Many athletes train their whole life for a chance to play at the highest level possible. For one IU senior, the dream is getting closer.
Kip Curtis, captain of the IU Ultimate Frisbee Team, became the first student in IU history to be invited to the Team USA Ultimate Frisbee Tryouts. Curtis was one of 100 men and women selected for this honor due to his impressive play on the field, in addition to the leadership qualities he possess off the field as well.
A longtime cross country runner, Curtis picked up ultimate frisbee and instantly became enamored with the sport. Using the endurance skills from cross country, Curtis became a natural at ultimate frisbee, quickly establishing himself as a key player on IU’s top ultimate frisbee team. The two main positions in ultimate frisbee are handler (the passer or thrower who sets up his teammates) and cutter (the dynamic, downfield option), of which Curtis is a handler, and seen as one of the best at IU and in the region.
At the collegiate level, there is not a single program in the United States that offers ultimate frisbee as a varsity sport. Rather, each team is a club sport, where funding comes primarily from donations, a small grant from the school, and out of the pockets of those who play the game. With their fall season now in the books, Curtis led the IU Ultimate Frisbee A Team to a near undefeated record, with only one loss and several tournament championships.
Tournaments at the collegiate level typically involve traveling to a warmer area of the country, such as Florida or South Carolina. Each weekend during the ultimate frisbee season, members of the IU ultimate frisbee team will pack into cars and drive the requisite hours to reach their destination. The drives can be as long as ten or twelve hours, but Curtis and the team sees it as a bonding experience rather as a chore.
Although the collegiate ranks are all club sports, there are some teams that compete at the professional level. Curtis plays for the Indianapolis Alley Cats, a professional ultimate frisbee team that practices in downtown Indianapolis. Curtis says practices can last for as long as three hours, making the endurance skills he has mastered crucial for success. After the three hour practice, Curtis drives himself back to Bloomington, trudging another hour and a half to return in time for some sleep and another day of classes.
Although the grind of practice with two teams is sure to take its toll, Curtis was optimistic about his chances with Team USA, in addition to happy about the many different opportunities that ultimate frisbee had afforded him. For most, they are unable to make a living solely off of playing ultimate frisbee. Even if this proves to be the case for Curtis, his diligence and hard work in his various classes will lead him to a strong future in the field of his choice, and will lead to opportunities off the field that might rival his prowess on it.
