The Preying Manti packed into cars and drove four hours to South Bend, Indiana, for their first tournament of the season and came home with a second-place trophy. Oberlin’s women and trans-inclusive Ultimate Frisbee team made a statement at the University of Notre Dame this past weekend, proving both their competitive strength and the importance of support for club athletics.
The tournament stretched across two full days. On Saturday, the team battled through three games to secure a strong position heading into Sunday. The next day, they played three more games in quick succession, ultimately earning a spot in the championship game.
College fourth-year Miya Liang, one of the team’s captains, said the finish exceeded expectations.
“It was really, really awesome,” Liang said. “Going in, I set a goal for our team. I wanted us to get at least sixth, and we got second, which is way better than we all expected. … A lot of our newer players played really, really well … [and] had only learned the rules a couple weeks ago, and they were already out doing really incredible things.”
College second-year Lilly Tullio highlighted the performance of new players and a crucial win against a Big Ten rival.
“Almost all of our new players at the tournament scored, some of them even multiple times,” Tullio said. “The second game we had on Sunday … was a really big win for us … [beating the] University of Michigan, getting us into the finals for first place … That was a really big moment for the team.”
College third-year Angel Ma, who organizes tournaments for the team, noted that the result set the tone for the rest of the season.
“I think it was a really good first tournament to set us up for the rest of the season,” Ma said. “That’s great to really start on getting second place … It’ll encourage us for the rest of the season.”
Beyond the games, players emphasized how tournaments foster community.
“These tournaments are a really great place for us to grow as a community and get to know people better,” Liang said. “Especially these first couple tournaments, where there [are] lots of new people, it’s really nice to get to know them.”
The Preying Manti rely on the Student Finance Committee funding to cover most travel and tournament costs, such as gas, hotels, and tournament fees. However, players pay out of pocket for essential expenses for gear like jerseys and cleats, which can total over $100. The team’s budget was reduced in recent years and, while support from the College covers the basics, members say additional funding would ease financial strain and open opportunities for more competitive play.
“If we had better funding, we could go to more tournaments even further away,” Ma said. “Flying to one would be amazing, but even just having jerseys paid for would be a great thing.”
Despite funding obstacles, the Manti see their role on campus as more than just athletic. They host open barbecues, scrimmages, and practices that welcome students outside the team.
“We have a pretty close community team culture,” Tullio said. “I like to think we’re very welcoming … We do a lot of events … It’s just a really welcoming place that’s very tight-knit.”
The team is now reflecting on what this strong start means for the rest of the season, with some members looking toward the national tournament in the spring.
“The question is basically, do we want to try to make nationals, which is [at the] end of the season?” Liang said. “We would play against the top 16 [Division III] teams in the country, and I think all of us personally would love to go … We have a great start this year, and I think if we can try and continue that, regardless of what our specific goal is, I think that would be awesome. Because … this is an amazing result, but it’s also only [a few] weeks into the actual season … [We] need to keep pushing and use this great start to try and do something pretty cool.”
