Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Nelson ’18
Daisy Chains after a Spring 2016 game.
BY ELIZABETH NELSON ’18
Daisy Chain, Mount Holyoke’s very own Ultimate Frisbee team, has been around since 2005. The team arose from humble beginnings with just a few friends who had a passion for frisbee. Fast forward 12 years, and the team has already accomplished more than the team’s founders ever thought possible. A supportive, loving environment of energetic players has largely contributed to the success of Daisy Chain over the past 12 years. I joined the team during my first year at Mount Holyoke during the fall of 2014, and soon realized that I had made one of the best decisions of my college career.
In the spring of 2015, we narrowly missed out on qualifying for DIII Nationals. While playing Regionals at Williams College, we finished fourth place out of eight teams, but only the top two teams from our region would go on to play at the national level. We were disappointed, but we didn’t let that drag us down. If anything, it made us work that much more and fight even harder for a spot at Nationals.
Before anyone knew it, we were the number one in the nation for Women’s DIII for Ultimate Frisbee in the Spring of 2016. One night while walking out of Kendall after practice, one of my teammates screamed, and immediately we all began screaming along with her. We accomplished what we didn’t even realize was possible — becoming the best-ranked team in Women’s DIII Ultimate Frisbee. During the last game of Regionals in the cold, drizzly, windy conditions, with the disc flying uncontrollably, we managed to squeeze out a victory against Wellesley for the fourth and final spot to Nationals. We finally did it.
Then came the 2016-2017 season. Our team nearly doubled in size, and more than tripled in energy and enthusiasm. We finished third place at Regionals, and for the second year in a row we were Nationals-bound.
During the first round of play at Nationals, we played Carleton; the previous year they had beaten us in pre-quarters, and then they won Nationals. This time around, we were pumped up and ready to compete.
Slowly but surely, we chipped away at their 4-0 lead, and eventually the game was tied at 11-11. The horn went off, signaling last point. In ultimate frisbee, the last point when both teams are tied is called “universe point.” So there we were, playing universe point on the first game of the day at Nationals. Carleton won, 12-11.
But this isn’t about losing to Carleton two years in a row at Nationals. It’s about the energy, effort and enthusiasm that each and every one of Daisy Chain’s players have poured onto the field. Whether it be laying out for the first time, finally getting that flick down or running onto the field as your teammate makes a sensational catch in the endzone, I’ve learned that Daisy Chain is the most supportive and welcoming environment on this campus, and I’m proud to be a part of the team.