The disc swung wide to the sideline. Nate planted his feet and rotated his hips to clamp down hard with a pancake catch as he turned to see Caitlyn striking down the field for a continuation pass. He thrust forward and released the disc with a quick forehand wrist-whip that sent the disc spinning under the defender’s reach. The pass rode an air current to chest level right before Caitlyn’s lengthened stride. With a tremendous heave she cocked her arms and threw herself into the wind. Cait hung perilously, suspended upon take-off. Then, her knees fell, buckling forcefully on the trim green ground of the endzone, her upper body fighting gravity to stay in forward motion. In a single strained effort against the will of the mind to protect the body, she powered her arms to stretch beyond the break of her fall and SNAG! The disc stalled in mid-flight, with Caitlyn’s hands clenched tight around the rim as she crashed to the field.
It may have only been one point scored in a game to 11, but for that moment, that minute of a game well in hand, Caitlyn was a heroin. We lifted her up on our shoulders and chanted, “Cait, Cait, Cait, CAIT, CAIT!” She was a little embarrassed, but none of us cared. We were ecstatic! Caitlyn plays on AU’s club ultimate frisbee team “Conspiracy”. For three years, she has been teased about never laying out for a disc, despite the gratuity of the leading pass. So, earlier this season, she made a pact with two friends, Bree and Lacey, to catch one layout before the end of the season. And on Sunday, in our game against Huntington University, she broke through her wall and made the layout of her life.
Cait’s layout, it seems, is symbolic of the excitement and tenacity thriving in our club this year. With a huge crop of freshman athletes and first-year players, we are quickly developing into a deep, trustworthy team on the field, and a warm, supportive family off the field.
I hope Caitlyn’s spirit will be the inspiration of an ultimate revolution. The competitive potential of our club is great! We have former athletes—center forwards, wide receivers, middle blockers, line backers, and former pitchers. We have scholars—physics/computer science/math triple majors, future social workers, aspiring entrepreneurs and media production hopefuls, elementary educators and musicians. We have skill, athleticism, creativity, ingenuity, determination, and integrity. And beyond this competitive potential, we have the honored opportunity to relay the message of Christ and the culture of AU to players, teams, clubs, schools and communities away from our campus block.
The sport of ultimate is a prime relic of the Christian attitude. Governed by “The Spirit of the Game”, ultimate frisbee breads players of upstanding character and respectful appreciation for all forms of competition, experienced or fresh, old or young, competitive or casual. It is my hope that AUU Conspiracy can complement the spirit of ultimate with the Spirit of a Christian faith, and in doing so honor God and the ability he gives us to play such a wonderful game!
