Jacky Zhao

Two members of the team run to catch a frisbee during Friday’s practice.

With the dawn of spring comes flowers, showers and the re-starting of the baseball and softball seasons. The fields these teams play on get wet from the rain more so than usual. So does Columbus Park’s turf, where a different group of athletes practices.

Spring signifies the beginning of the chapter for Baruch’s ultimate frisbee team. 

Junior and co-captain Jedidiah Park spoke about the challenges that have come with this new start, including getting adequate attendance at practices and new official guidelines.

“It has been difficult to maintain that discipline from them as with the change in league rules, it will start to look more and more competitive. It will be difficult to push them to be open-minded and learn about the game and strategy, however I do feel optimistic about teaching them strategies about the game,” he said in a message through Discord.

Park’s words reveal the struggles of leading a sports team and the amount of effort required as a co-captain. However, as for the players, they also have the pressure of meeting the team’s expectations. 

As cleats are being laced up for a new season, there are new modifications happening in the ultimate frisbee world. Some of these changes include how players are going to move or how the game is going to be played. The most significant change to most players is the positioning, which results in them not being able to use their extended arms or legs to obstruct the movement of other players. 

William Zheng, a familiar face from last season’s lineup talked about what has been difficult for him.

“I think the most challenging part of the sport would probably be the teams spirit,” he said through an Instagram direct message.

Embarking on the journey of a dedicated ultimate frisbee player involves more than simply tossing a disc around. Beyond the throws and catches lies a commitment to continuous improvement and teamwork. As Baruch’s ultimate frisbee season starts, curiosity may also arise about how the players on the team prepare for the season ahead of them. 

Junior Randy Li, another returning player, touched on how practice looks for the team. 

He said to start, the athletes partner up to throw a frisbee back and forth. Then, the team gets in a circle to stretch. After that, drills are done before having a “scrim” – scrimmage – for an hour.

Each throw, catch and strategic play is not only a skill these players have learned but also what brings the passionate team together.

Gallery • 2 Photos

The team huddles up during Friday's practice.