After finishing with a 6-5 record last year, the ultimate Frisbee team has high hopes for a strong season, and is looking to make it all the way to this year’s state finals. In an unlucky break last season, the team was not able to compete in the state tournament due to a scheduling conflict with prom.

“Our team as a whole looks much better than it has in previous years,” senior captain Brendan Richard said. “We’re one of the more athletic teams in the Frisbee league.”

The Bulldogs led 7-5 at the half of their first game of the season against rival B-CC March 20. Unfortunately, the Barons pulled away in the second half and won 15-8. The game featured touchdowns by junior Joe Haynes, sophomore Evan Rheingold, and sophomore Will Sickels. Richards threw for two touchdowns and junior captain Peter Heilbron threw for six.

“We didn’t win against B-CC but we played well as a team,” Heilbron said. “I’d rather lose every game and have good team spirit.”

Due to the high number of rookie players this year, the team has emphasized basics with drills and practices as much as possible.

“In the second half [B-CC] started using zone defense,” Richard said. “We hadn’t had time to teach the members of the team how to play against the zone.”

The opener was a showcase for Sickels, a player new to the team.

“He’s a very athletic player,” Richard said. “He’s picking up throwing more quickly than we expected and he’s got strong catches.”

The Bulldogs played their second game of the season against Eleanor Roosevelt April 3. The game was tied 8-8 at the half, but the Raiders ended up winning 15-12.

The team played its next game at Sligo Middle School April 10, where they faced Georgetown Day School.