Senior Spotlight - Maddie Brodrick
1. For students who haven't heard of Club Frisbee, what is a quick introduction to your sport? How is the game played, what kind of competitions do you compete in?
Ultimate frisbee is a non-contact, 7x7 person game where you toss a frisbee up the field before completing a pass into an end-zone to score. It’s a self-officiated game where players call their own fouls and talk them out with others (commonly referred to as spirit of the game), essentially promoting sportsmanship and respect for each and the sport. This principle also forms trust between teams without diminishing the competitive aspect of the game. Our mixed season in the fall is meant to focus on welcoming new players and touching up on our throwing and catching abilities; you’ve probably seen us tossing on the bowl from 4-6. We then split into the men’s and womxn’s teams for a competitive A-team season in the spring where we participate in two to three tournaments before competing in sectionals, regionals, and nationals (which the men’s team did for the first time ever in 2019!).
2. What was the highlight of your tournament in Brooklyn the other weekend?
Seeing our first, second, and some third-year players experiencing their first tournament was my highlight of our Brooklyn tournament, since traveling to play teams outside of Colby is something we haven’t been able to do for 1.5 years. I was thrilled to see everyone step up to compete against the top womxn’s team in our bracket and push themselves while never losing their smiles. The energy was always high and we walked away with a 3-2 record after a full two days of playing!
3. What is your favorite Club Frisbee memory in your four years?
My favorite memory is going against the Bates womxn’s team in spring 2019 for the second time after having lost to them once already. Walking away with the win that day broke a 10-year losing streak against the team, and really showed how much our team had fought both during the game and the season to improve.
4. What legacy would you like to leave the team in the coming years?
I hope to leave the message that you don’t have to know a sport or really about any other club’s focus to join it, especially as someone coming from zero frisbee experience before joining the team here. First years, and anyone in any grade, shouldn’t hesitate to join one of our practices because ultimate really is a big family and I know the next group of players will continue to foster this spirit. I cannot wait to see where the womxn’s team goes from here, aiming for nationals is always the target, and I have faith that the team will step up for any challenge.
5. What's your favorite match you've competed in?
Lobsterpot is one of my favorite tournaments because it happens during amazing fall weather (ignoring the days when we get 20+ mph winds that make it much more difficult to play in). It’s also a great tournament for beginners with low stakes and is the first time that the womxn’s team plays together in the fall. Lobsterpot is a great introduction to the frisbee culture for players who just joined the team and also usually involves local food trucks for post-game snacks.
6. What position do you play? And what does that mean?
I am a cutter on the field, which means I run around to get open and receive the disc on the field, as opposed to handlers who are the players that mainly throw the disc. When we are playing in a zone defense, as opposed to person coverage, I play as deep-deep which is the last person back to intercept long throws (aka hucks) and direct my players on the wings.
7. What is your go-to warm up song?
Our team usually just listens to Anna Shorb’s ’22 playlist during our warmups (and any and all early 2000’s hits), but I Was Made for Lovin’ You by KISS is a song that I will usually queue.
8. Do you have a favorite non-athletic Colby experience?
My favorite experience(s) at Colby have been hiking with my friends, whether that’s barely making it up French Mountain after it gets slicked over with ice, or shimmying through the chimney on Tumbledown Mountain. I have really enjoyed getting away from campus to explore the beautiful state of Maine in my free time.
~Will Bedingfield '22
