Written by Camille White // Graphic by Ben Evans
In addition to the Homecoming festivities, the Harding ultimate frisbee team will host multiple games Nov. 3 and 4 to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Ultimate frisbee alumni have been invited to participate. All games will be located at the intramural fields or the Ted and Marcie Lloyd Track and Field Complex.
Dr. Whitaker Jordan, associate professor of foreign languages and international studies, is the organization’s sponsor. He said the ultimate frisbee team hosted alumni games in 2018 for the organization’s 15th anniversary.
“The highlight for a lot of people was the alumni versus the current team game, so that happened in 2018 and we’re doing that again this year,” Jordan said. “We have a lot of events all during Homecoming, from throwing on the front lawn to different pick-up games … and we will have, again, the alumni versus the current team game as kind of the final wrapping up of the games we have.”
On Friday, Nov. 3, they will have throwing on the front lawn as a time to gather and recall skills. That night, there will be a smaller game; however, most of the games will be held on Saturday. Jordan said there will probably be more than one game going on at once on Saturday. Teams will likely be composed of both current and alumni members until the final game of current versus alumni.
Justin Mills, graduate assistant for Braden Henderson with travel club sports, coaches the men’s frisbee team. Mills said he participated in ultimate frisbee for his five years of undergrad.
“I’m looking forward to [seeing] how the team will do against these guys who have kept playing a while or are a bit older … so it will be fun,” Mills said. “I think it will be a good experience for them.”
Sophie Balentine, graduate student and co- captain of the women’s team, has participated in ultimate frisbee for three years now. For two years, she played with the men’s team HU Apocalypse. This year, she helped revamp the women’s team, which took a hiatus because of COVID-19. Balentine said she worked with Jordan and Mills to help plan the anniversary games.
“I’m pumped to play against alumni that have contributed so much to making frisbee at Harding what it is today,” Balentine said. “I’m also excited to have a women’s team this year. I’m sure the female vets will be excited to see their team revived.”
