Ultimate Frisbee has been a sport at East for over 20 years, but from the standpoint of officiality, it’s never been a true East sport.
This may be surprising to some, as the game has had an abundance of local interest. There have always been a smattering of local club teams and development camps active in the area, and just down the street, UNC’s very own Darkside and Pleiades teams are consistently among the most competitive teams in collegiate ultimate.
East’s teams have mirrored that success, with the boys’ team placing third in the state championship last fall, and the girls’ team recently bringing home the state title.
The boys’ team has had no shortage of interest, with enough players to fill their own version of varsity and junior-varsity rosters, respectively known as the “A” and “B” teams. However, the girls’ team, known as Eclipse, hasn’t had such a luxury.
“The future of the team is entirely dependent on the interest of East students,” said girls’ coach Alex Barnett, a UNC graduate student. “Without enough interest, we won’t be able to continue competing for championships.”
Regardless, the girls’ team still pulled together to win the championship thanks to a mix of experience and strong chemistry. Although Eclipse lost its last regular season game to Jordan High School, they managed to turn around and beat them in the state tournament.
“Our trust in each other and connections between the team definitely helped us win,” senior Mikaela Saver said. “We all really pushed ourselves.”
So with no lack of success as well as consistent interest, why hasn’t ultimate taken the leap to an official East Chapel Hill sport? It isn’t exactly that simple.
“Several years ago I researched what it would take to become a school-sponsored varsity sport,” said long-time boys’ coach Aaron Stern. “At that time it would take either 25 percent of all high schools in N.C. or 50 percent of schools in our NCHSAA division to have a varsity team.”
Despite the array of teams across the Triangle, totals simply haven’t come close to meeting that threshold. Ultimate hasn’t traditionally been a hallmark of high school sports, and other schools across the state generally haven’t shared the same enthusiasm for the sport.
As unfortunate as that may sound, the players don’t exactly see it that way. Making ultimate into an official school sport would come with a heavier title and expectations, which not all players are in favor of.
“What makes the Ultimate Frisbee team different is the fact that it’s a lot more chill and much less of a commitment,” said Arjun Deshmukh, a four-year player on the boys’ team. “I think if you asked the rest of the team, the majority would say it should stay a club.”
Without an official title, ultimate also does not come with seasonal restrictions, which means that athletes playing other sports can join for fun in their respective offseasons.
“Being a club offers our players the opportunity to commit to other opportunities… and still be able to play ultimate when their schedules allow,” Stern said.
For Ultimate Players, having fun is just as important as winning games. On UNC’s Pleiades webpage, it states: “We are nationally competitive, but also place a heavy emphasis on enjoyment of the sport.” Friendship and the enjoyment of the game are fundamental aspects of Ultimate Frisbee’s culture, and the teams at East maintain the spirit of casual competition.
“You could describe [ultimate] as mad chill,” sophomore Andrew Chin said.
Ultimate Frisbee has no season, with both teams operating throughout the entire school year. Inclusivity is an important aspect of both teams, with team leaders and coaches alike welcoming any student who would like to participate regardless of the timeframe.
“Everyone should come play! Even if they have no experience!” Barnett said. “I hope that everyone has the chance to play Frisbee in their lives.”
Photo by Max Winzelberg/The ECHO
