News Detail
Ultimate frisbee splits postseason games, ends with a win
The ultimate frisbee team woke up bright and early – well, early anyway – on a wet but warm Sunday morning for their first post-season tournament appearance in School history.
The first match of the day was against the higher-seeded West Potomac High School. They jumped out to a quick lead, scoring three points in rapid succession while the Maroon were still trying to find their footing and catch the slippery disc. Eventually they settled down, however, and a couple of deep looks opened up the field and brought EHS back into the game, getting the score up to 3-4, and eventually 6-8. Episcopal was without their season leader in goals scored, Amir Ludena '22, but were unexpectedly reinforced by a cross-sport athlete, Hays Talley '21, on loan from the pole-vaulting team, who stepped in and played an outstanding first career game.
Despite the solid play from the handler squad of Lu, Brennan Sharp '20, William Owen '20, and Gilbert Amason '20, and some outstanding cutter action from Patrick Zhu '20, Bobby Zahorsky '22, Leo Kong '21, Preston Planzer '20, and Barrett Carney '19 (who also happened to be playing in her first official match after a season on the sideline from injury), Episcopal faded down the stretch. The lack of conditioning showed, and EHS just could not keep up with West Potomac. After working hard to keep the game close, the wheels came off and EHS simply could not keep up, ending the game on an 0 – 5 run to lose 6 – 13.
The consolation game was a different story, fortunately, and EHS fittingly ended their season just like they began it: decisively defeating the South Lake Seahucks, with the 13 – 6 final score going the right way this time! Unfortunately the game statistics were washed away by the rain, but the final game certainly had some noteworthy performances, including first season points for Captain and sole senior Carney and freshman Brennan Eberle '22! A shout-out is also deserved for the clear spirit MVP of the season Planzer, who – in addition to being the most consistently positive voice day in and out at practice – learned the individual names of just about every opposing player and received compliments from the other teams for his sportsmanship.
In the end, Episcopal finished 11th of 12 in the Fairfax, Va., Ultimate league, with a 0.500 record (3-3), an adequate performance for the first team in School history, and a roster of almost exclusively novice players.
