The West State Intramural Fields were but a background to some ultimate sportsmanship, fun and Frisbee action on Saturday.
Ohio's men's and women's ultimate frisbee teams played host to 20 men's and women's ultimate teams over the Halloween weekend.
The tournament has become an annual tradition that began in the late 1980s. The tournament acts as a fundraiser for the club ultimate programs. Last year the teams drew more than $1,200 from the tournament.
This year teams from Ohio State, Ohio Northern, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Kent State and Wooster all made the trip to Ohio along with other teams from across the Midwest. The teams were divided into pools and each team played other teams in the pool once.
The specific rules of the tournament call for each team that participates in the tournament be clad in some kind of Halloween costume. This year street signs, doctors, foosball men and navy seals were but a taste of costumes seen in the Frisbee action.
With every player in costume and chants and cheers coming before, during and after games, the tournament shows the personalities of the teams involved and provides an atmosphere of fun
The players showed solid sportsmanship. Frisbee has no referees with all fouls and action on the field being policed by the sportsmanship of the players involved.
There's actually no winner of this tournament
it's all for fun said Ohio women's team member, Rose Johnson. Everybody wins games but we don't do any championship or finals. It's a one-day tournament
it's totally for fun
and everybody here totally has a blast.
Ohio ultimate frisbee alumni also enjoy the weekend. Both a women's and a men's team composed of former ultimate club member's returned for the weekend festivities to play those they taught.
Marc Davenport is still a student at Ohio but his five years of eligibility ran out last year. Now on the alumni team, Davenport, as well as the rest of the alumni, said he loves the chance to get back on the field and play the sport he loves.
It's just a good time
people are dressed up and you can relax
said Davenport.
Drew Mikita, Ohio men's ultimate frisbee club president, said he enjoys the alumni game and the spirit of the tournament.
The game against our alumni is always fun since they taught us how to play
Mikita said.
Mikita said the action in the fall is a tune-up for the actual season. The Halloween tournament is a good way for the Ohio teams to see what kind of shape they are in. The tournament also provides all of the participants with a chance to balance a good time with some good ultimate frisbee play.
As fun as this tournament is we still take it very seriously
said Mikita. On the field the action is intense
and we do play to win.
