Most Northwest Academy students have no interest in sports, although some play squash or hockey or do rock climbing, rowing or fencing. Sadie Siegel-Wilson plays ultimate.
Ultimate, more commonly known as ultimate frisbee, is a no-contact sport played with a disc. The game is set up with end zones, rather like football. Teammates pass the disc to one another to move it up and down the field. Teams are awarded a point for a catch completed in the end zone, and continue play until a certain score is reached, or the clock runs out.
“What I love about ultimate is the community around it,” said Siegel-Wilson, a senior. “Especially with the girls and gender diverse teams, it’s all about having fun.”
Siegel-Wilson has been playing ultimate since seventh grade, but she has always been athletic. She played soccer for 11 years starting in first grade, and keeps herself busy backpacking, hiking and mountaineering. She says that these activities have helped her bring coordination and awareness to the ultimate field.
Siegel-Wilson draws inspiration from her coaches, many of whom play for the Portland women’s ultimate team.
“My coaches volunteer a lot of their time to be there,” she said. “It’s such a good opportunity to play with them, learn from them and get better, because they’re so experienced.”
Siegel-Wilson’s team plays at Duniway Park, located on SW 6th Ave and SW Sheridan St, where they practice strategies, runs and drills for the upcoming fall league.
Siegel-Wilson usually participates in the spring league, the first of two ultimate leagues held in the region each year. In her sixth year of playing ultimate, however, Siegel-Wilson faces a conundrum. She wants to audition for the spring play, Hamlet. As much as she loves ultimate, Siegel-Wilson is willing to sacrifice her final season for a spot in the show.
Despite being unable to play in the spring of 2024, Siegel-Wilson looks forward to continuing playing ultimate whenever she gets the chance. As she goes through the application process for college, Siegel-Wilson is keeping an eye out for schools that have ultimate teams.
Reporting by Shambhava Srikanth and Caroline Barr
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