“It’s not an Olympic sport yet, but it will be.”
According to Nathan McCroskey, a sophomore athletic training major from Montgomery and on-field captain from Troy’s Ultimate Frisbee Club, the club is not yet recognized as a college team, but members “are looking into it.”
The Ultimate Frisbee Club was started in the fall of 2015 and has continued to grow, according to McCroskey.
“We usually have about 20 to 30 people come to practices, but have had as many as 45 to 50,” McCroskey said.
The club has participated in two tournaments since its creation.
“We competed in the Montgomery Rapid Fire Tournament II last year and placed second to last,” said McCroskey. “This year we placed third in the same tournament, so we are getting better.”
The Ultimate Frisbee Club is looking for more tournaments to compete in, including tournaments over Christmas and spring breaks.
“We are hoping to host a tournament in the spring,” McCroskey said. “We are currently looking for a sponsor to help with the cost of jerseys and tournaments.”
McCroskey said that the club wants to grow the sport and make it into a real team at Troy University.
“Teams at Alabama and Auburn can have as many as 100 people come out to play,” McCroskey said. “We will teach anyone that wants to learn so they can play.”
According to McCroskey, currently there is no fee to be in the club, as the university activities fee pays for the practice field.
“There may be a fee in the future, but for now, all you have to do is show up in order to play,” McCroskey said.
“We pick captains, pick teams and play each other,” he said. “We just want more people to come out and play.”
Chris Cude, a junior economics major from Birmingham, is one of the founders of the club.
Cude said that the process of getting recognized by the Student Government Association was relatively simple.
“We formed a constitution with the help of some other schools and, after shaping it to fit us, submitted it to the SGA, who quickly passed it,” Cude said.
“Ultimate started as this countercultural, kind of obnoxious, flamboyant and, most importantly, fun sport,” Cude said.
“I hope to see Troy Ultimate become more competitive and grow in terms of numbers,” Cude said. “I see a lot of potential in our members and think one day we could rival some higher-tier school.”
According to Ian Gerhad, a graduate student from Tampa, Florida, the club is friendly and open.
“I have really enjoyed how welcoming the club has been, since I just moved here this semester,” Gerhad said.
“The best thing about the club is being able to just come out and play and have a good time in a friendly environment.”
Gerhad has been playing Ultimate Frisbee for about five years and said he hopes that Troy’s team can “become more competitive in the college Ultimate scene.”
Lydia Welch, a freshman art education major from Chelsea, is one of the few girls to play regularly.
“I hope to see the club expand,” Welch said. “We really need to recruit more passionate freshmen and sophomores so that, when the veterans leave, we will still have an impressive attendance.”
“My favorite thing about the club is the people,” Welch said. “They all have a great sense of humor, and they are all very welcoming.”
The Ultimate Frisbee Club practices every Monday and Thursday from 9 to 11 p.m. on the band field.
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