Introduction – What is Ultimate
As a liberal arts college, the University of North Carolina at Asheville is well-known for its inclusive environment offering many majors and sports. One of these sports is ultimate frisbee.
First and foremost, ultimate frisbee is a sport which consists of playing with a disk instead of a ball. Like soccer, basketball or football, the goal is to run from the start and score at the opposite line.
However, once a player receives the disk they cannot move and have to wait for up to 10 seconds before they can throw the disk at any open player.
There are two main ways of throwing a disk.
The first and easiest one is the backhand. It consists of holding firmly the disk toward you, then by moving your wrist forward so as to throw the disk for both short and long range. In order to gain momentum, you would have to move your foot – depending on your dominant hand, forward.
The second one is called the flick, also known as a forehand. In contrast, you have to hold the disk with your wrist on the side then snap it forward. For momentum, you would have to moot your foot sideways. This technique is more efficient for quicker and more precise throws, especially when windy.
There are also some other techniques, including the hammer which you have to throw the disk up like you would do so with a basketball – even though these techniques may be more demanding in terms of time and experience to fully master.
Regardless, in order to enhance your ultimate frisbee performance you will have to master at least these two techniques – the backhand and the flick.
However, the defender decides for the thrower which direction to throw – we call this defensive strategy the force. The defender will therefore position leaning either left or right of the thrower depending on if the thrower will force backhand or flick.
This way, the thrower will have to adapt the throw in order to successfully throw past the defender. This process is known as breaking the mark.
Finally the other offenders have to move themselves in a certain way to avoid being blocked by the defender. This is to receive and throw the disk until making it to the end. This technique is called cutting.
There are also other technicalities, but this is what you need to know about basic rules of ultimate frisbee.
Ultimate frisbee is not among the list of Olympic sports. Though it has been eligible to be included in the 2028 Los Angeles games, it was quickly removed from consideration. There are concerns about the popularity of the sport, and a question of if it is entertaining enough to be featured in such large sports facilities.
History of Mudpuppy Club at UNCA
When it comes to sports at UNC Asheville, ultimate frisbee is in fact the only one which hosts a proper club with a name and identity. That being said, people may practice other sports, though none of said sports have an actual club in the same way ultimate frisbee does at UNC Asheville.
The club is known as “Mudpuppy” founded in 2021. Known in singular, the club does indeed have a name which is a reference to the eponymous amphibian.
The team is composed of four coaches, several student captains, returners and new students known as rookies.
They usually play on the Greenwood Soccer Field, though they sometimes played in the basketball field (not Kimmel Arena) or even Memorial Stadium in downtown Asheville, NC whenever it is not possible to play as usual.
The club provides jerseys with the name and the logo representing a simplified silhouette of the amphibian’s face.
This allows the Mudpuppy Frisbee Club to maintain its own identity and to be legitimate enough to compete in tournaments against teams based in colleges from North Carolina or neighboring states.
From continuous defeats to victory
Speaking of which, perhaps the most important goal for Mudpuppy is to win tournaments. Unfortunately, the club had lost most games since its foundation in 2021.
Derived from humble beginnings, this team proved to be a weak team until it finally won its first tournament this November, with a combination of hard work, pressure and goal for victory.
Throughout Fall Semester 2025, Mudpuppy has played in a total of four tournaments.
The first one occurred in Bank Run, Charlotte, NC, from Sep 13. to Sep. 14. Mudpuppy lost the tournament with just one victory.
13-3 loss to UNCW
13-3 loss to UNCC Alumni
13-6 loss to UNCC
13-8 win against WCU
The second tournament took place in Bare Bones, Charlotte once again from Oct 4 to Oct 5. Despite winning most games, Mudpuppy still did not manage to be in first place.
13-4 win against Coastal Carolina
13-6 loss to VT
13-8 loss to Clemson
Forfeit to NC State B
15-6 win against GA Southern
11-8 win against Clemson
15-3 win against USC
The third tournament took place in Raleigh, NC, from Oct 18 to Oct 19. Yet another embarrassment for Mudpuppy who barely got two victories in a total of seven games:
13-3 loss to Darkside
13-10 win over Duke
13-10 loss to Davidson
13-11 loss to Virginia Tech
15-10 loss to Batch
14-12 win over USC
11-10 loss to UNCW
The fourth and final tournament of the semester occurred in Davidson Hucksgiving close to Charlotte from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16 with a showcase game on the first day. This time was different because this was the very first time Mudpuppy ever won a tournament in its history.
13-10 win against DUFF
13-10 loss to DUFF Alumni
13-7 win against USC
12-10 win against Charleston
15-1 win against UNCC B
15-4 win against DUFF
15-10 win against APP
What the future holds
Now that the Mudpuppy frisbee club finally won a tournament in first place, it is time to continue of work in order to keep winning and having a chance to compete in nationals.
The team coaches and student captains encourage everyone to work beyond practice with occasional disk throws in the Quad, going to the gym, as well as watching films from previous games. This way the team can improve muscle performance and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
“Be crazy but not insane, which to me means doing the same mistake over again and not change anything,” Captain Carawan said.
“Be hungry for a goal and don’t feel satisfied until it’s over and we win,” Captain Stout said.
“Have that ‘f-you mentality’ to the opponent,” Captain Segovia-Welsh said.
The lesson the team learned during the disastrous tournament in Raleigh in Mid-October was the following. In the sidelines (when you’re not playing), support your teammates and be louder than the other team. Make sure you are more excited to be on the field than your opponents.
And that was the progress of the Mudpuppy frisbee club. After losing so many tournaments, they know what it feels like losing: like a sting.
“Although it may seem unrealistic and delusional for us to think that we will make it to the nationals someday, I don’t care because I know we may be able to achieve this through hard work,” according to one of the ultimate frisbee coaches Drew Mouw.
Useful links
Email address: [email protected]
Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/mudpuppyulti/
Ultiword website: https://ultiworld.com/
UNCA Recreation Ultimate Frisbee website: https://recreation.unca.edu/programs/club-sports/active-clubs/mens-ultimate-frisbee/
Charlotte Ultimate UNCA Mudpuppy Roster website : https://charlotteultimate.com/t/unca-mudpuppy/roster
Support UNCA with funds website: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-unca-mudpuppy-road-to-nationals
