Ultimate fans can feel the Flyers’ high energy from the stands, as the players glide across Cardinal Gibbons High School field during their weekly home games." />
Courtesy of Raleigh Flyers
Ultimate fans can feel the Flyers’ high energy from the stands, as the players glide across Cardinal Gibbons High School field during their weekly home games.
Ultimate Frisbee, commonly known as “Ultimate,” marks a lively, action-packed sport that grows in popularity as warm weather arises. For some dedicated Ultimate players, the sport has become more than a leisurely summer pastime. As one of the mere 28 Ultimate teams in the American Ultimate Disc League, (AUDL) the Raleigh Flyers are well-known within the Triangle and beyond for their impressive 7-1 track record. The team typically plays from April through July. The Flyers’ next game is Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Jacksonville Cannons at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh.
Kenzie DeNardis, who works in media production, has helped manage the team’s media presence. Although the Flyers have only been around for three seasons, Kenzie remains impressed with the team’s utmost success and quick recruitment rate. Kenzie has also watched the team grow alongside husband and Flyers coach/co-owner Mike DeNardis.
“The Triangle is a hotbed of Ultimate talent,” Kenzie said. “It has definitely grown a ton, the Flyers are unique in that they have wide talent pool.”
Throughout the season, the Flyers dedicate Wednesday nights to sharpening their Ultimate skills at practice, where they practice drills, learn and execute new skills, and scrimmage. The quick-footed young men can be found racing across the lengthy Cardinal Gibbons field, bursting at the seams with Ultimate-induced enthusiasm, high-fiving and encouraging each other every step of the way. In addition to once a week practices, the team has local games every Saturday for Raleigh-based Ultimate fans. When traveling, however, the Flyers play an impressive two games a week for logistical purposes.
A typical Flyers game will boast a pumped-up DJ, trademark mascot “Sunny the Flying Pig” and The Hanger — a crowd section designated for especially rowdy fans. Kenzie says the games also make for an entertaining, fairly inexpensive night out, as tickets are frequently discounted. In addition, the games mark a supportive melting pot of fans, as ages range from young children to the more seasoned Ultimate lovers.
“If you sit down and watch a game sometime, even if you have no idea what the rules are, it’s kind of acrobatic almost,” Kenzie said. “There’s definitely a lot of action going on.”
Kenzie has watched Mike coach the Flyers from the very beginning, witnessing the positive impact the team has on her husband firsthand. To offer support, Kenzie said she tries to do as much as possible to help out the team, as Ultimate marks much more than just a pushed-aside hobby for Mike.
“This is his passion,” Kenzie said. “He discovered it in college, and now he coaches several teams. He coaches college teams as well.”
After originally playing Ultimate to cross-train, Mike could not get enough of the sport. The Flyers were founded shortly after a series of meetings with co-owner Casey Degnan, who longed to create an AUDL team in his hometown of Raleigh. The team now boasts 37 rostered players, not including the handful of practice players who Mike has watched grow into their own.
“I really enjoy watching a team progress both physically and mentally through a season,” Mike said. “Watching players grow confident and become successful by trusting the leadership and the system is incredibly rewarding.”
A positive attitude and clear perspective is something Mike, as a coach, utilizes in order to maximize the team’s performance in all arenas. Evidently, his strategy is working. The team will play in the Final Four Championships in Montreal this August.
“I don’t quantify success with wins and losses,” Mike said. “If a team can put positive energy forward regardless of the situation, often they will find success in the outcome but more importantly they will find success in the experience.”