As they begin a new season, the women's ultimate Frisbee A and B teams welcomed a third C team this spring for the first time after receiving a wave of new recruits throughout the fall semester.
The club sport - which has successful women's and men's teams at Brown - has seen a dramatic expansion over the past couple of years, according to Julie Caplow '09, Molly Cohen '09 and Zahra Hirji '09, the captains of the A team, which goes by the name "Disco Inferno."
"It is a truly momentous thing to have a C team," Cohen said.
Women's ultimate was previously divided into two teams, A and B, based on commitment level and intensity. But this year, the club had over 65 members after recruiting, and could form a third team for the first time, Hirji said.
Four years ago, the B team, known as "Pity Da Fool," consisted of very few players, but last year it grew to include over 40 women, Hirji said, adding that the women's ultimate team started to send two B squads to participate in tournaments.
The decision to form a C team was initially brought up this fall, as the team captains realized that their heavy recruitment - through word of mouth, table-slipping and "bring your roommate" practices - had succeeded more than they initially thought, Cohen said. The B team, which in previous years had never turned a player away, had to cut over 20 girls for the first time this fall.
The B team has some "really talented players," and could be competitive, said Kathryn Roberts '10, one of the newly appointed C-team captains, adding that the creation of a C team offers players with less experience the opportunity to become better acquainted with the sport and have a lesser time commitment.
While several members of the women's ultimate team played ultimate in high school, most of the players on the team had never picked up a disc until joining, Cohen said, adding that its good to have "diversity, and not be so exclusive."
Hirji said what attracted her most to the sport was the sense of community among the team members, and that she "fell in love with the team" before she fell in love with the sport.
Molly Cousins '11, a C-team captain, added that the "spirit of the game" was a major attraction for new recruits.
While the ultimate team is competitive, it is also entirely self-run, fostering a sense of unity and teamwork, Cohen said.
The newly established C team will cause certain new difficulties in terms of funding, Hirji said, but the captains were confident that they "will be able to make it" as costs have not "changed dramatically." Women's ultimate obtains financial support from the Ultimate Players' Association, alumni donations, merchandise sales, working shifts at The Gate, the University's Department of Athletics and fundraising efforts.
Still, the members are also currently brainstorming new ideas for raising money, Hirji said. Some of the concepts being thrown around include pudding wrestling on the Main Green and a tie-dye party.
The yet-to-be-named C team has already begun practicing and will participate in its first round-robin tournament on Mar. 8, along with the B team. The A team will play in a round robin on Mar. 1.
