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Starting in the summer of 1968 Ultimate Frisbee began gaining a footing as colleges and high schools formed teams. By 1979, the Ultimate Players Association had been formed to govern the sport.\u00a0 Now there are more than 35,000 members of USA Ultimate<\/a>.<\/p>\n This spring, Williston Northampton created its first Ultimate club team. Led by coaches Paul Rutherford, a science teacher, and Ben Thompson, director of psychological counseling services, the team holds practices twice a week and competes against local high schools.<\/p>\n Mr. Thompson had been organizing pickup games in the evenings for several years, but always wanting to form a more permanent club.\u00a0 This year, with the help of Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Thompson\u2019s dream became a reality.<\/p>\n A player during his college years, Mr. Thompson has followed the development of the sport over the years, and his son now plays on the varsity team at Brown University.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really become quite the organized and professionalized sport,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you\u2019re talking about working a Frisbee, or a disc, down the field, you\u2019re talking about forehands, backhands, overhand throws, all sorts of special offenses and defenses.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Rutherford started playing as a sophomore at Kenyon College and was hooked. His team made it to the DIII Championships his senior year, tying for third place in the nation.<\/p>\n Mr. Rutherford\u2019s favorite memory is not of a great play he made, or of a satisfying victory, but instead a somber moment with his team. Before one of the championship games, the Kenyon team sat together recounting what they meant to one another and how great it was to be a part of the team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t have mattered if we were third, or first, or last, because we were there for each other and to play well,\u201d said Mr. Rutherford.<\/p>\n What Mr. Rutherford learned on his team at Kenyon, and hopes to bring to the Williston program, is that, \u201cYour total goal should not necessarily be winning, it should be performing to the best of your ability.\u201d<\/p>\n At the core of Ultimate is something called the \u201cSpirit of the Game.\u201d On an Ultimate field there are no officials; if a dispute arises play is paused until a unanimous decision is made regarding the foul.<\/p>\n \u201cYou call your own fouls and try and be a good opponent, you\u2019re not trying to cheat the other team out of a win, you\u2019re not trying to get away with as much as you can,\u201d said Mr. Rutherford. \u201cYou\u2019re holding yourself to a higher standard of competition and sportsmanship.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith our mission statement of purpose, passion, and integrity, what better way to practice integrity than a self-officiating sport?\u201d asked Matt Freire, student body president, an influential voice in the creation of the team. Mr. Friere helped write the petition that brought the club to fruition and now plays on the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not as good as other people, but whenever I have that perfect toss, when it doesn\u2019t wiggle around, it\u2019s amazing,\u201d Mr. Freire said.<\/p>\n Dillon Watson \u201913 and Gabriel Hohman \u201914 are also dedicated members of the team. Both boys are ultimate veterans; Mr. Watson has played Ultimate longer than any other sport.<\/p>\n Mr. Hohman, who played at his summer camp, said, \u201cI never really got all that good until I came to Williston\u2026I really see the change in my performance and the performance of everyone who participates.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been fun watching us go from a bunch of kids with some skills, but no knowledge, to a team that can interact and make plays fluidly,\u201d added Mr. Watson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Starting in the summer of 1968 Ultimate Frisbee began gaining a footing as colleges and high schools formed teams. By 1979, the Ultimate Players Association had been formed to govern the sport.\u00a0 Now there are more than 35,000 members of USA Ultimate. This spring, Williston Northampton created its first Ultimate club team. Led by coaches … Continue reading Williston Fields Ultimate Frisbee Club<\/span> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/athletics\/files\/2013\/05\/8659700963_ddfcd154e6_o.jpg\")
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