Woman of the Week - Andrea Hoffman, Chicken Tetrizzini

Without hesitation, this week's WOMAN OF THE WEEK:

ANDREA HOFFMAN

Andrea is a talented and loved player and friend on this Peninsula league. You can find her in her pink Chicken Tetrizzini shirt both on the field, and at the bar. Her skills don't start, or stop with kickball though. Last year she co-ran a charity fundraiser that got the entire league involved with a raffle- she has a huge heart. (Seriously, how many other people are spending their bar time doing charity work?!)
Chicken Tetrizzini is a really fun team to play against. I attribute a lot of that to the way Andrea and Derek run the team. They're both really fun people. I've enjoyed getting to know them with each new season, and look forward to the games when our teams will play each other.

I know you play for CT, and you're the captain (I think female captains rock, just sayin'). How many seasons have you been in the game? How many with CT? What position do you play?
This fall was the start of my 5th kickball season (only 4 seasons with the best league though, WAKA REPRESENT!!!). I originially found out about kickball through my BFF Derek Patterson (a.k.a. DP, Kitty, D Rock, Governess, Pretty, Puddin'). Derek had a few seasons of experience and invited me to join his team, the Tailgators. After hearing about the league and how much fun the Tailgators were, I signed up without hesitation. After that first season, Derek, Adam and I decided to break off (along with some teammates; Joey Lawrence, Amanda Warde Lawrence and Taylor Wilson) and form a new team... that's when Chicken Tetrazzini was born!

Your boyfriend is your teammate.. did you meet playing kickball or did you start playing as a couple?
Yes, teammate and Co-Captain. Adam Henry and I started playing kickball as a couple. One of the main reasons we started playing was to meet new people in the area. We were both born and raised here (Newport News and Yorktown) but a majority of our friends had left Hampton Roads. We quickly found out that this was a great opportunity to make new friends and our full social calendars were proof.

When I met you, it seemed that kickball being a fun thing to do was the most important side of the game for your team, as where my team (VD) tends to like winning the most. Has this changed for CT over the past few seasons as your team grows and gains better knowledge of the game and how it's played?
Honestly, CT has made some great strides in the past couple seasons building our roster and experience level. We feel like we have some playerswho stack right up there with some of the best in the league and feel it is just a matter of time before we put it all together. Anyone who has watched us knows that CT is a very social team. We interact with and have developed a lot of good friendships with members of every team in this league, including teams like yours that are mainstays at the top of the standings. Through those friendships we have tried to absorb knowledge of the game that in turn will translate into more wins on the field. We watched the Chubby Gangsters put it together last season and become a real threat to beat any team on any given night. We aren't quite at that level yet but we're having a blast trying to get there.

A lot of people (anyone who reads the GMOT blog) should know about the Rum/Jager alliance. But CT and Chubby Gangsters has their own alliance-like friendship. Did the split of some of the Gangbangers to Shake n Bake stir that up at all, or is it a larger friendship now?
CT/CG!!! Our teams are like PB&J, we have a great bond. On and off the field you will see us together. We hold "family dinners" and have rec volleyball teams (these both include other members of the WAKA community, but usually the staples are baby blue and pink). When some of the Chubby's split off it was a bit of a shock. I know how long the team has been together and the core (OGs) are very close, I wasn't sure they could overcome the breakup, but they have and added some new talent to the team. They will be back at it in no time. As for SnB... we're friendly with the entire league, so no bad blood here.

Last season you did a lot of work to raise money for charity through WAKA. Are there any raffles, or fun events we can look forward to this year?
Of course! I am still overwhelmed with the response we had from our WAKA family! Last season we ended up raising over $3,400 for Relay for Life, which goes directly to the American Cancer Society. The organization of the events wouldn't have been possible without help from Melissa Rarick (CG) and the volunteers from CT, CG, Jager, and (previously known as) VIPs. Hopefully we will get started on some fundraisers soon, nothing is on the schedule yet, but keep an eye out! You won't want to miss it!

WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ANDREA

"Don't hassle the Hoff, man, or else she'll put you in the anaconda vice until you tap."- Brent Wentworth, Shake n Bake (aka the Commish)

"Andrea is an awesome competitor on and off the field. On the field she is all business! If she doesn't agree with a call, she will let you know! Off the field she is just as fierce. You can always spot her playing a mean game of beer pong. She is a great example of what a kickballer should be."- Tracy Colby, Shake n Bake (former Chubby Gangster)

"Andrea is a great friend. She is a little too competitive about kickball to ever be on the CG's. "Time out!!!! Time out!!!" However, Andrea is always the person getting people on board to have a great time. A good time is only a tweet away from @AndreaMHoffman. Just send her a tweet and a party is being planned."- William "Buster" Patterson, Chubby Gangsters

"Andrea is an extremely dedicated captain. She spends a lot of time thinking of how to improve the team. She is also a very dedicated player and is always trying to practice to improver her game. We have spent countless hours just bunting and kicking and catching with no one else around. Andrea can also be the life of the party off the field. She can separate the field from the bar and get down and party with any and everyone! She is a BEAST. Enough said! One of my Best Friends. Wakakakakacowww!"- Derek Patterson, Chicken Tetrizzini

"Everytime I'm with Andrea I laugh... A LOT. Seriously - sometimes my sides hurt! I like to refer to her as our mischief maker because she always manages to find something to get into. However, seh's also a very committed captain, kickballer, and friend. She'd do anything for ANYONE and I can't thank WAKA enough for introducing me to such an amazing person and friend."- Trici Fredrick, Jagernauts

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<3 Noelle Walsh, Vicious and Delicious