Whitman College senior computer science major Corbin Atack co-captains the Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team. During his time on the team, he’s gained more than skills. He’s gained a community.
If you’ve never seen it in action, Ultimate Frisbee combines the nonstop nature of soccer with the high energy of basketball and passing skills of football. Teams score by throwing a flying disc into the end zone.
Ultimate Frisbee at Whitman has two modes of competition, Atack says. During the fall semester, the game is played in a goofy, fun, light-hearted way. The spring brings competition which brings out the Sweets’ attitude to a here-to-win ultra-competitive side.
However, as it did for many things, the pandemic shut down their Spring 2020 season. Since the Sweets didn’t get their competitive spring season, they competed this fall.
The men’s team had a stellar season—making it to Nationals. As soon as these student-athletes finish their last final in December, they will travel to southern California to compete for the title.
The women’s team also made it to the top—qualifying for Northwest Regionals in Seattle. In the end, they opted out of the tournament. Instead, the team decided to play in another, more community-driven team-bonding type of tournament.
“Our budget would only allow for one of two tournaments. The team voted on which they'd like to go to, and Oregon Fall Ultimate Disc Games it was,” says senior philosophy major Jess Zaslove, co-captain of the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team. “The nice thing about this tournament is that both the men’s and women’s teams go, so it's a great bonding weekend for the entire program!”
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