Coming off their major successes of last year, Jackson-Reed’s Ultimate Frisbee team hopes to have another great season.
The Ultimate Frisbee team is one of the most popular sports at Jackson-Reed with forty-nine players rostered on the boys team and twenty-four on the girls team. Players of all skill levels are welcomed to join the team at any time, where they can practice and develop throughout the entire school year.
Although springtime is the heat of the season, the frisbee team practices year-round. Throughout the fall, the boys team practices up to four times per week. This includes two traditional practices, an organized conditioning workout on Tuesdays, and a mixed practice with the girls team on Thursdays. In addition to the mixed practice, the girls team also has two practices a week, with practices on Mondays and Tuesdays. Sessions generally consist of developing strategy and technique with simulated scrimmages. There are many skills to be improved on before the spring and these initial practices are key to the team’s future success.
Last year, the boys varsity and junior varsity, as well as the girls teams all had very successful seasons, with each team dominating in the spring tournaments. In the DCSAA tournament, the boys and girls varsity teams combined to compete as one, and went on to win the tournament, defending a title they have held since the tournament started in 2016. The boys varsity team was particularly successful in the spring. Varsity’s success at Youth Ultimate League of Arlington (YULA), a major tournament in late spring earned them a spot in the ultimate frisbee nationals tournament in Salt Lake City where the team fought hard for the well deserved ranking of 7th in the nation. Despite this impressive ranking, the varsity team is hungry for the 1st place title this year. “Win VA States, qualify for nationals, win nationals,” said captain Marcus Lee when asked about goals for the upcoming spring season.
So far, it has been a successful season. Overall there have been 2 beginner friendly tournaments where the boys team was split into two smaller groups to compete in addition to the girls team, and 2 competitive invitational tournaments. The first two tournaments both Jackson-Reed teams went undefeated until meeting in the second tournament’s championship against each other. The third tournament, the Coconut Classic, is higher level and held in New Jersey where the Boys team made it to the quarter finals and the girls team went 2-3. The final and most recent tournament of the fall was DMV states, a competitive mixed tournament in Arlington Virginia where they went 2-3, with all three of their losses coming down to a single point to decide the game.
Throughout the fall season, the frisbee team has proved strength in not only skill, but spirit too. Over the years, the club has grown an amazing community including players of all skill levels and ability, and exemplary coaches to lead the effort. The Ultimate Frisbee Club is a prime example of what a team should be.
Going into the next few months, the team has a lot to work towards. The team is going for another DCSAA title and is working diligently for another spot at the national championship tournament. “We’ve got a great squad,” said head coach Dave Ohls.
