tested our heart.
The temperatures climbed to 98 degrees, and every point became a battle against both our opponents and the relentless heat. Legs were tired. Bodies were sore. Every sprint required digging a little deeper than the one before.
During the finals, the woman I was covering took off toward the end zone. I remember thinking, “I have to put my head down and go.”
So I did.
Later, I watched the recording of the game. You can actually see me put my head down and try to find another gear.
The funny thing is, my speed didn’t increase.
I was simply exhausted.
And honestly, I love that moment because it reminds me that even as athletes, we have limits. Sometimes you give everything you have, and there just isn't another gear. The goal isn’t always to be at your physical best. Sometimes it’s to keep going with whatever you have left.
The championship game couldn’t have been more fitting.
It came down to the very last point.
Those are the moments athletes dream about—the moments when every practice, every lift, every conditioning session, and every sacrifice throughout the year comes together. We trusted one another, stayed composed, and found a way to finish.
When the final point was scored, we were USA Ultimate Great Grand Masters Women's Division National Champions.
The team Well Done at the Masters Championship in Aurora, May 2026
There is something incredibly special about celebrating a championship with friends who have become family.
I had played with some of these women decades ago, when my kids were just toddlers on the sidelines. Ultimate is unique in that way. The relationships can span decades, generations, and different chapters of life.
Success isn’t built by one player. It’s built through connection, communication, and a shared willingness to work for each other.
Championships are earned through countless small moments: encouraging a teammate after a mistake, making one more sprint, trusting someone else to make the play, or choosing grit when it would be easier to give in.
And as a physical therapist, this experience reinforced something I share with my patients every day:
Peak performance isn’t just about strength or talent.
It’s about consistency, preparation, recovery, resilience, and knowing when to push—and when your body is telling you it needs something different.
That lesson became especially meaningful during these tournaments because I wasn’t only competing. I was also helping my teammates take care of their bodies and stay healthy enough to compete.
Nancy Gonder, MSPT: “Team picture from 2009. I’m in the front row with the white visor, current teammates include most woman in the picture.
Knowing when to push through discomfort and when to back off. Helping someone manage an injury. Figuring out how to recover between games. These small decisions can make a huge difference during a long tournament.
Keeping as many of our players healthy and available as possible absolutely gave us a competitive advantage.
A few of my teammates even came to Golden PT & Pilates as clients and used Shockwave therapy and functional dry needling to help address injuries before the tournament. It was incredibly rewarding to see them go from wondering whether they would be able to compete to running harder and pushing farther than they had in months—without aggravating the injury.
As a physical therapist, there may not be a better feeling than helping someone get back to doing the thing they love.
Whether you’re competing for a national championship, returning from an injury, or simply trying to stay active enough to enjoy the sports you love, the principles are surprisingly similar.
Show up. Prepare. Recover. Listen to your body. Trust the process. And surround yourself with people who help you become your best.
I’m incredibly grateful for my teammates, coaches, family, and everyone who supported this journey. Representing our team on the world stage and then celebrating a National Championship just weeks later is something I’ll never forget.
My contributions on the field were certainly part of our success, but I think my contributions off the field may have been even more meaningful. Helping my teammates understand how to care for their bodies—and knowing when to push, when to modify, and when to rest—allowed more of us to stay healthy and available when it mattered most.
That’s one of the things I love about being both an athlete and a physical therapist: I get to experience firsthand what it means to keep doing what you love, and then help other people do the same.
Now it’s time to recover, reflect, and prepare for the next adventure: dropping my boys off at college.
Because if this summer reminded me of anything, it’s that the greatest victories aren’t just measured by medals.
They’re measured by the friendships built, the challenges overcome, the lessons learned, and the joy of playing the game you love.
And sometimes, they’re measured by putting your head down, giving it everything you have—and finding out that what you had left was just barely enough.
If you’re looking to move better, recover from an injury, or perform at your highest level—whether you’re an elite athlete or simply want to stay active—we’d love to help you at Golden PT & Pilates.
Because everyone deserves to keep doing what they love.