While many Garfield sports have struggled to meet high expectations this year, one program has quietly stood out from the rest. One team’s achievements have gone unnoticed for far too long: Garfield’s undefeated girls ultimate frisbee team, which is now headed to nationals for a fifth consecutive year.
While many don’t know much about the sport, ultimate frisbee combines several elements of popular games. It requires the endurance of soccer, the agility of basketball, and the precision of football. The Garfield team’s physical strength is unmatched, along with the strong leadership provided by both captains and coaches. Sophomore Ella Kimura has had nothing short of an impressive season with the team. She voiced, “We’re just able to build off ourselves and motivate each other,” adding, “I think when someone tries, it makes everyone want to try harder.”
Because there is only one girls frisbee team, it comprises all grade levels, which creates a variety of skillsets being brought to the table. The more “seasoned” players are able to mentor the incoming class, which also contributes to their continuous success despite seniors leaving the team once they graduate. But the key to their triumphs are more deep rooted than that, Kimura claimed. “We do team bondings, it’s a big part of us because it’s how we build our community and try to be an effective team who actually likes being around each other.” They also have individual star players who lead them through the season, such as senior team captain Audrey Young, who has been playing frisbee for eight years. She noted it’s important to make everyone feel “connected and focused,” which she explained keeps players caring about improvement. Getting to SPS finals wasn’t an easy thing to do;, teams throughout the country compete throughout the season for limited spots. This means Garfield will have to face some of the toughest teams in the nation. When asked about the pressure to stay undefeated, Young said it’s “not pressure, it’s more of a positive want to win and do well,” claiming it “hasn’t felt negative at all.”
Despite dominating the league, ultimate frisbee is still not a widely appreciated sport in the Garfield community. If more students attended games, they would quickly see how difficult and skill-based the sport really is.
Even without the attention they deserve, Garfield’s girls ultimate frisbee team continues to represent the school at the highest level. Their undefeated season reflects not only athletic talent, but also the strong community and leadership they have worked so hard to build. As they prepare for nationals once again, they deserve the support and cheers of the Garfield community.
