What seems to be the sight of a group of running students and a flying salad plate during lunch is actually something much more. Tino Ultimate is not just a great place for those interested in the sport of ultimate frisbee, but it is also a tight-knit community that fosters teamwork and friendship, creating an inclusive space for those seeking a brand-new athletic experience.
Even before the founding of Tino Ultimate, ultimate frisbee was a popular activity during lunch. During the 2022-2023 school year, players wanted to bring their passion to a more widespread audience and create a more organized system for the game. The founding team members had numerous Discord calls and worked extensively to meet the November deadline of the club admission process. Once Tino Ultimate was approved for the 2023-2024 school year, they were able to jump right into action as they already held a strong player base.
To create a safe environment for students interested in trying a new sport and making meaningful connections, the founders of Tino Ultimate identified a special characteristic about their beloved sport to make it more accessible.
“Ultimate frisbee is unique in the fact that it’s probably the easiest sport to learn, because it’s literally two actions, throwing and catching,” senior and founder Advaiyt Sane said.
The simplicity and beginner-friendliness of the sport allow students who normally would not engage in athletic activity to have fun and let go of any stress. “Going to Tino Ultimate is a stress-buster activity. You go on with all these things and just let it out on the field,” Ansh Ambatkar, a Tino Ultimate officer, said.
Many ultimate frisbee clubs are popping up in high schools all around the Bay Area, providing new competitive opportunities for Tino Ultimate.
“It’s good to know that there are other schools that are also really interested in this sport — this sport is getting more widespread and there are more opportunities for scrimmages against other teams,” senior and founder Asteya Laxmanan said. “It’s a good opportunity to make tournaments that still foster the same friendship and fun activity while playing frisbee but with a little bit more competition.”
Tino Ultimate has already reached out to other frisbee clubs on Instagram to schedule scrimmages. Last year, the club thoroughly enjoyed competing against Saratoga and Lynbrook High School.
All officers stated that the match against Saratoga was their favorite experience as it was a bonding opportunity between all the members. Officers reflected on using their collective knowledge of each other’s strengths and weaknesses, helping the Tino Ultimate players play effectively as one team.
Despite the match ups having a higher stake than the casual lunchtime activities, the players make it a point to always remember the core value of Tino Ultimate — inclusivity. Regardless of their talents or experience, all club members are able to join in the game to represent Cupertino.
“Even with this added level of competition, it’s still covered in a big blanket of fun,” Ambatkar said.
Despite maintaining a committed team during the previous school year, the officer team ran into obstacles when bringing in new and returning members. Balancing commitment within the club and heavy academic work resulted in fewer lunch meeting attendees. This is partly attributed to lunch meetings before seventh period and many participants going home after third period. This year, meeting dates were changed from Tuesday to Wednesday to encourage more participation as most students stay during lunch for sixth period.
With most of the leading officers in the club being seniors, the founders want to work on connecting with underclassmen so the traditions of Tino Ultimate can be carried on.
