When first-years arrive on Colgate University’s campus in August, they all look to become involved in campus activities. For some, clubs fill the social realm of their lives, while for others, they present more of an athletic challenge — especially for those who played high school sports but no longer compete at the varsity level.
The club ultimate frisbee team is one of those on-campus opportunities that satisfies both. First-years get involved with the team early into their time at Colgate, allowing it to serve both as an outlet for meeting new people and playing a sport on a more competitive level. Sophomore Quinn Bagnato, who has been a member since his first year, explained how ultimate frisbee fulfills these social and competitive needs.
“Ultimate frisbee provides an opportunity for anyone who wishes to participate in a club sport,” Bagnato said. “It allows people who have played before and want to be competitive to be able to compete, as well as those who just want to stay active and may have just started the sport.”
Bagnato commented on how the team’s welcoming environment has satisfied his social and athletic desires early on in his Colgate days.
“Coming into a new school where freshmen sometimes have a hard time adjusting, frisbee immediately provided me with an athletic and social outlet where I met many great people and was able to take pride in my school when traveling and participating in tournaments,” he said.
Sophomore Matthew Greisman agreed that ultimate frisbee helped him transition into Colgate and gain a strong community early on.
“Frisbee allows students who don’t want a big commitment to continue to play a sport competitively,” Greisman said. “It is a community and tight knit group and, especially during [my first] year, it helped me with adjusting to college life.”
Sophomore Sophia Luzietti, a player on the women’s ultimate team, said their team offers the same sense of community and fun.
“I think frisbee is one of the most genuine and fun communities. There’s an amazing balance of competition with having fun,” Luzietti said. “Not only am I on the team with my best friends, but I’ve also made so many amazing connections with people at other schools.”
Aside from providing the social and athletic outlet that first-years yearn for in their early Colgate days, ultimate frisbee provides flexibility that allows them to explore all aspects of college life without imposing a major time commitment.
The team’s effect also reaches far beyond students’ first two years at Colgate, a benefit senior and captain Danny Molyneux spoke to.
“To me, club frisbee adds a sense of family,” Molyneux said. “I have a lot of friends from different parts of campus, but the frisbee team has always been a tight-knit community that I can depend on and that has welcomed me with open arms. It’s great seeing everyone at practice throughout the week doing something that we all enjoy, but it’s really the tournaments, team dinners and other off-the-field activities that are memorable.”
Off the field, both teams make sure to form connections across all grades. Molyneux described one team bonding experience where players from first-years to seniors went to get ice cream together after a tournament.
“We all had a great time, and it just shows that these tournaments allow you to get to know a lot of new people and make a lot of new friends,” he said.
The team’s efforts to bridge the gap between Colgate first-years and seniors has translated to strong team chemistry on the field. Greisman shared that in the team’s recent tournament, the Danse Macabre tournament at Rochester Institute of Technology, the team posted a strong 6-1 record, placing fifth out of 30 teams.
The Raider ultimate frisbee community provides much more than just the opportunity to play a sport. For many first-years, it is a major source of connection and balance, combining social belonging with the thrill and excitement of competition. The team’s recent successes emphasize how camaraderie and competitiveness thrive together. As new students join every fall, the team remains a prime example of how athletics both unite and welcome people in a new community, helping strengthen the Colgate experience for all of its participants.
