July 05, 2012

Students and alumni contribute to Frisbee fever

Artemis and Bacchus pride themselves on their sportsmanship, love of the game, and sense of community.

Lewis & Clark students and alumni have a hand in the growing popularity of UItimate Frisbee. Frisbee came to Lewis & Clark six years ago; since then, two club teams have found their niche and flourished.

The teams, Artemis for women and Bacchus for men, compete regionally. In 2011, Bacchus advanced to the USA Ultimate College Nationals in Buffalo, New York.

In the spring, both teams competed in several tournaments, taking them from Tacoma to Las Vegas and many places in between. Artemis and Bacchus pride themselves on their sportsmanship, love of the game, and sense of community.

“[Ultimate] requires a level of sportsmanship that other sports just don’t have,” said former Bacchus captain Kelly Van Arsdale BA ’12 in a Pioneer Log article.

But the Ultimate experience does not have to end once one graduates L&C. Five alumni, including Van Arsdale, play with Portland Rhino, an elite local Frisbee club. Rhino’s 2011 season is the subject of the documentary Chasing Sarasota, which follows the team as they compete to make it to the USA Ultimate National competition.

“We’re bringing something to Portland that people all over the state can be proud of,” said Miles Kusch BA ’05 in the film’s trailer. 

Rhino is one of ten Frisbee clubs in Portland. Many local Frisbee clubs are open to people of all ages and genders and encourage college student participation. The teams compete in several tournaments around Portland and travel regionally.

The two L&C teams have tryouts in the fall and hold practices twice a week. For more information about Ultimate Frisbee at L&C, visit the club’s page.

 

Zibby Pillote ’14 contributed to this story