Amy Beltran Rosas, an undergraduate in Duke Kunshan’s Class of 2027 from Los Angeles, California, is one of the spirit captains of the DKU Ultimate Frisbee team. She first discovered ultimate frisbee after coming to DKU and went from being one of the team’s biggest supporters on the sidelines to becoming a player — and eventually a captain herself.
Amy Beltran Rosas throws a disc during a scrimmage with teammate Alice.
Q: How did you first get into ultimate frisbee?
Coming to DKU, I had no idea what ultimate frisbee was or how to play. But many of my friends were on the team, and they were the ones who introduced me to it.
You could say I started off as DKU Ultimate Frisbee’s No. 1 supporter. I was there for both home and away games, and after watching multiple scrimmages and tournaments, I slowly learned the rules and different plays and became really intrigued by the sport.
In spring 2025, many of my friends on the team left for their semester at Duke. Since I no longer had anyone to watch from the sidelines, I finally decided to try out and join the team myself.
Q: What do you enjoy most about playing ultimate frisbee? What makes the sport special to you?
What I’ve enjoyed most is having the opportunity to contribute to the same community that welcomed me when I first joined.
I started as someone who knew absolutely nothing about the sport, so being able to help new players learn the rules, develop their skills and find their place on the team has been incredibly rewarding.
I’ve also learned that a strong team isn’t built solely through winning games, but through the relationships and trust we develop along the way.
Members of the DKU Ultimate Frisbee team gather for a group photo after a scrimmage.
Q: Ultimate frisbee relies a lot on communication, teamwork and trust. How do you try to build these qualities within the team?do you try to build these qualities within the team?
Something we really prioritize is team bonding, whether that means grabbing food after practice, spending time together during tournaments or organizing activities outside of frisbee.
These moments allow us to get to know our teammates on a more personal level rather than seeing one another only as players on the field. Once you become more comfortable with each other, it becomes easier to ask questions, make mistakes, give feedback and trust one another during games.
DKU Ultimate Frisbee players play mahjong on the bus while traveling to the CUUA tournament.
Q: Is there a game, tournament, practice or moment with the team that has been especially memorable to you?
One moment that was especially memorable to me was the China East Regional tournament we attended in spring 2026. It was my first proper away tournament with the team where we traveled together and stayed in a hotel.
On the way there, we played mahjong and Mario Kart and even had a karaoke session. That trip made me realize that my teammates weren’t just people I played frisbee with. They had become a family away from home — people I could have fun with and count on to have my back.
Members of the DKU Ultimate Frisbee team have dinner together after the first day of the East China Regionals.
Q: What do you think students can gain from playing ultimate frisbee beyond physical exercise?
Beyond physical exercise, students can gain lifelong friendships, better communication skills, improved spatial awareness and, of course, plenty of late-night FamilyMart runs!
Q: For someone at DKU who has never played ultimate frisbee before, what would you say to encourage them to give it a try?
Frisbee is one of those sports where you don’t have to be perfect or know anything about it before you start. You can make it competitive or casual — as long as you’re with friends and having fun.
Come join us for our open practice on Saturdays!
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