Despite rare practice field availability, numerous players graduating, and a lack of rival co-ed teams, the Biohazard Ultimate Frisbee team is optimistic about the future. “We’re not worried,” said Joshua Lewis, captain of men’s Frisbee. “It’s always (been) a challenge that we play co-ed games when 90 percent of colleges don’t.”

Lewis feels that Guilford’s team is different from other college teams, with its relaxed, fun and welcoming reputation. They are also known for their ability to adapt.

Last semester, they decided to split into separate men’s and women’s teams. However, the men’s team had a better season than the women’s, so team captains Lewis and Katherine Rossini decided to combine again this semester to reconcile the difference.

While Guilford is a historically co-ed Ultimate team, the dynamic has switched back and forth in recent years.

“It can feel hard (for other teams) to play co-ed at the college level,” Rossini said. “There are few opportunities to play other college co-ed teams.”

Splitting up the team is not the only problem Ultimate faces. For the past 10 years, the team practiced on the lawn in front of New Garden Hall. According to Lewis, Admissions insisted they mainstream the sport by using a legitimate practice field. The team is now relocated to the field behind the Frank Family Science Center.

However, new NCAA regulations allow fall sports, which also use the Frank field, to practice in the spring. Competition to use the field is affecting club sports like Frisbee, whose season begins in spring, in favor of mainstream sports.

“There are only about five fields, which makes competition for club sports like Frisbee and men’s and women’s Rugby,” said Erica Cosentino, director of student leadership and engagement. “All three have similar practice days, so if they can rearrange their schedules there won’t be much overlapping.”

In addition to these changes, 10 senior players, including Lewis and Rossini, graduate this year. With many juniors and experienced players either going abroad or not returning, the team’s leadership rests with the younger players.

Lewis explains that the influx of senior players came from his large first-year class. When he joined Ultimate, then team had less than a dozen players. His class added about 30 new ones.

“Membership waxes and wanes,” Rossini said, “but it’s the quality of players that count, not the number of people.”

Both Lewis and Rossini hope that next year’s class will bring another big wave of players.

“With so many important players graduating, I worry about numbers and leadership for the team,” said senior player Clark Goldentyer, “but I have the utmost confidence in our younger players, who show a great passion for our sport.”

Although Ultimate faces future challenges, they are excited for a fun spring season. This weekend, April 19 and 20, Biohazard is hosting a tournament for other co-ed teams. Colleges, including Warren Wilson, Appalachian State and Lenore Rhinye, will come to enjoy the “welcoming and zany atmosphere” that makes Guilford’s Ultimate team dedicated and enjoyable.