A mountain of a man, towering over opposing players with his intimidating 6’5’’ frame. Despite his large size, he has remarkable straightaway speed and leaping ability. Although he jokingly claims that he “isn’t good, just tall,” he has a solid forehand and remarkably accurate hammer throws. He’s a holy terror on offense, regularly snatching hucked discs out of the air while surrounded by three defenders at a time. His defensive capabilities are equally impressive. His height and leaping ability make it virtually impossible to catch the disc if it floats even slightly when he’s in the vicinity. His long arms also make it extremely difficult for a handler to break his force. Has been known to send his sizable frame crashing into both teammates and opponents, sometimes strewing multiple bodies left and right as he hurtles himself heedlessly into traffic. This in itself is intimidating and helps to provide separation from would-be defenders. Also renowned for occasionally calling off a wide-open teammate about to catch the disc so that he can attempt a spectacular diving catch in the end zone.
Zack “Zero Factor” Rader
The proudly self-proclaimed “zero factor,” because he claims to be a zero factor in the game. This is hardly the case, as the athletic Rader genes manifest themselves in him as well as in his brother. Although not as tall as his younger brother at 6’2’’, he also possesses impressive speed and leaping ability that make it very difficult to outleap him for the disc. Excellent at establishing position and beating opponents to a floating disc. Also has a knack for giving a well-timed push in the back to force opponents to mistime their jump and improve his chances at pulling down a hanging disc. Like his brother, he loves to sprint deep for the huck, and is practically impossible to catch once he has a step or two on the defender. His lanky build with long arms makes him difficult to throw around as well. Has versatile throwing ability, with a nice hammer throw and a very solid deep forehand huck.
Dan “dan-dan” Walter
Standing at about 6’3,” Dan is one of the few Duncanville players who can challenge the Rader boys in straight up leaps on hanging discs. In spite of joints that are so bad that he sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies as he runs, he possesses outstanding speed and leaping ability. Always a deep threat, he is a terror to cover one-on-one because of his potential to break deep behind the defender at any moment. His natural athleticism also enables him to leap over would be receivers and knock down a considerable number of pass attempts. Also has excellent throwing skills with the hammer and forehand, with one of the better thumber throws in the group. His left-hand forehands are quite spectacular as well.
Darrell “Zook” Zook
The quickest player in the group, and consequently practically impossible to cover on sharp cuts to the handler. Also can sprint deep with at least a good a speed as anyone, but has dizzying acceleration on cuts that render a defender simply watching and hoping for a bad throw. Usually, if he cuts deep while I’m marking him, I merely point authoritatively to a teammate to “pick him up” and say a quick prayer. Renowned for poaching on defense and then aggressively swooping in to bat down attempted passes inches away from the receiver’s hands. His quickness allows him to hang back on the receiver, teasing the handler, and then accelerate to make the play. Despite a relative lack of height at about 5’10’’, his excellent positioning, quickness and timing allow him to consistently beat taller players up to a floating disc. With a consistent deep forehand and one of the better hammer throws in the group, he is equally dangerous as a handler and a receiver.
Josh “Avery” Avery
Good straightaway speed on deep ones and, like most everyone, likes to go deep. His good hands enable him to often catch wobbling hammers and diving discs that are about to hit the ground. Somewhat slowed of late by a variety of injuries, but difficult to cover one-on-one with decent quickness. At 5’11’’, his solid jumping ability also enables him to get up over many players on hanging discs both offensively and defensively. A fine sense of field awareness also allows him to track a hooking disc and get under it in time to save an amiss throw. A solid short forehand, with some capacity to huck it deep. Strong backhand throw also makes him a dangerous handler throwing to a deep receiver. Also a solid hammer throw, with limited range. When healthy a good defender, forcing receivers to work hard to get open, and able to track down and get under deep throws.
“Super” Dan Webber
A monster of pure hustle. No forehand to speak of, but nobody cares when he moves like a whirlwind on cuts away from and to the thrower, and tenaciously cuts off throws to would-be receivers. An aging tennis pro, his superior athletic skills make him among the fastest and quickest in the group, with no seeming need to slow to regain stamina. Not terribly tall, but his strength and physical style of play enable him to get possession and get to many hanging discs. Despite not using a forehand, he still has a solid backhand and is so formidable in every other area that he will often dominate the field of play for large stretches of time. Hasn’t been spotted playing pick-up in quite a while, unfortunately.
Amos “fatmos” Hodge
Undoubtedly the biggest whiner in the group. Has outstanding tenacity in this area, and has been known to complain for hours at a time in the car while on the road to ultimate tournaments. Also the youngest in the group, and as a member of Texas A&M ultimate’s team, knows more about how the game is meant to be played than anyone else in the group. Very fine all-around throwing skills, perhaps the most precise hammer and forehand throws, with good quickness and athleticism. Excellent sense of strategy and field presence, which is perhaps his main contribution to the official-ultimate knowledge bereft Duncanville group. Has terrific energy and hustle when he feels like playing. Also renowned for his ability to be injured in almost any situation. Was one of the casualties in a recent tournament that featured an out-of-control diving catch attempt by the Freeek.
Gavin Jones
Has the distinction of being the only bald player in the group. Makes up for a relative lack of speed, height, and jumping ability by tremendous hustle to the frisbee and a very effective forehand. A very smart player who plays within himself and often provides a dump-off option by cutting back to a thrower in trouble. A pain to have defending or to defend because of his consistent hustle and nose for the disc. Always makes a solid contribution at tournaments, particularly with his short game.
Brandon “Wild Man” Anderson
Ok, I made up that nickname. Similar to Gavin in that he compensates for relative lack of size and straightaway speed by sharp, quick cuts that are difficult for a defender to track. Also makes great hustle plays on defense. Remembered for a big defensive knockdown against a top-seeded team at a tournament that turned the game decisively in our favor. Also has solid all-around throwing skills with an intelligent and careful style of play. Not really a wild man, though, unless he has been hiding his darker side from the crowd for a while.
Stacey “Stack” Manter
The red-haired phenom who ticked off a whole team at A&M by consistently scoring on their fattest male player. Very smart player who plays within herself and makes solid throws with both forehand and backhand. Also has solid hands. Her only fault is her relationship with dan-dan, which sometimes pulls them away from pick-up games.
Amy “Your Daddy” MacDonald
That nickname I just coined really doesn’t make any sense, but for some reason it looks really funny to me so I’m keeping it for now. The petite and athletic romantic interest of the Freeek. Nice speed up and down the field, with an impressive range on her throws. Her straightaway speed makes her difficult for other girls to cover. Also not averse to making the lay-out for the spectacular grab, a move that never fails to gain her a great show of public affection from the Freeek.
Matt “Mouth” Kozar
Really has more mouth than game, as he amply demonstrates whenever he shows up to play. Will tell you proudly that however his game is doing, his mouth can keep churning away. Does, however, possess deceptive speed with good hands. A useful asset in tournaments because of his hustle on defense and his sense of playing within himself on offense, just running to the end zone where he won’t have to throw. Hasn’t been spotted on the frisbee field much lately, unfortunately. His greatest moment was shouting “Where’s the challenge?” while on offense at an A&M tournament, as he stopped confusedly and let the disc harmlessly sail over his head and into the endzone.
