With the College having around 1,900 undergraduates on campus, this small liberal arts school has few opportunities for non-student athletes to play sports in a competitive atmosphere. However, the ultimate Frisbee team at ‘Berg, better known as the “Flying Squirrels,” was one of the most popular clubs a couple of weeks ago at the fall activities fair. The team had about 100 new sign-ups ranging from students who have only thrown a Frisbee at a barbecue or high school gym class to students who have played for most of their life.
Co-captain Brandon Herbst ‘22 believes that the return to normalcy after COVID-19 might have something to do with the team’s interest this semester. Herbst stated, “I think a lot of people were looking forward to finally getting out of the house and interacting with each other again. I’m proud that the Frisbee team is a place where we can facilitate that. We are always open and welcoming to new members.”
Joining the Flying Squirrels doesn’t require previous skill in the sport as there are no tryouts. Fellow captain Ethan Citron ‘23 describes how he and many other players have been recruited by the team. “I joined the team on my orientation weekend. One of our best tactics that seems to work is getting people during orientation or people that happen to move in early.”
“Ultimate Frisbee is kind of a niche sport… There’s a whole team, there’s a whole sports component to it.” Citron said. “You see stuff like basketball and football on TV, you get a little bit of that exposure even if you’re not a fan. It’s one of those things where you might just see it. Ultimate is still very up and coming. So a lot of people don’t know anything about the game.”
The team spends most of the fall covering the fundamentals of throwing, catching, basic offensive and defensive formations as well as the rules of the game. Along with Herbst and Citron, the team has four other captains who all serve as a resource to the team, especially the newer players.
Newcomer Maddie Davidson ‘25 mentioned her expectations of college by throwing the Frisbee around. “I think every little thing I’ve ever visualized about college I’ve seen or thought about someone throwing a Frisbee on a lawn. So when I came and I saw the team on the lawn, I was unbelievably compelled to join and see what the fuss was about. And so I started playing on the [Burkholder Quadrangle] lawn. And then I somehow made my way into the group chat where they announced practices.”
The captains and a couple members from the Lehigh Valley who have been playing the sport for the past 10 years lead practices twice a week on the football turf. The practices typically run about two hours, where the team will start by warming up and reviewing a new concept. Then, the team will go through a number of drills to reinforce certain teaching points before they scrimmage for the last hour of practice.
In the fall season, the Flying Squirrels travel to a series of tournaments hosted by local colleges on various weekends. These tournaments are sanctioned by USA Ultimate and are usually an all-day event. Most players mentioned that these tournaments are also a social event because when they are waiting for their games to start, they are getting to know their teammates better and even bonding with the other Frisbee teams. The Squirrels traditionally host their own annual Frisbee tournament right here in Allentown. It is usually the first tournament of the season and is during alumni weekend.
In the spring season, the Squirrels are split into a men’s team and a women’s team, but still practice as a whole group. Towards the back end of the spring semester, there are sectional and regional competitions, and if either team were to perform very well at those, there is a national competition. The men’s team will eye that national competition this year as they came close to it in 2018, making it to regionals.
While you might catch the Flying Squirrels practicing or playing in a tournament on the turf field, there is also a great chance you might see them throwing the Frisbee around at the Burkholder Quadrangle, next to Victor’s Lament or on the chapel lawn.
The team is very close knit. They have an ample amount of barbecues, bonding events and even have a special interest house, unofficially called the “Frisbee house” where the team will meet up before tournaments, review game footage and hang out.
For Ethan Lynch ‘22, the Frisbee house leader in charge of maintaining the team’s special interest status, shed light on the process. “One of the big criteria for the school is how are we going to best use the house to best benefit the team. The way we do that is by providing a community for members of the team. The doors are always open for people to come and socialize,” he said.
The team also bonds by playing assassin, an intricate version of tag with safe zones and objects. As Citron describes, “If you were carrying a Frisbee on you, that is a safe item. That means you are safe [and can’t be tagged]. Everyone has a target and someone that is going for them. So you have to try and get everyone else out while other people are trying to get you out. And it’s kind of a last person standing situation.” The game has turned the whole campus into a tournament of wits and patience while allowing the Squirrels to build fellowship.
Herbst encourages any Muhlenberg student who is looking to stay active and meet new people to reach out to anyone on the team.
“I’ve met some of my closest friends and now housemates through this team and I can’t imagine my college experience without it,” said Herbst.
Additional reporting by Tom Hiller ‘23
