This weekend was a good three day weekend, filled with fun and sun. What was missing? Ultimate. Over the past year (I believe tomorrow will officially be one year playing.) I have fallen in love with Ultimate frisbee. To be honest, beyond long term relationships, I have never invested myself more in a single activity like I have for Ultimate (EDIT: Excluding debate, geek). I went back to school for a semester, just to play. In the beginning I described my class fees, as more of a team dues for playing. Most of the time, I get obsessed with something and move on after a while. For example: Guitar Hero, Flash Flash Revolution, LOTR: Battle for MiddleEarth, Starcraft, Smash Bros, and other things besides video games…Let’s move on, this is embarassing. A lot of my good friends play Ultimate, as well. This is a very big factor for me in playing. I have not known many of them long, but they have all helped me along the way. They have helped me a lot.
From the top:
When I started Summer League in 2006, with the Forest Green team, I had the intention to play competitive Ultimate, because I thought it would be sweet. Right off the bat, I knew there were good players in the area and I sought them out. Brian Loynachan taught me a lot. He has had more experience in Ultimate than I have lived. He was always there to answer my questions, and has always been a big proponent, when others underestimate me. Jon Staron welcomed my comedy on the field and taught me a lot about the game. Haha, I still remember when he was one of the few people that would talk to me when I first started. John Misra was on our team as well. He was a dick to me for a long time. Now, I look to him as a great player with a lot to offer in the leadership department. Miz has never minded offering up advice or taking charge. I also view him as a person that is going to be very easy for you to talk to if you have a problem. Michael Dunlay was, and still is, a great benchmark for me, as a player to compete with. I was always motivated to be as good and some day better 
than Dunlay. Obviously this is nothing personal, we seem to be put in the same category a lot of times though.
Fast forward a bit, and we come to the point I decided I would take classes to play with Iowa State Ultimate Club. Probably one of the better decisions I have ever made. While ISUC is considered an average team, our top tier players are above average, we have a good amount of guys that play their hearts out, and the team is just an all-you-can-banter buffet. I loved being on this team and I hope that everyone on it stays with Ultimate. Mike Lun, this guy taught me how to actually throw well. Still a lot of work in this department, but you can tell that I learned from Mike. Well at least other people can, “Your throws look a lot like that asian guy on your team…just not as good.” Mike is gifted and a good friend. I feel like Mike is loyal and will always be loyal (Edit: This refers to a pre-Sub Zero, Mike Lun). Also, what is not to like about scoring a point or getting a D, and coming off the field to a high five from the ’softest hands in Ultimate’. My man Ben Lyons learned me some swagger, and learned me some banter. Joe Brisbois D’ed me a couple times… and taught me how to get skied. Joe plays with passion, a lot of passion. He is always in the mood to talk about Ultimate and I would consider him a great friend on and off the field. Jacob Prater just taught me, and was a great coach to our team.
Old Gregg’s Posse had some influential players as well. Rachel Derscheid has probably hands down shown me more about being passionate for Ultimate, than anyone else I have played with. I have never seen her lack intensity in her play, even for a second. We have a common goal, constant improvement. Brian Lucido taught me a lot about throwing the disc far and when to be careful with a ping pong paddle.
Van Buren Boys will certainly give me a ton of crucial experience that I have been waiting for. This team pretty much embodies all of my hard work up to this point. Nay sayers, step off. I will be looking for advice from the whole team, as the least experienced player. Kevin Seiler is going to have to teach me, whether he wants to or not. My only complaint thus far is that I don’t get to play on the same line as Dave ‘Sasquatch Arms’ Karsten. ‘Sasquatch Arms’ is the only thing I could think of just now, but he isn’t like an uber hairy dude or anything. I have had limited time playing with Dave and I have loved every minute thus far. Plus, the dude wants to give you like one heart-to-heart talk about Ultimate every week. What’s not to like about that?
All in all, this looks to be a great season. This will be my first season in the UPA Club Series. Let it also be known, I am here in Des Moines, IA still, to play Ultimate with my friends and with the rest of the Van Buren Boys. Is it that crazy to pass up opportunities for Ultimate? I will tell you that I haven’t hesitated.
