by With the flick of a wrist, the ultimate 7 v 7 competition begins.
Gladiators vie for supremacy on the battlefield.
Their weapon of choice?
A frisbee.
The Minnesota Grey Duck are the official ultimate team of the University of Minnesota. For the players on the team, frisbee is more than just a relaxing activity played on a sunny day at a beach or a park, rather it’s the ultimate competition.
Ultimate, referred to without “frisbee”, which is a trademark of the toy manufacturer Wham-O, was first played in Maplewood, New Jersey in 1968. The game is played on a football field and typically lasts around an hour and a half. Depending on the tournament, the first team to either 13 or 15 points is declared the winner of the game.
“You basically just pass to your teammates but can’t run while you have the disk. So once you catch it you have to stop.” said Levi Dohman, a Grey Duck. Not being able to run with the frisbee adds an additional challenge to the game as you’ll see players twist themselves into knots looking for the extra pass.
One of the more unique elements of the game is a lack of officials. The games are instead officiated by the players under the “Spirit of the Game”. Players are expected to be fair while playing and recognize their own foul calls.
It’s quite incredible to see the players masterfully flick the frisbee through the air. In an average throw around with normal people you might see the disc go any direction. But with these guys, the throwing is nearly picture-perfect.
“I think throwing is difficult for a lot of new players to learn. It’s a lot of different movements than you’re used to with like throwing a ball versus a disc.”” said Dohman.
The Grey Duck are preparing for their regional competition next weekend. If they finish in the top two in the tournament, they’ll advance to nationals.
Minnesota hasn’t won the national championship since 2016, though some players including Owen Gin believe they have the potential to make a deep run.
“Honestly I think we have the potential to play with any team, it’s just about playing well and playing to our potential,” said Gin.
Minnesota will have to get by their rivals Carleton and Wisconsin to advance to nationals, which will be hosted in Cincinnati. It’ll be a big task for the team, but they’ll look to toss their way to the top.
