There are many clubs and organizations at Ohio University, and usually when you hear about “chess club” or “tennis club” you already have a good idea what it’s about. But have you ever heard of “ultimate frisbee”? Yeah, I wasn’t sure what it was before either. For those who are wondering, ultimate frisbee is a mix of football, soccer and a whole lot of running. It’s actually pretty complex if you really look into the details, but you basically want to get the frisbee from one end of the field to the other without dropping it. There’s defense and offense, but the main goal is scoring and having fun with your team.
For Ohio University’s Womxn’s Ultimate Frisbee team, otherwise known as the Stacked Cats, this weekend is a big deal for frisbee. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the Stacked Cats are eager to get on the field for their first tournament in Columbus, OH. This two-day event, located in Westerville, Ohio, consists of brackets, seeds and other competing college teams looking to secure the win. However, ultimate frisbee differs from other sports because it is self-officiated by the players, so the “spirit of the game” and good sportsmanship is highlighted throughout the games.
The team now compiled with beginners and veterans are taking on Sectionals after their winning streak in 2020. Of course, the seniors and juniors of 2020 have already graduated, but this year’s team is something to be reckoned with. There are 9 returners and 10 newbies, an equally split team who have high hopes to test out their chemistry, skills and abilities on the field. While many of the returners have been playing for years and over the summer, most of the newbies have never played frisbee in their lives. However, although their knowledge for the game is limited, their passion and drive to win overpowers their inexperience.
As a returner myself, I am especially pumped for this week’s tournament, and not just because I get to play, but because this will be my first time playing. I know, pretty confusing, but as a freshman, I got injured before the first tournament, so I am extremely excited to see how this year’s team will perform, how a tournament functions and to experience the game first-hand. Regardless of my biased beliefs, I strongly believe that this team has something special to show off this weekend and that this tournament is only the beginning.