The ASU ultimate Frisbee club began fall play just wanting to have a good time together out on the field. The Sun Devils ended it, however, doing something that no previous ultimate Frisbee club on campus had ever done -- advance to the championship bracket of the Southern California Ultimate Frisbee Warmups Tournament.
On Nov. 20, the club won two of its three games against quality California competition in the San Diego tournament. The Devils beat UCLA 15-6 and San Diego State 15-9, before falling to University of California at Santa Barbara 15-8. It was the first time ASU had a winning record at the tournament.
Club President Vince Noe said the team's performance in the competition gave the club instant credibility and paved the way for it to have even more success next semester.
"It makes the teams respect us more," he said. "They know that we're coming to play. It will also get us invited to more high class tournaments."
In the past, the Sun Devils tried their best to have a good showing in the event, but always came up short. But, that changed in ASU's final tournament of the semester, a tournament used to evaluate the status of the programs before the spring season.
Sophomore Craig Myers said the club's play in the tourney and throughout the semester really impressed him.
"That's the best I've ever seen us play," he said. "The California schools are known for their Frisbee, but we played with them."
The championship bracket of the tournament was scheduled to conclude on Nov. 21, but was canceled because of an endless downpour of rain in Southern California.
But the rainfall couldn't dampen the Sun Devils spirits, and neither could their single defeat. Despite the 15-8 loss to UCSB, the weekend marked a significant improvement from last season's tournament appearance against the Gauchos, a game in which UCSB shut out ASU 15-0.
The weekend play did not come easy for the Devils, however. Only 13 players traveled with the club for the competition, while every other participating team had at least 20 players available to play.
Myers said the key to the club's success was in the talent of its members and in their ability to work together.
"We've always had really good athletes," he said. "But our throwing skills haven't always been good. We just have to put it all together."
The ultimate Frisbee club has been on campus for 10 years. It has always struggled playing more experienced competition, but the club's performance in the tourney has given its players a new sense of confidence and hopefully a boost in membership.
Noe said that although the club's membership numbers are small, it could still accomplish great things next semester.
"Our numbers have been small, but the quality of players have improved vastly," he said. "We've worked really hard. Next semester I think we'll go to more tournaments and come out and win the majority of our games."
The club's spring season kicks off with the New Year's Fest tournament Jan. 8-9 at the band practice field. The team will also compete in the sectional tournament April 16-17, where it will try to advance to the regional and then the final tournament.
In addition, the club will sponsor several tournaments in which all ASU students, regardless of skill level, can come and have fun participating in the sport.
Reach the reporter at jeremy.a.cluff@asu.edu
