Club
Corner
Halloween
Turns Ultimate Playing Bugs into Cats
Ah,
Halloween
the crazy costumes, the pumpkins, and the vague feeling
that youve entered a whole new reality, less serious than
the last. And then Frisbee, a game played only in competition if
also for fun and in good spirits. Put Halloween and Frisbee together,
and you get a rather psychotic tournament, more laid-back than some
but with the usual challenges of playing four or five games in a
day with little food or rest.
The Preying Manti, Oberlins womens ultimate team, rolled
into the parking lot of the tournament at OU, psych tape rattling
the change on the dashboard and spilling out the windows. It was
early in the morning on Nov. 3 but Frisbee players were swarming
around already, warming up and fixing their costumes. To the sounds
of Seven, the Manti donned ears, tails, black clothes
and cleats and stormed the field as unlucky cats.
The first game of the day was against the OU alumni, who were dressed
as nuns. It was a shame they didnt believe in the bad luck
the Mantis-cats imposed on them as they passed the nuns time and
again. The aged alumnis smart use of the dump and swing and
clever poaching in the action zone proved to be too much for the
Catbugs, and after many unlucky calls, OU alumni won
13-2.
So the Oberlin women made their way to a new field for their next
game, only to find it studded with multiple holes and hills. Nevertheless,
the Manti started out the next game against OSU, who were dressed
in a mix of tacky lingerie, and they pounced on them like a ball
of yarn. They kept the intensity throughout the game, swinging the
field with zeal and even throwing a bit of zone. The bugs clinched
the second game with a decisive 12-6 win.
The Mantis hopes of moving to a field with fewer bumps for
game number three against a Columbus club team were dashed, but
the OSU game had given the Bugs momentum. Those poor stick figures
hadnt a chance, especially when their own teammate was screaming
unlucky whenever they messed up. Its not certain
that she ever caught on to the irony. Among the many noteworthy
plays were senior Katie Spiess speedy up-the-line cuts and
solid throws which kept things going at a desirable winning pace.
Rachel Borchardts incredible snags were essential throughout
the game, and Molly Ptacek in her first time back from an ankle
injury claimed a couple of points, too. Lyrica Hammann came off
the field in obvious chagrin, as she had begun to feel bad about
her repetitive scoring. She was quickly reassured that winning by
a lot was okay too, and the Catbugs slinked off the field with another
decisive victory.
As the fourth game of the day began, it was clear that Manticats
would rather be sleeping in the sun. The University of Michigans
aggressive playing and teamwork had given them trouble in the past,
and with only two subs the Bugs just couldnt pull it together
quite enough. With sporadic offensive highlights, and entirely inconsistent
defense, Michigan pulled ahead to win the game.
The Catbugs games were done, but the day was still ended on
a high note when they won the honor of having the best costume,
and so they headed off the fields proudly pawing the prize
a bottle of tequila. With the Halloween tourney behind them, they
have only one tournament left to look forward to before the end
of their fall season Pray For Sun, the Mantis very
own womens tournament to take place tomorrow on North Fields.
Though theyll miss the fun of Halloween, the Preying Manti
hope to host a great seven team tournament with intense game
and a spirited atmosphere nonetheless.
Josie
Ferrel is a senior and Lyrica Hamman is a sophomore member of the
womens ultimate frisbee team.
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