By Cory Tell ’14, Staff Writer

The hottest Newark Academy sports team this year doesn’t play on the turf field or in the gym; it plays on the field next to the baseball diamond.  To experience some of the most competitive and exciting athletic competitions Newark Academy has to offer, look no further than the Ultimate Frisbee Club.

The club has a long roster of dedicated players, who take their commitment to the game very seriously. Although the Frisbee Club’s participants “are pretty relaxed kids and understand the games are for fun,” Mr. Bitler, the club’s faculty advisor and most visible member, added that like in any other sport, “there is intense competition to win, and the games can get very serious.” Max Whitmore ’14, an avid Ultimate Frisbee player, echoed this. “If a lot of people come out, and the game gets competitive, it is not uncommon to see frisbee spikes, celebration dances, and gloating,” he says, emphasizing the intensity of the games.

It is also a surprisingly physically demanding sport. Whitmore also added, “I  run Cross Country and I consider myself to be in good shape, yet by the end of the games I am panting.” Even though it may seem like it isn’t a physically demanding sport to play, Ultimate Frisbee pushes even our most in-shape athletes to the limit.

As with any intense, competitive sport, Frisbee has also seen some of its players fall prey to injury. Zach Persing ’15, a Frisbee addict, has suffered two broken teeth, an injury one would expect more from a hockey or football player, showing the surprising extent of Frisbee’s intensity.

They play every Wednesday and Friday after school no matter what the weather. In fact, many members of the club even wanted to play through Hurricane Sandy. It is this flexibility with weather  that allows the frisbee club to meet all year, while other sports teams are limited to one season. If it is snowing, then it is an opportunity for “snow frisbee”; if there is a hurricane, then it is an opportunity for a “Rain Bowl.” The consistency and plurality of club meetings is what keeps the roster dedicated and playing at a high skill level.

The typical club meeting starts with teams being picked near the baseball field. After that, the two teams play their match. While the games are often contested between the same devoted members, a large number of non-club members also partake in the fun when they are available and have the time.

In the future, the Frisbee Club is very interested in challenging other schools to matches. Last year, some club members tried to organize a team to play against other schools, but there wasn’t enough support for the idea. However, with the club’s increase in dedicated members, several kids on the team are exploring options to take on other schools, like Mountain Lakes or Colombia. Mr. Bitler is confident in the club’s ability as he declared, “We can play other teams, and we can win.”