The women’s ultimate frisbee club, Altitude, is an organized club sport here at Trinity that displays their skill and passion on their Tuesdays and Thursdays practices as well as in countless competitions at the national level.
Altitude is a gateway into Trinity’s competitive sports community operating at the student level. Although the level of competition may be a bit intimidating, Altitude is open to all players, experienced or not. Allison Waters, a junior business and economics double major, joined the team last year and shared her experience.
“I would say that frisbee is definitely the highlight of my week all the time,” Waters said. “We have practice twice a week for two hours each time, and then we also have pickup games on Fridays that anyone can come to. They’re very chill and laid back. I would say that everyone on our team is so welcoming. Most girls who join Altitude have never touched a disc before joining. We’re [a] very beginner-friendly team, and yet we still get really competitive at tournaments.”
The relationships between the players are a pillar of Altitude throughout their practices, games, and tournaments. Kinsey Neas, junior computer science major and a captain of Altitude, expressed the impact joining the club has had on her.
“Altitude, at least for me, has been kind of like my closest friend group,” Neas said. “I’ve gotten to learn a new skill and grow a lot as a person, but also just grow a lot athletically and physically.”
Partaking in four hours of practice a week to prepare for games and tournaments across the nation, the members of Altitude strive to be the best at their craft. Tournaments are how they get to demonstrate the skills they gain from their many hours of practice by competing on a national scale. Gaby Wehrung, senior neuroscience major and another Altitude captain, shared the team’s past and upcoming tournament schedule.
“We’ll be going to Austin and having a tournament there, and that’s probably the biggest tournament we’ll be involved in this whole season, besides nationals if we’re able to get to that point,” Wehrung said. “That’s the one we’re looking forward to down the line in terms of time, but I would say the Baton Rouge tournament was very fun because we had to travel pretty far, which has consequences, of course, but it was fun to bond with the team and do things like that on our own.”
Despite the positives, the time commitment of Altitude may be intimidating for newcomers. However, team members have voiced their feelings about juggling the responsibilities of academics and the club.
“We’re all really busy and really involved,” Wehrung said. “Honestly, we don’t really have time for it, but we make time for it because we enjoy it so much.”
Student-led fundraising and the support of Trinity faculty have helped Altitude thrive throughout the years. Faculty member Kristen Harrison and events such as the 1869 challenge have allowed clubs such as Altitude to accomplish strenuous goals.
“I have to shout out Kristen Harrison,” Wehrung said. “She goes above and beyond for us and, as far as I can tell, [for] all sports she’s a homie with that. I literally go to her for everything. If I have a question, if I have a concern, if I need her help with reserving a field or with paying for a hotel, literally anything, she is a person I go to because I have [a] massive amount of trust in her, and she never lets us down. So I have to shout her out.”
The members of Altitude are only ordinary students here at Trinity, yet they remain highly committed to their team. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the members share a common interest in and passion for ultimate frisbee and are able to bond together through it.