Interview by Lucas Pillemer

After eight years of operating as a club, the Middle Grades Ultimate Frisbee program has officially become a recognized team—and it’s a milestone moment for both students and coaches who have helped build the program from the ground up.

We sat down with Coach Profe Punzalan, the heart and soul behind the club since its inception, to reflect on this long-anticipated shift and what it means for the future.

"I think just the fact that the club has been around for 8 years, it felt like the next natural step for the team and group of kids," Profe shared. The foundation was laid when the varsity team was officially recognized three years ago. "They couldn't have two teams coming in at once, so now that we are a team after three years is very meaningful!"

Despite already playing other schools as a club, the official recognition brings more visibility and structure to the team. "We’ve always been used to competing against other schools, even in our days as a club... so we haven’t really felt much of a difference since we already know we can compete," he explained.

Where the difference is felt, however, is in team culture and student engagement. "I do think it’s an advantage to be called a team, especially in the middle grades," said Profe. "There are a lot of more popular sports like basketball where you can’t have 30 kids on a roster. But with Ultimate, it’s truly a sport where everyone can play at any level. It can be a place where people find their athletic home."

Building a team hasn’t been without its hurdles. The biggest? Time. "A common theme at Avenues is that you ask any kid what they have one day, and people are always busy!" Still, with a small but mighty roster, everyone plays an important role: "It’s not like you can just leave out a player... everyone matters a lot."

No one embodies that more than 8th grader Leo Altschul, a passionate and dedicated player who’s helped lead the team into this historic season.

"I’m overjoyed to have the honor of leading the club into its first year as an official team," Leo said. "It’s very exciting to meet more people while playing the sport. I also find the diversity in skill very interesting and sometimes hard to manage, but overall, I’m very joyful that I get to help lead the charge."

Leo has played a key role in recruiting players and sharing the Frisbee spirit throughout middle school. "Yes, I feel immensely proud that we could pull something this insane off," he reflected. "The profound emotions Profe put into the club have finally paid off. I feel a deep connection with everyone on the team, with the privilege to help them improve and grow."