Local Frisbee enthusiast ready to start a Valley league

PALMER — Ultimate Frisbee is nothing new to Palmer. What Bryan Dahms has in mind though, may change the way the game is played in the Valley. Dahms, who comes from a family of Frisbee, and has experience playing competitively in college, is taking the common pickup games at the Sherrod soccer fields to the next level, organizing those interested into a league, which is a word that very loosely fits the recreational and good spirited nature of the game.

“The main goal of this league is to show people that Frisbee is a growing sport in the Valley,” said Dahms. “We will be able to have tournaments and a bigger turnout as the league grows.”

Dahms began playing Frisbee before graduating from Palmer High School in 2009 with members of Lazy Mountain Bible Church. While attending Pacific Lutheran University, the athletic Dahms, who wrestled for the Moose, fell in love with the game. He notes the friendly spirit between teams and the outstanding athletic displays of ability he has witnessed. Dahms is hoping to model his new league after the Tacoma Hat League, splitting up more experienced players among teams to keep fair competition, while having fun and getting great exercise.

“Frisbee can be a very difficult interval workout. There can be a lot of strategy involved. It’s not just backyard throwing,” said Dahms.

On a warm Monday night in May, early as the Frisbee season is concerned, Dahms and his wife, Jordan, and her two sisters Carly and Kendal Venzke, 2011 Mat Su Seahawkers/Frontiersman Student Athlete of the Year, gather amongst friends for an informal game. The Venzke’s must be split, as to not give one team an athletic upper hand, but you might be surprised as to which Venzke is the most serious scoring threat. With a little bit of sibling rivalry and a lot of fun, this game seems to capture everything good about sports with one noticeably absent element: referees.

Dahms describes the vision for his league as semi-competitive, but there are lofty possibilities for athletes who play Frisbee. Dahms is one of three in his family to play Frisbee in college. His twin sister, Kiersten, also played, along with his younger brother, Jesse, who founded a team at Union College in Jackson, Tenn., where he plays with good friend and 2011 Palmer High grad Christian Winter.

Dahms can rattle off a handful of other Frisbee friends he knows who have played on club or competitive college teams.

Dahms has taken part in annual Anchorage Frisbee tournaments with a Palmer-based team for the last three years. Dahms describes the anchorage tournament as one of his favorite, attracting teams from around the state and nation.

The invention of the popular style of Ultimate Frisbee is credited to four New Jersey high schoolers in the late sixties. Soon thereafter, college teams were formed and began competing. The sport consistently attracts newcomers, drawing athletes from other sports with free time and a good attitude to apply their skills. Defense is sometimes futile, providing for exciting, high scoring, all-inclusive games.

There are very few rules, and any infractions are called by the players themselves. This is known as the ‘Spirit Of The Game’ rule.

“Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of the bond of mutual respect between players,” according to the USA Ultimate definition of the rule.

Anyone 16 and older is welcome to play, no matter how high or low the skill level. The atmosphere surrounding a Frisbee game has hints of competition, but is mostly about camaraderie.

“I’ve seen crazy snags, leaping to get the disc in the end zone, layout defense in sloppy rainy fields in Tacoma, it’s just great,” said Dahms.

Dahms may not have a tough time filling up teams full of athletes to play league games held at Palmer High School. He hopes for six or seven teams composed of about 70 people. Those of outstanding talent will be evenly divided amongst the teams, and those looking to learn the game will find a helpful group around them. There is almost no negativity on the Frisbee field, save for the agony of a dropped score or having to run and chase a disc rolling away from the field, only to return with a smile and a rested defense to deal with.

Those interested in participating can email matsuulimate@gmail.com or register at www.matsuulimate.wordpress.com.