SPORTS

Women play marathon tourney

The Oberlin Ultimate Frisbee teams attended a tournament in Cincinnati last week. The experience proved to be one of 'ultimate' learning, challenge and spirit.

For all those rookie players who hadn't even known that Frisbee was a sport, the day was filled with frequent confusion and sudden realizations. Explanations and suggestions were voiced continuously on the side lines from veteran players. Junior Rebecca Lincoln reflected later on the improvements throughout the day, "The rookies are really promising this year, but what's exciting is how everybody learns so much at a tournament like this, regardless of their previous level of play."

Starting at 9 a.m. and ending around 5:45, the women's team played five games of approximately one and a half hours each. Sixteen women attended the all day affair.

Junior captain Shawn Margles and sophomore captain Tori Johnson demonstrated their dedication through grass-stained shirts and ongoing encouragement. Shawn was cleated on the hand in the process of an impressive layout near the end zone and first-year Sarah Wheeler, a.k.a. "Eli", broke her knuckle and detached a tendon in her hand during a collision with a member of the opposing team. Despite the injury Wheeler taped her hand and continued to play, impressing the ever growing crowds with her agility and speed.

But injuries were not the greatest challenge. The day was hot, and after a few games of hard sprinting everyone had caught and spent their third and fourth winds. Subbing became more frequent and the competition more personal.

The participating teams were 'Running With Scissors, Lexington, Clevedge, Clutch, Sisters of Cin and yours truly, the Praying Manti. The teams were from Ohio University, Lexington, Cleveland, Ann Arbor, Cincinnati and Oberlin respectively.

The Manti put up a good fight for all games but unfortunately none of them were won.

Even though the Mantai remained winless, heads were held high. The rookies were in agreement that they had the veterans to thank for setting up the attitude of encouragement and showing them "the spirit of the game."

"We played our hardest and learned a lot and, above all, had fun doing it that was what was most important," said sophomore Robin Richardson.

Josephine Ferrel is a member of the ultimate frisbee team

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Copyright © 1998, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 4, September 25, 1998

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