Ultimate frisbee offers fun, one-of-a-kind competition

By Meghan Morris
Assistant Managing Editor

Stepping onto the grass field wearing a pair of flippers, floral swim trunks and a neon low-cut girl’s Wal-Mart T-shirt, senior Ben Broser and his team do not wear the standard athletic uniform.

But just like the uniforms, ultimate frisbee is far from a typical sport, with no referees, no coaches and perhaps most importantly, no conformists. Broser, along with several other Conestoga students, recently participated in a state-wide frisbee competition. Although the team failed to place, they still managed to have fun, the original goal of the club.

Ultimate frisbee began at Conestoga about five years ago, with a dozen or so co-ed players in the club. It has since evolved into nothing short of a phenomenon, with around 80 students competing in a recent ’Stoga-only after school tournament.

Players come from all types of athletic backgrounds, but frisbee has a quick learning curve. Club adviser John Koenig said students can easily pick up the game, and encourages new recruits to attend the pickup games held on Tuesdays and Thursday at Valley Forge Middle School.

Diverse participation is welcomed and contributes to a family mentality, with each athlete contributing a particular skill.

“The spirit of the game is that we have fun while playing a sport together,” Koenig said. “In frisbee, it’s a true team sport.” At the end of the day, the athletes recognize that wins and losses are not what the sport is about.

“The Frisbee club atmosphere is competitive,” said junior Jon Maser, who plays on Broser’s frisbee team. “But in the end we’re all family.”

Meghan Morris can be reached at mmorris@stoganews.com.