For the players on Illinois Rise, ultimate frisbee is more than a sport. It’s a team built on camaraderie, grit and the determination to catch a flying disc through the crisp autumn wind and spring showers of Champaign-Urbana.
Ultimate frisbee is a fast-paced, self-refereed sport where players pass a disc to score points by catching it in the opposing team’s end zone. Players cannot run while holding the disc, relying on quick passes, strategic movement and teamwork.
The team prides itself on developing its players to the fullest of their potential, offering different tiers of competitiveness.
Rise consists of three teams: Aoomland, Boomland and Cornland, commonly referred to as the A-team, B-team and C-team. These creative names might cause a double-take, but they are totally common in the intramural frisbee world, reflecting the whimsical, quirky traditions and charm of the sport.
The A-team competes at a national level, flying to multiple tournaments a year to face off against the elite competition available to them.
Dean Gottlieb, senior in Engineering, is a captain on the A-team. Gottlieb has been playing ultimate for eight years, four years with the team, and has competed in past tournaments against schools like Missouri and Carleton.
“It’s always a little sad at the end of every season,” Gottlieb said. “We’re trying to make nationals in the spring, and Michigan always beats us at the end.”
Tournaments are held throughout the fall season, hosted by schools all around the country. Each tournament spans an entire weekend, bringing together Ultimate Frisbee teams from a variety of schools to compete against one another.
With nationals set to be held in Illinois this spring, Gottlieb believes this is the year for Rise to claim its spot on the national stage.
The B-team competes regionally, driving to opponents across the Midwest area. Last year, they qualified for regionals, bringing both unwavering support and strong competition to every practice and match.
Riding that momentum, the C-team was launched last year as a “casual” option for players who prefer to enjoy the sport without the pressure of competitive play.
Kevin Tanner, graduate student studying physics and a B-team captain, is enthusiastic about the team’s goals this year.
“I think the sport and the team is going to keep on growing and getting better over time,” Tanner said. “Two years ago, there was no C-team. Our B-team is going to be even better with the inclusion of more people from the C-team as they learn to improve.”
The accommodation of these teams allows for every person’s experience level, whether beginner or expert, to feel comfortable approaching the sport through guidance, practice and teaching.
Rise has competed in a variety of tournaments such as No Wisconsequences. Coming up shortly is Missouri Loves Company, a tournament at Cosmo Park in Columbia, Mo., on Nov. 1-2.
Jeff Lefkovitz, junior in Engineering, is the B-team handler. The handler is similar to a quarterback, guiding the offense and making hard throws.
“People usually say that it’s disc golf, (but) the answer is no,” Lefkovitz said. “I don’t think people really know about the team, but we are on a good trajectory. Vibes are good, and we just need to keep the energy.”
Whether it’s through chasing layouts or, according to Lefkovitz, waking up to “Hey Ya!” by OutKast, Rise is more than just a collection of teams. It’s a movement of players committed to growing the sport, building each other up and exemplifying the true meaning of sportsmanship.
As they look forward to nationals and beyond, one thing is certain: Rise is rising, and they’re just getting started.
