Young, hopeful athletes waded into the fog at Hillsboro Stadium on Sunday morning for an opportunity to earn a roster spot on the 2015 Portland Stags.
After warm-ups, two things immediately became apparent: Most of these players were familiar with each other and most possessed ultimate skills honed over years of dedicated play.
Addison Magness, in her new role as general manager, remarked that the Portland Ultimate community is strong but small and that she had previously seen about 95 percent of the athletes at various ultimate events.
“Most of the players here today know they at least have a shot,” she said. “There are very few players who are on the brink and have no idea [if they’ll make the team].”
With at least ten spots already filled by returning Stags, only a few new players can join the team. However, this season Major League Ultimate will allow five additional roster spots for players who will practice but won’t play on game days.
“Every week the bottom ten players will have to work hard to suit up on game day,” Magness said.
One player potentially in danger of losing his roster spot is Chris Beach-Rehner, who played for the Stags during their first two seasons but recently injured his dominant hand.
“I’m not really worried about it,” said Beach-Rehner. “I’m not one of the best players. I would have to compete to get my spot [each year].”
He hopes to be healthy enough to show his best at the next level of tryouts on February 14.
Before drills began, Mitch McKague, a personal trainer in Gresham who has played ultimate with his friends, didn’t know what to expect from the tryout.
“I’ve never played at this level before,” said McKague. “I’m hoping I’m just as good as the guys out there, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they destroy me.”
After the last whistle, McKague, bruised and bloodied, said, “The competition level was a little better than I was expecting. They’re big, they’re fast, they know plays I’ve never even heard of.”
Current Stags players identified newcomer Jacob Lohman as a player with the potential to make the team. While Portland is one of the area epicenters of ultimate, Lohman embodies ultimate’s global popularity. He moved to Portland from Austin in December and formerly played for the University of Texas college team. He also played at the highest level of competition in Europe while pursuing graduate studies in Paris.
Contenders Brian Pearson and Austin Kelly also played collegiate ultimate at Oregon State and Portland State, respectively. Both players understand the vast differences between playing collegiate and professional ultimate.
“A lot of college players are athletic, but they don’t necessarily understand the spacing of the field or some of the finer points of positioning,” said Kelly.
Since their inaugural season in 2013, the Stags have already influenced younger athletes to take up ultimate. Matt Brumfield, 19, first became interested in organized ultimate when he heard about the Stags open tryout last year. Since he tried out last season, Brumfield has worked to become a more competitive and intense player. Before he tries out next season, he plans to gain a deeper knowledge of organized play, the plays and vocabulary.
Mark Georgieff, also 19, was one of the most enthusiastic participants and noted that he’d seen some of the other athletes in pictures.
“Mark was watching videos of ultimate and said that’s what he wanted to do, so here we are,” said Georgieff’s mother, Anne, who observed from the stands. “I didn’t know there was such a game until he showed me, but he said, ‘Mom, I want to play,’ and he got interested.”
The Stags have a promising season ahead of them with the talent that came to tryouts and a new home field at Hillsboro Stadium. The coaching staff will evaluate players once again on Thursday, February 12 at an invite-only tryout.
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