Ethan Deal, the captain of DKU’s Ultimate Frisbee Varsity Team, is an undergraduate in the Class of 2025 from Washington, D.C., Computation and Design (Computer Science track) major. He has been playing Ultimate for over six years and has led the DKU team since his freshman year.
Motto: “Rule number 1: If it hits you in the hand, you should catch it.”
Photo of Ethan Deal’s exciting competition
Q:What first drew you to frisbee, and what keeps you playing?
The people. I first started playing in high school when my friends encouraged me to try it out. From the beginning, there were always people willing to help me improve, making me feel like I belong. Ultimate Frisbee as a sport has an incredibly supportive community. No matter where it is, whether it’s a beach pickup game in Barcelona or a winter league in D.C., people are always willing to include you and teach you the sport.
Q:How does your team typically practice during regular days, and how does the training routine change in preparation for a tournament?
We usually spend the first part of practice working on individual skills (some people show up early to throw) and drills. There’s usually a section where we work on team strategy. The last 30–45 minutes are usually just a scrimmage. Before tournaments, we usually focus more on team strategy.
Q:How would you describe the bond among your teammates?
Covalent.
Q:Have you ever thought about quitting frisbee at DKU due to injuries, academic pressure, or other challenges? What kept you motivated to continue?
Back in Spring 2024, before the team became varsity, we were struggling to hit the attendance requirement. At one point during the cold rainy season, we would occasionally drop down to just three people at practice (shoutout Krishna and Xander). Even though it was tough at times, they believed in the vision, and we managed to pull through and became varsity the next semester. Without them, the team likely wouldn’t exist today. We’ve come a long way since then, with a team of almost 40 players.
Photo of exciting frisbee games
Q:Can you share a highlight from your frisbee career at DKU that stands out the most?
When I first came to DKU, I started slowly converting my friends into Frisbee players. I even managed to drag some of them onto the Duke team with me during our semester abroad. I think a highlight for me is that so many people have chosen to try out Frisbee, even some who didn’t know it was a sport. Aside from that, another highlight was becoming varsity last fall and winning every tournament we played in.
Q:What has frisbee taught you about resilience, leadership, or teamwork that applies to your daily life?
Frisbee has taught me to lead by example. I never ask any of my teammates to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. If you don’t lead by example, you’re not a leader, you’re just in charge.
Ethan Deal’s agile posture during the competition
Q:How do you mentally prepare for critical moments in a game, and does that mindset transfer to other aspects of your life?
I just try to keep a good mindset. Be confident. Doubting yourself is a waste of time and it doesn’t accomplish anything, so why bother? This also helps me learn new skills outside of Frisbee.
Q:Are there any traditions or unique aspects of DKU frisbee culture that you particularly cherish?
I think there are a bunch of little things that create immaculate team vibes. For example, we have a stretching song we sing at the end of every practice. Pull up to our open club practice Saturdays at 3–5pm to hear it……
Q:What are your personal goals for the upcoming season, both as an individual player and as a member of the DKU frisbee team?
I want this to be our best season yet. We have a lot of experienced players returning this year, as well as a bunch of talented newcomers, so I have high hopes. I also want to begin setting up the team for next year by training future handlers (throwers).
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