For those who think ultimate frisbee is taken lightly on this campus, think again.
Ultimate isn't just a game; it's a lifestyle
said Drew Mikita, Ohio ultimate frisbee men's club president.
Tomorrow both the women's and men's ultimate frisbee teams will take a break from regular competition and battle it out in one of Ohio University's many traditions, the Ohio Halloween Tournament. The men's ultimate frisbee tournament was started in 1990, and the women's tournament was started six years later in 1996. Some new participants are looking forward to having a good time.
I'm really excited. sophomore Jimmy Hughes said. I've heard a lot of good things about it.
A few of the teams are traveling from as far as six hours away, including a co-ed team from Elon University in North Carolina. The Michigan club team is making the trip from Ann Arbor, which is also about a six-hour drive.
Some teams participating in the tournament are from the Buckeye state, including Ohio State, Bowling Green, Kent State, Oberlin, Wooster, Dayton and Ohio Wesleyan, among others. About half of the teams participating in the tournament are affiliated with colleges, while others are area club teams. Club teams can consist of about anybody who wants to play competitive frisbee. Some club teams consist of former college students that want to keep playing the game.
Many of the teams dress in Halloween costumes. The costumes are one of the key ingredients in the tournament that help separate this event from others.
It's different than other tournaments said Colleen Boo Neary, Ohio ultimate frisbee women's club president. It's more laid back.
The array of costumes has been creative during the years with people dressing up as crayons, a human cheeseburger, clowns, pop music stars, Ohio University professors and racing zambonis. One memorable match-up came featured Batman guarding Jesus.
Last year there were people decked out in dominos, billiard balls and prom dresses. Most of the teams know one another well because they compete on a regular basis.
It's a good spirited tournament Mikita said.
There is no overall tournament winner because the principle of the tournament is to have fun. However, that does not mean there will not be any heated competition.
The actual games are very intense
Mikita said.
The women's teams might play on the intramural fields past the rugby fields. However, it is more likely that both the men's and women's teams will play on the fields on the driving range off of West State Street.
The Ohio men's and women's teams will kick off the festivities at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Who: 21 teams from around the country. The men's teams will play in three pools of five teams. The women's teams will play in one pool of six teams. The men's tournament is open to co-ed teams, whereas the women's tournament is just for women. The games will be played in a 7-on-7 format. The games are played on fields that are 70 yards long in the middle, 40 yards wide with end zones 25 yards deep. The games will be played to 13 points.
When: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The fields on the driving range are the most likely place where the men's and women's teams will be playing. The driving range is located off of West State Street. There is a chance that the women's teams will be playing on the intramural fields. Information on where teams are playing will be available at the driving range fields.
17
Archives
Wade Peery
