Former intramural team moves to club status and becomes year-round
***UPDATE: Ultimate is STILL being offered as an intramural sport, in addition to the UIndy ultimate club.***
The University of Indianapolis’ ultimate Frisbee team was officially named a club instead of an intramural team this semester.
The club, named UIndy Ultimate, is open to anyone interested in the sport, and official members pay a registration fee of $20 per semester. The club is led by of President Heath Shanahan, Faculty Adviser Kevin McKelvey and Treasurer Jared Shue. It offers year-round Ultimate that once was only offered seasonally as an intramural sport.
The team competes around the Midwest in tournaments and currently has 18 members, with the hopes of reaching 25 by the end of the semester.
“The most beneficial aspect of being a member of the club is being a part of something new and fun,” Shanahan said. “The camaraderie and friendships on the team has already surpassed anything I could have imagined.”
UIndy Ultimate hopes to raise money to support and sustain the club. Some ideas they’ve come up with include sponsorships from local businesses and hosting a local tournament for schools as well as dorms. They plan to host a “Disc Activities Day” on Smith Mall for the campus to participate in Ultimate, disc golf, flutter (a one-handed catching game), KanJame (similar to cornhole, except with a disc and standup goal) and Box, which is similar to Ultimate except with one end-zone.
“All skill levels are welcome,” Shanahan said. “Some of us are better coaches than players, so not only will you have fun, you will probably learn something.”
UIndy Ultimate currently practices on Friday nights in Nicoson Hall from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Ultimate consists of two teams of players who try to toss a Frisbee to one another until they cross the opponent’s goal. Possession changes whenever the disc is intercepted, touches the ground or goes out of bounds.
“In my opinion, Ultimate is one of the most exciting sports to play or watch,” Shue said. “So when there is an exciting play, there is great respect among teams and spectators.”
UIndy Ultimate offers students an outlet for athletic and competitive play. By playing other teams in the Midwest, students gain experience in the sport.
Although the team is still young and growing, some students have been participating in Ultimate since their first years at UIndy. Shue is one such student that has participated all four years of his college career.
“When we go to tournaments, we don’t expect to win every game, or even one for that matter,” Shue said. “We just want to gain experience at this point. But as we grow and develop as a team, we hope to be able to compete with the best teams in the state.”
For more information on UIndy Ultimate, contact president Heath Shanahan at shanahanh@uindy.edu.
The UIndy Ultimate club poses for a picture during practice. The club, which now plays year round, practices on Friday nights from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. in Nicoson Hall. Photo by Mikey McGrath.
