For many students at Keene State College, being part of the Ultimate Frisbee team is the ultimate joy.
For KSC’s Ultimate Frisbee Team president, Jared Sumner, it is a big part of who he is as a student and active member on campus.
“Being in charge of the team has to be my biggest commitment here on campus,” Sumner stated.
According to Sumner, KSC has had its biggest frisbee team turnout in years.
For senior Annelise Kloster, being part of this team meant she could find a close-knit group of friends after her transfer to KSC her junior year.
“I came to Keene and was looking for things to be involved in and I went to the ultimate frisbee practice,
File Photo / Tim Smith
and I was immediately sold on playing,” Kloster said.
Each season, the team heads south to play in tournaments during Spring Break.
This year, they went to Myrtle Beach.
Kloster said it is nice to pack up and head down as a team that is so much like a family.
This year, KSC participated in a two-day tournament that was hosted by KSC with alumni and several other teams from the area.
According to Sumner, the alumni are still a huge part of the program.
The alumni team ended up taking home first place in the tournament that these teams participated in.
“It’s a great opportunity to play some competitive ultimate against friends we have at other schools,” Sumner stated.
While the team is a close-knit group, it doesn’t mean things can’t get a bit out of control.
“At times it feels like we’re just a big family. When things start getting a little chaotic I feel like I have thirty kids I’m in charge of, but it’s all part of the job and I’d be holding out on you if I didn’t say it was a lot of fun,” Sumner stated.
Kloster said that she feels it is an experience that is very rewarding for her and a family bond is created.
Kloster was not able to play in the two-day tournament and said she felt upset that she was not able to be a part of it.
“This year was actually the first time I got to meet the guys that started the team way back when. There was a lot of history on the field when we played them in our tournament last weekend,” Sumner stated.
Both males and females participate in most of the tournaments, and are able to play against other co-ed teams.
Some students said that they felt as if the team really has changed them for the better.
“This team has given me so much and I absolutely love every one of them, I’ve been so happy with the decision to join the team and my only regret is that I didn’t start sooner,” senior Melanie Escalante said.
The team is always looking for new members and encourages anyone who is interested to join, even if they have never played before.
“I’m looking forward to making the next two years even better,” Sumner stated.
Mary Curtin can be contacted at mcurtin@kscequinox