Stephen Slezak, Campus Carrier asst. sports editor
The Berry Bucks ultimate frisbee team (Berry Bucks) have once again qualified for nationals. The Bucks consistently compete for the national championship each year, having qualified for the last six years. In 2024, the Bucks placed 13th at nationals while finishing ninth in 2023, tied for third in 2022 and sixth in 2021. Coming into nationals this year, the Bucks are ranked 21st in division III.
Senior Ian VanOrder is one of three team captains, alongside seniors Simon Dowdy and Ivan Khoo. VanOrder is also the current president of the team. Behind the Scenes, VanOrder handles the role of a coach by planning practices, game planning, monitoring player development and handling logistics for the team. VanOrder has qualified for nationals every year since being at Berry and is looking to make up for last year’s performance.
“It’s exciting knowing that we have another opportunity to represent Berry at nationals,” VanOrder said. “Last year we felt like we left a lot on the table at nationals, and didn’t play up to our expectations. We were eager to continue to work hard and redeem last year’s performance.”
VanOrder credits the consistent winning streak of the Berry Bucks to the culture that has been established on the team.
“The biggest factor in this team’s success is our culture,” VanOrder said. “We develop our players to be better, not only on the field but in everyday settings. The commitment creates energy on the field and sideline during games. We want to support our teammates, so we make sure to get loud for the great plays and pick each other up after the bad plays. The energy we bring tends to affect the other team’s confidence and after enough of it, they crumble.”
During the season, the Bucks went through a difficult stretch that required the team to overcome challenges and work through them to become a better team.
“Before regionals we had a tough time getting our defense to convert after turnovers, and it led to a close loss to a team we knew we should have beaten,” VanOrder said. “I consider it a good loss because it helped humble us and made us recognize that we were not ready for the strong competition at regionals. Because of that, the defensive line and our depth ultimately won us the region resulting in another chance at nationals.”
Sophomore Elijah Hoshide is one of the offensive handlers for the Bucks. Hoshide praises the three team captains for their contributions to the Bucks program.
“Ian and Simon have been captains my two years on the team,” Hoshide said. “Both are great at what they do and are brothers to me on and off the field. Ivan stepped up in a big way as a leader this year, being intentional and loving towards our guys. It will be sad to see them and the rest of our seniors play their last game for the Bucks.”
The women’s team did not find the same overall success that the men’s team had this season, but the team made improvements during their year. The girls qualified for nationals in 2022 and 2023 but lost a lot of veteran experience from those teams. This year’s team retained a core of players that gained a lot of experience on the field and will be sure to help the buck’s women team in the future.
“Their 11-9 record in the sanctioned season may not seem very thrilling,” Hoshide said. “The reps they got together and the fun they had together is a successful season and will bode them well going forward.”
Berry buck alumnus Michael Johnson (24C) keeps up with how the team is doing even after graduating from the program.
“I did try and keep up with the team,” Johnson said. “Attending practices when I didn’t have work, texting the guys congrats after I saw scores posted on their Instagram and just checking in with them.”
Johnson got the most from the program while he was given the opportunity to play for the Bucks. Like other alumni, Johnson was able to create connections with his teammates that will last far outside of frisbee.
“What I got was a community of brothers who cared not only how I was doing on the frisbee field but also cared about me as a person,” Johnson said. “Some members of the frisbee team became some of my closest friends to this day.”
The Bucks are currently fundraising for their trip to nationals in Burlington, Washington. It will cost around $14,000 to get the full team to Washington. https://berryultimate.github.io/donate.html