Illuminated only by field lights, members of the women's ultimate frisbee team do laps around Bluff Field. The players laugh and chat as they prepare for their evening practice.
After warm up laps, the members split off into the A team and the B team, with each team doing different drills and scrimmaging based on their goals for the night.
The A team, also known as Scorch, places a strong emphasis on team chemistry and community, said Cat Hannah, fourth-year political science student and club president said.
“We've done a lot in the past few years to try and create a more inclusive environment, and so I think we've done a good job," Hannah said.
One way that the team has become more inclusive is the establishment of two teams. The A team is more competitive and driven, and the B team, also known as Pyro, is a more developmental team. This way, there is a place for everyone who wants to join, Virginia Arnold, third-year biochemistry and molecular biology major and captain of the A team, said.
“So, if you're looking for, a more competitive experience, kind of like I am, there's a place for that here," Arnold said. "But if you're just looking for a place where you can hang out with your friends and get some exercise without having to put in a lot of effort outside of practices, you can play on the B team, and that's awesome."
Arnold fell in love with the sport and the community in high school and decided to continue into college, she said.
"Ultimate is very compassionate and uplifting compared to a lot of sports," Arnold said. "I didn't do a lot of group sports growing up because I kind of struggled to find my place there."
A member of the USC Women's Ultimate Frisbee Team smiles as she prepares to throw a disc during practice at Bluff Fields on Jan. 28, 2025. The team aims to promote the sport of ultimate frisbee and the spirit-of-the-game philosophy integral to the sport.
The B team is a more social environment, focused on developing the skills of the members, many of which don't have previous ultimate experience, said Macie Anin, fourth-year early childhood education major and a captain of Pyro.
Anin had never played the sport before joining, but quickly found her place on the team, she said.
“I think I was probably the worst on the team," Anin said. "It was so fun, though. They teach you everything that you need to know."
In addition to the captains, the team has 3 faculty coaches, all of which volunteer their time to the team.
"They're faculty here, but we don't pay them or anything," Hannah said. "They just do out of love. So it's really awesome to have them."
This semester, both teams plan to improve, Hannah said. The A team aims to perform better during tournaments, and the B team aims to develop their skills further.
"This semester, we will play in five tournaments, and there'll be seven or eight games over the course of the weekend," Arnold said. "We've always done pretty well on Saturdays. We have this historically bad experience of showing up on Sunday, tired, not feeling as good like Saturday and then not performing our best."
Team Pyro hopes to get better, while building community with each other.
"Our goals for the semester, are just to work and hard get better, have an overall good time... and still keep the positive environment," Anin said.
Both teams place an emphasis on becoming friends with each other. Members often get together outside of practice to go to football games, host tailgates, study at the library or just hang out at someone's house which strengthens bonds between members, Anin said.
Pyro and Scorch both have tournaments on February 15th-16th, 8am to 4pm. Pyro is traveling to Charleston, SC and Scorch is going to Rock Hill, SC.