Allyson Lessard
Reporter and member of PLU Womxn’s Ultimate Frisbee Team
Since last March, club athletes have long awaited the day when they can return to practicing their sport. With PLU’s recent decision to move to stage four on the campus dial, more student clubs and organizations are being allowed to meet safely in person. For club sports such as the Men’s+ and Womxn’s ultimate teams that means they are allowed to resume in-person practices.
Club sports have been keeping the spirit of their sports alive through socially distanced team bonding since the school year began. However, now captains can organize practice with their coaches and teams.
Womxn’s captain, Kerry Dolan, appears optimistic about starting practices again. After the first practice, she commented “I think we are taking all of the necessary precautions to ensure everyone’s safety and keep cases as low as possible.”
Teams are required to attend weekly testing at the university, as well as wear masks unless unanimously decided by everyone to feel comfortable without them. Currently, both teams are practicing in masks and performing temperature checks at the start of each practice.
Although there isn’t a real season, Men’s+ captain, Caeden Newby, informed that there is the possibility of playing other schools again in the near future. “PLU policy is that we only play against teams that have the same or more stringent testing policies as we do.” Currently, PLU’s rival school, the University of Puget Sound, has all students being tested multiple times a week, so it is a possibility the schools may play games against each other.
Both captains can agree having ultimate practices back into their lives adds a feeling of community they are missing during the pandemic. Caeden remarked, “With ultimate…it is definitely a community I am willing to trust because there is already a habit of putting each other first.”
