The Guilford Ultimate Frisbee team, deemed Biohazard, is truly a unique group. Upon approaching the field, I was enthralled by upbeat music, impeccable attitude, and an overall sense of comfort and enjoyment on the field.

For sophomore and Treasurer Ivey Long, who has played on many organized team sports, Biohazard is much more than just the team.
“This is my favorite (sport) because I feel more comfortable with myself out here,” said Long. “Biohazard is one of the reasons I’m staying at Guilford.” This distinct atmosphere, while competitive, is made possible by eager players and productive leadership.
Captains Rory Smyth and Molly Gibbs encourage players of all skill levels to do their best and learn to really enjoy the game. Players on the team range from beginners to near-professionals.

This can be intimidating to new players, but the captains’ attitudes help facilitate the process. The captains stressed the need for a balance between new faces and old.

“In my four years, we haven’t had a solid freshman and veteran class. I have high hopes for this year,” said Smyth.

In practice, they said repeatedly that the best way to learn this game is to watch and play with phenomenal players.

At Guilford, we have an excellent collection of athletes on the Frisbee team who provide a positive learning experience with great potential. Beginners have the unique chance of playing side by side with seasoned veterans from the very start.

Biohazard is a student organization, meaning that every level of the infrastructure is composed of and run by students. By no means does this lack of faculty involvement hamper the Frisbee team’s status. In fact, many students believe that is what makes Biohazard such a great organization.

Sophomore Tim Leisman played lacrosse as a first-year and ultimately decided it was not for him.

“The pressure is what turned me off, really,” said Leisman.

He went on to say that the frisbee environment cultivates dedicated players, simply because it is personal choice and conviction that keeps players coming back to practice. Tim joined out of a desire to keep active, but found Biohazard to be much more than just that.

“I really still want something to keep me active,” said Leisman. “I love this group of people. I love the team dynamics.”

While very different than the typical sports hierarchy, Biohazard maintains a full team of faithful players and routinely competes with neighboring schools. Ultimate frisbee players take the game very seriously, but it is still more about the game than the competition.

“The game structure is so laid back,” said Leisman. “We chill and hangout while we play. We’re intense but it’s not all about win, win, win. We encourage each other to play the best we can. We’re here because we love the game.”

“Everyone on the team is always willing to help new comers with learning how to become a better player as part of the team,” said first-year Charlotte Cloyd.

Just from spending one practice with Biohazard, I have learned that they are a great group of people. They understand how hectic a student’s schedule can be, and only ask players to do their best and enjoy it.

Biohazard practices from 3:30 to 5:30 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You do not have to come to every practice or game, but you definitely will not regret it.

Every member of Biohazard is out there to play the game and appreciate a unique group of people. They are always looking for new players of any skill level, so do not hesitate to go out, even if it is just once.

This crew will keep you coming back for more and more.