coutesy of WU Men’s Ultimate
All along this campus, especially in the spring, Washington University becomes the setting for the dreams of many a frisbee player looking for the glory that should come along with hurling plastic discs into the wind.
The Washington University men’s ultimate frisbee team takes these dreams seriously.
As a club sport, the team must adhere to strict rules. Players have just ten seconds to “huck” the disc downfield before change of possession is called. Fouls are called just as in basketball and the field is a regulation 70 yards long.
So far this season, the team is 14-2 and ranked 79th in the nation. During sectionals this past weekend, the Bears prevailed, taking the first place trophy. This trophy is notable because unlike other competitions, both a winner’s trophy and a “spirit trophy” is also awarded.
Junior team-member James Rosen, a major force on the ‘sidearmin’ squad, believes that WU can fare quite well at regionals and nationals, both fast approaching.
“We are hardcore, we practice a few times per week and it’s nice because we don’t have a coach busting our balls,” said Rosen. “Even though it is ultimate Frisbee and we have fun, we are still serious about winning.”
Rosen’s sentiments represents the team as a whole, a team that has existed at WU for almost twenty years.
Some of the team’s standouts are senior Nick Adams, junior Sebastian Fernandez-Pol and junior Dave Popiel. Up-and-coming freshman Jeff Stewart adds to an already potent front.
WU doesn’t just face lackluster local competition sometimes associated with club teams. The Bears face larger state schools such as Truman State University, and the University of Missouri. The team has also faced Texas A&M, Rice, Louisiana State University and Alabama. But the big match-up of the year for the Bears is against arch-rival Kansas University.
Men’s Ultimate needs to keep the winning streak going in regionals and nationals to secure a place among the country’s elite in a sport that can be considered new in competition among universities.
So go out on the swamp, practice your “pulls” (term used when throwing off the Frisbee after a score) and just maybe you can have what it takes to join this competitive squad.
contact Sal at [email protected].