While the Harding University Apocalypse ultimate frisbee team is not an official University team and has no formal tryout or recruitment process, the team plays at a competitive level across the country against teams from NCAA Division 1 schools. The team will head to Nashville, Tennessee, this weekend to play in a tournament at Vanderbilt University.
\n According to junior frisbee player Andrew Rardin, since players do not have to try out to play with HU Apocalypse, most teammates have little previous frisbee experience. He said the lack of formal ultimate frisbee training most freshmen players have allows the rookies to grow together as they learn the sport.
\n\u201cWhen someone comes in as a freshman or sophomore \u2014 a rookie on the team \u2014 I think it\u2019s really cool that they all start at the same place,\u201d Rardin said.
\nSenior co-captain Nick Meehan has been on the team four years. As a leader, he works with his co-captains to plan practices. As they prepare for the season, the captains focus on equipping new members with the skills they need to compete.
\n\u201cWe have introduced the rookies \u2014
\nthe new members \u2014 to the team, and we are planning practices accordingly so we can teach them the things that they need to know,\u201d Meehan said.
\nAccording to Meehan, the team plans to attend three or four tournaments this semester. The fall semester is considered preseason, and the team\u2019s performance in fall tournaments will determine their rank for the spring.
\nMeehan said he is hopeful for a successful season, and he predicts HU Apocalypse will shine at the tournament in Nashville this weekend.
\n\u201cI think we have a good chance at doing very well,\u201d Meehan said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done very well previous years, and I really like the way that the team looks. Now I think we have a good set of rookies who are eager to play \u2026 and our juniors and sophomores are also very well-versed.\u201d
\nUnlike the 18 sports in Division II that Harding sponsors, the Apocalypse frisbee team has the opportunity to play against teams from Division I schools. According to Meehan, Harding has had success in those competitions, beating Ole Miss last fall.
\n\u201cHarding never fails to give [Division I teams] good competition, and sometimes we come out on top, and sometimes we don\u2019t, but no matter what, it comes out to be a really good experience,\u201d Meehan said.
\nJunior frisbee fan Delaney Hill said she regularly attends tournaments to support the team. She and others stand on the sidelines of the field during games and cheer for the Apocalypse.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s like basketball where you\u2019re very in it,\u201d Hill said.\u201cYou\u2019re on the sidelines, but you\u2019re also part of the game.\u201d
\nPractices take place twice a week with two additional pick-up games on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
\nThose who are interested in joining the team or would like more information can contact Meehan at nmeehan@harding.edu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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