Lady Penguins place third in regionals

Olivet Nazarene University’s Lady Penguin ultimate Frisbee team placed third out of five teams in the 2014 regional tournament April 11 and 12.

Beginning last year with eight experienced senior Frisbee players, senior Victoria Dean, co-captain of the Lady Penguins, said that this year has been a learning experience since the seniors were replaced with freshman.

Junior Michelle Dykstra, co-captain with Dean, said she hopes to continue to learn to work together as a team unit. “I’ve seen individual improvement, which is awesome,” Dykstra said. “It’s been really hard with the weather to practice. Having more time to learn together [would help us improve as a team].”

This year, the Lady Penguins are taking it one step at a time. Completing their second year as an organized team, they competed against Knox, Valpraiso, North Park, and Kalamazoo.

The Lady Penguins began their Saturday playing Knox. Ryan Murray, 2010 graduate from Olivet, doubling as coach and mascot for the Lady Penguins, was dressed in a long sleeved tiger t-shirt and mismatching knee-high socks. He ran the length of the field, following the direction of the Frisbee, as he coached and cheered on the team. The Lady Penguins lost to Knox five to eight.

Next, Valpraiso versed the Lady Penguins. During the game, freshman Alynn Franklin ran towards the Frisbee as it flew towards the end zone. Taking a leap, she reached out and grasped the Frisbee tightly, pulling it to her chest. Out of relief and disbelief, she giggled with joy.

“It was my first [touchdown]. I didn’t play sports growing up,” Franklin said.

The Lady Penguins lost four to thirteen. Keeping up their spirits, they gathered together at the end of their game and shouted, “Good game, Valpo.” After a few moments of silence, the other team waddled over to the Lady Penguins, huddled around them, and said, “Good game, Lady Penguins.”

North Park was third to play the Lady Penguins. During the game, freshman Esther Paek and freshman Alyssa Pifer collaborated to scored a point. According to Pifer, Peak caught the disk and immediately made eye contact with her. Paek proceeded to throw the disk just when Pifer was able run past North Park.

The Lady Penguins beat North Park 12 to 11. Dykstra said, “When we finally got that, it was a shift in momentum and we were able to play the game.”

Kalamazoo was last to play the Lady Penguins on Saturday. The Lady Penguins won 11 to six.

Sunday’s games were played against Knox and Kalamazoo. The Lady Penguins lost to Knox 11 to five, but beat Kalamazoo 10 to six in their last game.

Freshman Brooke Smith said, “Our communication was loads better. We switched our offense.” Referencing the Lady Penguins first tournament of the year on Mar. 29 and 30 in Chicago, Smith said, “I think everyone got a lot more confident from Chicago to here.”