292Organizations Harding Apocalypse shares its season with the Sky Bisons, the all-female frisbee team, for the first time since 2019. The Sky Bisons had finally made their return after a four-year hiatus. The all-female ultimate frisbee team initially broke off from the Harding men’s team, Apocalypse, after not having enough female players. The men’s and women’s ultimate frisbee teams had wrapped up their season with two teams instead of only one. The teams traveled to competitions and matches all around the country. Senior Kassie Lamoureux spoke of her experience playing for the team for Apocalypse the past three years and the transition to the all-female Sky Bisons. “I was the only person to join that year along with one other senior,” Lamoureux said. “We’ve gone from two undergraduates to a full line of seven, which is the minimum requirement to make a team.” For Lamoureux, the team always consisted of small team numbers. However, fall 2023 created a new experience with the revival of the Sky Bisons. Lamoureux joined the team when it was only one co-ed team and watched it grow into the teams it became. “In the past, we would just organize our own tournaments,” Lamoureux said. “But now we’re being connected to other universities in the Arkansas area through the traveling program.” Graduate student Sophie Balentine was a co-captain for the Sky Bisons and spent many years with the ultimate frisbee team. Balentine shared her experience as a co-captain and the history behind the team. “The ultimate frisbee men’s started at Harding in 2003, and the women’s team was started a few years following that.” Balentine said, “The Sky Bisons has had about a threeto-four-year hiatus since COVID caused many numbers to DOUBLE THE DISCS Stretching for the disc, juniors Daniel Tignor, Adam Williams and senior Luke Dockery compete in an Ultimate Frisbee match Nov. 14. “It’s more than just a game of Frisbee,” sophomore Aaron Miller said. “It’s the fun of competition, teamwork and fellowship with our brothers and sisters.” Reprinted from Petit Jean 2003-04 drop. This is the first year that we’ve had enough girls on the team to have a team. Kassie Lamoureux and I decided to recruit more girls, and now we finally have enough to play.” With two full teams, they were recognized by other university and club teams in Arkansas. As the Sky Bisons made their fall 2023 debut, Apocalypse also had a successful year. Senior Steven Burdge was the captain of the Apocalypse ultimate frisbee team and watched the growth of both teams throughout the season. Burdge had a different perspective as the captain and felt rewarded to watch the development of a team he loved. “It’s been a really great experience and blessing where I’ve made a lot of lifelong friends going to tournaments all over the country,” Burdge said. Burdge enjoyed the travels, tournaments and relationships that he developed with the team. The opportunity to spend time with the team grew with practice and training. Burdge expressed how determined each player was. “We usually practice four times a week,” Burdge said. “Pickup on Mondays, throwing drills on Wednesdays, and then for two hours every Tuesday and Thursday going over offensive and defensive drills. We practice the fundamentals and just try to get better and better every day.” The Sky Bisons and the Apocalypse both grew throughout the fall 2023 season. The development and split into two teams brought new opportunities for the players and the future of ultimate frisbee at Harding. Now recognized by other teams around the country, they were able to grow and show off their skills for the first time as two teams since 2019. Written by Sophie Thibodeaux
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