Competing in the D-III Women’s division under USA Ultimate, Kenyon Blu-Ray Ultimate Frisbee’s record stands at a perfect 15-0. This success is a milestone for the team, which is currently ranked second in the country, according to USA Ultimate. After winning the Ohio Sectionals tournament on April 12, the upcoming Regionals this weekend will determine if the team qualifies for Nationals, with the top two teams advancing.  

Kate Ford ’25, co-captain of the team alongside Gwyn Kelley ’25 and Sadie Clark ’27, explained that for the past couple of years the team has been on an upward trajectory. While holding onto the aspect of friendship and community that has been with the team since the start, Blu-Ray has developed a newfound commitment to the sport, strengthening the team’s technical and physical abilities. “We are now slowly taking more and more strides towards love of the game and not just love of the team, and now I think we have a really beautiful blend of both,” Ford shared. 

There are around 25 dedicated players who come to practice three times a week, most of whom had never picked up a Frisbee before coming to Kenyon. Kelley emphasized the time commitment and physical toll it takes for members to reach the skill level necessary to be on the team. On top of standard practices, the team partakes in scrimmages, clinics and tournaments on weekends. “You have to be in an incredible shape to keep up and really play at the level that we’re playing at,” Kelley explained. 

Blu-Ray also stands out for being the only team in its region without a coach. Unlike their competition, the captains of Blu-Ray are fully responsible for preparing practices, watching film and planning the logistical elements necessary for tournaments. “The captains are putting in every week probably 15 hours outside of practice,” Blu-Ray member Will Johnson ’26 shared. 

Clark shared how being a captain on a coachless team has its challenges. “This is a very difficult responsibility to not only be responsible for the energy of a team, but a lot of strategic decisions, and it requires a lot of thought and a lot of care and a lot of patience,” she explained. The captains host weekly meetings where team members are encouraged to give feedback on their coaching. “Particularly before a tournament, that can be a very useful time for people to air out concerns and also talk about what we’re doing well,” Clark said. 

Despite the difficulties that come with the role, Clark, Ford and Kelley all agreed that their experiences as captains have been extremely gratifying. “Teaching someone who doesn’t know how to throw a Frisbee and then turning them into someone who’s making crazy plays on the field is just such a great and rewarding practice,” Kelley said. 

“Another side effect of not having grown-ups that are consistently watching over us is that we have people that really step up to the plate,” Clark said, referring in particular to Mariah Szabo ’26, Blu-Ray’s treasurer. 

This year, Szabo has been working closely with the Business and Finance Committee to ensure that the team has the finances to attend various tournaments. Although Student Council bylaws only provide clubs with funding for two off-campus events per semester, Blu-Ray has been able to get additional fundings for its tournaments. Although it has yet to qualify, the team is now in the process of getting its trip to Nationals — hosted in Burlington, Washington — funded.   

Blu-Ray’s chances of qualifying for its first Nationals since 2021 seem likely; however, the team will continue to be humble and put in the work in the days leading up to Regionals this weekend. No matter the result of this weekend’s tournament, the team is proud of its achievements. “I think it’s cool to feel like we are as successful as we are because of the time and commitment and energy and love that we as a team have,” Clark said. “And having that be an entity that exists solely on the team is a really cool thing.”

News editor Micah Arenstein ’26 is a member of Blu-Ray’s sibling team, SERF.