Brute Squad, already one of the most feared ultimate programs in North America, heads into USAU Nationals this weekend with podium aspirations thanks in part to their first-year Canadian import, Jessie Grignon Tomas.

While there’s little question Boston – who have won two of the last three US National Championships – would be in good shape even without their new addition, the offensive cutter has provided a noticeable boost in her first year with Brute Squad.

“Jessie has been instrumental in the success of the team this year, she’s stood out in providing a really solid foundation from her cutting spot on the offensive line. She’s been incredibly impactful,” said Ariel Jackson, head coach of Brute Squad, of their Montreal-based rookie.

Grignon Tomas is no stranger to ultimate at the highest levels, having won medals with different iterations of Team Canada for the better part of a decade now, including bronze last year with Canada’s World Games team in Poland. But, despite having done almost everything in an impressive 13-year-career, the challenge of playing with a new team in a city a five-hour drive across the border has been a fresh and exciting experience – and exactly the motivation needed to fuel her competitive drive.

The former basketball player did not play club in 2016 or 2017, opting instead to focus on international events in her roles on different national teams. The experience this afforded her in facing up with the best players in the world regularly reminded her what she loved about the sport.

“I love ultimate when every game is hard, when every player I have to cover is very good,” Grignon Tomas said, reflecting on how no matchup was won easily against the best competition in the world. “After playing with Team Canada I had so much motivation to continue, and Brute Squad was that next challenge.”

While Team Canada offered Grignon Tomas the competition she was looking for, the seasons were short, and training camps where the whole team could be present were few and far between, with a lot of individual training required. In that sense, matching up regularly in practice with a talented Brute Squad roster has been a special experience. “I can’t ever go to practice and try to play at even 80% or someone will get a layout block on me,” Grignon Tomas explained. “I have to be at 100% and work hard for every throw and every time I defend someone. The intensity is so high and I love it.”

Quebec –> Boston

The idea for Grignon Tomas to join Brute Squad started in 2016, when a showcase game between the Boston team and Quebec Iris that saw her match up well against several top players prompted captain Amber Sinicrope to invite Quebec’s star player to tryout the following year. While Team Canada commitments forced a postponement of that plan, it became a reality this season in a move that both parties are thrilled with.

“She’s a great presence, culturally, for the team,” said Jackson, now in his fourth year coaching the team. “Her ultimate IQ is very high, her focus on the small details is very high, but also a lot of it comes down to a really strong drive and desire.

“That shows both off the field in the fact that she commutes at least 10 hours round trip almost every weekend, but also on the field. If a disc goes up, it’s different for Jessie, if the disc is anywhere near her, she’s going to do everything she possibly can to get it,” Jackson added.

“…when I’m in Boston with the team, it’s all worth it.” -Jessie Grignon Tomas

For Grignon Tomas, the long, solo road trip several weekends a month to practice or play tournaments – on top of coaching commitments in Montreal on her rare “weekends off” – has meant a summer completely absorbed by ultimate. Her typical week includes as many as three training sessions (she explained she has to keep up with the team, who put in a Wednesday evening practice that she cannot attend) and constant focus on her sleep schedule, nutrition, and all the little, process-based things she can control.

“Maybe I’m a bit crazy to do all that, but when I’m in Boston with the team, it’s all worth it,” she said.

More consistent team structure is a welcome change from what had to be a lot of individual, self-motivated training in her two years with Team Canada.

“My motivation [when training] is to be there for my team. I want to be good for myself but most of all for the team. I love being with them and hanging out with them.”

“I want to be at my best for the team because that is very important to me.”

Mindset

At 30, Grignon Tomas believes she is still improving, and is blazing through a career year in her first opportunity to play with a major US-based club team. Reflecting on a long career to date that has included tears to each ACL – many players are never the same after even just one knee injury of that scale – Grignon Tomas says constant work on her mindset has been key for her continued development.

In terms of injuries, Grignon Tomas admitted it was difficult returning to the field after two ACL tears, both of which required surgery and extensive rehab.

“The first [ACL] tear was okay, it was a challenge, but the second was much harder on me,” she said of the injuries, which happened in 2011 and 2013. The second tear, which happened on the first point of the first game at Northeast Regionals that fall, cost her the entire 2014 season and meant an uphill climb to return to elite ultimate.

“For a while I had no more trust in my body,” Grignon Tomas remembered. “I thought my body could not support what I asked of it, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to just go back and play.

“Mentally I was just scared. I would always have bad scenarios running through my head, I was always thinking about my injuries, I would think I couldn’t play,” she added.

A string of successful and healthy seasons has, however, made things easier.

“I have those thoughts much less now. As soon as I step on the field I don’t have them at all.”

Despite her 10+ years of high-level playing experience and six years of coaching slotting her in as one of the most experienced players on any team, “my mentality is that everyone can still learn from anybody,” she said.

The year with Brute Squad has forced the offensive cutter to sharpen some aspects of her mental game, especially for a player whose career has been split playing either offense or defense. “Even if I play with all the [physical] skill I have, the level of play is higher [this year] and the game is faster. I have had to learn to make quicker decisions,” she added.

While enjoying one of her most successful seasons to date, Grignon Tomas is staying focused on the present and taking the future one year at a time. “In my heart, I think I can play for Brute Squad for another year, maybe two, but in my head I also know I want to do some other things in my life,” she said, stressing that she had not yet made a decision for next year.

Brute Squad eyes third title in four years

For the team as a whole, there is no getting around the fact that a lot is expected from them, both externally and internally. Brute Squad are the top seed heading into the tournament, and coming off first place finishes at the both Triple Crown Tour events they attended: the US Open and Pro Championships.

“The stated team goal is to win a national championship,” Jackson said.

“[Nationals] will be a success if the team and myself give all that we have on the field.” -Jessie Grignon Tomas

But Grignon Tomas and Jackson both echoed the same sentiment: if the players do their job and leave everything on the field, they can leave San Diego with their heads held high regardless of the result.

“For me and the way I define success or failure, success at Nationals is being able to finish every game proud of the way we played,” Jackson added.

“I think that with a team that’s as talented, disciplined, and hard-working as we are, if we can finish each game like that there’s a pretty good chance we will come away with another national championship.”

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