Strike's Team "Lat Attack" creates history with ultimate frisbee

By Spc. Bart WigalAugust 16, 2012

Its a stretch
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Team "Lat Attack"
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FORT CAMPBELL, KY - This year, for the first time in the Screaming Eagle's history, the game of Ultimate Frisbee is a part of the Week of the Eagles competition. The Week of the Eagles is celebrated each year to honor the activation of the 101st Airborne Division in 1942. This year is the division's 70th anniversary.

Many ask, what is Ultimate Frisbee and the answer is quite long. The game of Ultimate Frisbee is like soccer mixed with football, mixed with hockey. It's played with a seven-person team, on a 100-yard field with two 10-yard end zones. There is a "throw-off" down the field, after which the offense begins passing the disk. The frisbee can be passed in any direction, but the player must do so in ten seconds or it's a turnover. The player may only take three steps before they have to pass, and any dropped or blocked disks results in a turnover. The game is played in two twenty-minute periods with a ten-minute half time.

The first ever Ultimate Frisbee tournament was held between the brigades on Perez Field Aug. 14. Team "Lat Attack" lead by Capt. Evan Peck, the company commander with Company D, 1st Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, also known as Wardogs, had been preparing for months. The team's name was taken from the rule stating 'only players lat muscles may make contact while jumping for the disk, no other physical contact is allowed.'

The team started with two tryouts across the brigade that ended with 13-players, all having ultimate frisbee experience. Each soldier had at least played in high school and a few played in college.

"We've been practicing everyday at least 2-hours in 100-degree heat, but we're having fun," said Sgt. Thomas Crees, an infantryman from Company B, 2nd Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment, the Renegades.

Crees said that he was walking back from the motor pool one day, and saw the team practicing, so he went to the tryouts and made it.

After a rainout Aug. 13, Team Lat Attack came out strong scoring the first 2 points against the team representing the 101st Sustainment Brigade. They played aggressively and with passion, but were still behind in score. At the half, "Lat Attack" was down 12-6. Peck rallied the "Strike" team closing the point gap to four, but the momentum couldn't be maintained and the 101st Sustainment team came back scoring four more points ending the game 16-8, advancing to semifinals. Though defeated, the Strike team walks away from the new sport proud.

"Nobody made a fool of themselves, and we played our hardest," said Peck, "We can still leave with our heads high."