MU ultimate frisbee teams let fly at tournament

By Justin Mohn

Published Nov. 13, 2007

Flying saucers were seen in abundance this weekend at the 63 Sports Complex. Luckily, they were no cause for alarm. The fourth annual "Missouri Loves Company" Ultimate Frisbee Tournament was held this past weekend near Jefferson City.

The event attracted a variety of teams from all around the country, including Indiana University, Texas State University and Northwestern University.

"We've got 55 teams from 15 states," event organizer and MU Captain Mike Houston said.

Missouri's region includes Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, according to the Ultimate Players Association Web site.

"These teams from Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana aren't in our region, so it's cool having them down here," A-team captain Paul Adkisson said.

Houston said six teams that competed at nationals were present, including 2007 national champions Wisconsin.

"I've spent four months planning this tournament," he said. "It's quality and quantity."

Other members of the team said they agreed with Houston.

"This has turned into a premier tournament," sophomore Taylor Reeh said. "I'm surprised so many people are into ultimate now and are willing to come to Missouri."

One of those people willing to come was Ida Stewart of The Woodlands, Texas, who drove 14 hours to watch her son, Kenny Wiley, play for MU.

"He said if we did nothing else this semester we had to be here for this tournament," she said.

Wisconsin captain Jim Foster said his team came to the tournament for the practice.

"This is the fall tournament with the best competition, and it's only eight hours away from where we normally play," he said.

Stewart said she thought MU's team was very dedicated and enthusiastic about the sport.

"Kenny's in the best shape he's ever been in," she said. She said although Kenny played football in high school, ultimate emphasized speed and agility more.

"It's such a different sport," she said.

Stewart said having the variety of teams at the tournament added to the collegial atmosphere.

Ultimate is played with 7 people per team and one disc. Play is continuous, but a player can't run while in possession of the disc. One of the most striking aspects of the game is the absence of officials. Senior Nick Newport said if a player feels they were fouled, they simply call it themselves. The player being accused of the foul can contest the call, at which point the disc goes back to the person who last threw it before the problem.

"That's how Ultimate runs," Houston said. "It's a self-officiating sport."

Houston said observers, who would watch the game and rule in the event of a disputed call, were available at a team's request.

But he said the lack of officials was part of the game, and the sport had been that way for a long time.

"Most people out here are friends," he said. "It runs based on people's mutual respect for each other."

Reeh also said the game was based on a level of respect.

"You come out here to have fun, not to fight," Reeh said.

Stewart said she thought Ultimate played an important role in teaching the players about getting along with other people.

"We've been talking about how rude society's getting," she said. "Out here, it's team play."

The tournament was a two-day event, with 'pool' play, which determined the matches for single-elimination bracket play taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. on Saturday. Regular elimination games took place on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Finals ended at 3:30 p.m.

MU fielded three teams in the event: a men's A and B team, from The MUtants, and a women's team, called The MUchachas.

Newport said the team's radioactive material insignia was around before he joined the team.

"They used to practice on Reactor Field, so that's where it came from," he said.

Adkisson said he was mostly pleased with the A team's performance at MLC.

"I think that we did pretty well considering this is the first time we had the whole A-team together and the first time we've seen a lot of zone," he said. "I feel like everybody's pretty dedicated at this point. Getting people fundamentally sound is what we want to work on."

Newport said gaining more experience was the main goal of the B-team.

"We want B-team to have some real tournament play," he said.

Beth Aubuchon, co-captain of The MUchachas, also said the main goal of their participation was to get experience for the new players.

"It'd be nice to win as well," she said.

Women's captain and MU senior Kristen Reynolds also said that the tournaments were primarily for experience.

"Tournaments drastically improve teams," she said. "You get the most experience this way."

Reynolds said they were trying to get their players experience in specific positions.

"We're getting people used to playing positions they're not necessarily comfortable with," she said. "It helps them get over a mental block."

Aubuchon said the variety of teams would allow them to get experience against varied play styles.

"Each team you play differently helps you play a better offense and defense," she said.

Houston said he was very pleased with the way the tournament turned out.

"I've heard nothing but good things from people," he said.

Reynolds also she thought the tournament went well.

"We grew as a team as a whole, and everybody came together," she said.

Carleton Ultimate Team captain Patrick Baylis said winning the tournament meant they were at a good point in the season.

"It means nothing if we sit on it the rest of the season," he said. "We know we have to keep working harder."

Baylis said he thought the tournament was well run, and that Houston had done a good job communicating with the teams.

"There's not many tournaments near us, so we'd definitely come back again," he said.

The MU Men's A and B teams tied for 19th and 36th places respectively. The Women's team tied for 11th place.