Once an informal friend group that played together, the Hillsdale ultimate frisbee club now represents the college in national tournaments as an organized sports club team. 

Ultimate frisbee is a team sport that combines concepts from American football, soccer, and  basketball but uses a disc instead of a ball. To score a goal, players pass the disc among themselves to reach the opponent’s end-zone. 

According to Bill Gray, an ‘01 alum and the club’s faculty advisor, Hillsdale has had informal ultimate frisbee clubs at least since his first year as a student in ‘97.

“We would have games of 20 people on the side, all grades, ages, male or female,” Gray said. “I would play all that I could when the weather permitted.”

When he returned to the college in 2011 as a faculty member, Gray said he played ultimate with students when he had time. He was the club advisor from 2012-13 and then resumed the position again in 2021. 

In 2022, he advised Allie Spaccarelli and Nick Akers, the club president and captain on marketing, financing, and advertising for the ultimate frisbee club when the informal club became a club sport.

 “Allie Spaccarelli and the club leadership really wanted to become a club sport,” Gray said. “They really did a lot of the heavy lifting.”

The difference between being designated a club and a club sport is the level of formality associated with the title of club sport. A campus club can be athletic, academic, or hobbyist. When the ultimate frisbee team became a club sport in December 2022, they gained the ability to represent Hillsdale in competitions sanctioned by USA Ultimate, the governing body for collegiate ultimate frisbee.

Hillsdale’s frisbee team made its competitive debut spring 2023, making it all the way to regionals, where they lost to Butler University – who would be the regional champion – by only one point.

Junior Gabriel Dobroszi has been part of the team since fall 2020 when he was still a high school student. Last year, he served as the club’s secretary and an unofficial strategy coordinator.

“I really wasn’t confident that we would be able to make it, but Nick really did it,” Dobroszi said. “Honestly, not the biggest achievement in the universe, but it was definitely unexpected for our team to jump straight into regionals and be pretty competitive as well.”

This year, Dobroszi serves as club captain and leads the team along with club president senior Greg Moreno, club president. 

Dobroszi said the team is practicing an unorthodox strategy that he came up with, which incorporates a European-style offense instead of the usual US strategies.

He said he is hopeful to take the strategy to sectionals and regionals, maybe even nationals. 

“The whole team is just coming together like never before,” Dobroszi said. “We’ve never played so well, enjoyed each other’s company so much, or become friends like this. They’re just doing it out of pure enjoyment and love for the sport themselves. It’s just showing its fruits.” 

Not only is the team making strides in its sports development, but they are also building bonds with each other.

Dobroszi said that apart from ultimate frisbee, the team has gathers for movie nights, bowling, and to play disc golf. 

“Being friends together, in general, creates a welcoming and friendly environment for the team,” Dobroszi said. “The frisbee team has become part of regular campus life for the members.” 

Sophomore Madeline Blake said she had no experience playing ultimate frisbee with a team before joining the club as a freshman.

Blake is part of the 16 member travel team that participates in intercollegiate competitions. She said one of her favorite memories was of the team shopping for groceries together while at a tournament in Indianapolis. The team bought a copious amount of French bread that the team bought that weekend, according to Blake.

“I really enjoy the opportunity to be social and to build relationships with other people.” Blake said. “The community that I’ve formed, specifically with the ultimate frisbee team, has been really encouraging, not just competitively but also personally and relationally.” 

The club draws individuals from all majors, Blake said, some of whom she doubts would have  the opportunity to interact with outside of the club. 

The team will host a scrimmage against Michigan State University on April 18 at the Hayden turf field.