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One of those players is Maximilian Sheppard, the team’s
captain. At just 23 years old, this is his fifth year playing for
the Thunderbirds. To Sheppard, representing Pittsburgh on a
national scale is a “fantastic” feeling.
“We are growing every year and ultimate is expanding more as
a sport each year,” he says. “The Thunderbirds will continue to
win and make the city of Pittsburgh proud.”
Sheppard notes that his favorite part about the game is the
community, fans, players and competitiveness. His position
as an O-Line cutter, which is one of the sport’s main offensive
positions, requires a great deal of running, timing and
communication with the other cutters.
“Most people are surprised to know that there is a serious
professional league out there,” adds Sheppard. “The atmosphere
is unlike any other sport and the players are very talented.”
Hammonds says that this season’s team has “depth and
versatility,” thanks to standout players like throwers Sheppard
and Sam VanDusen; field generals Thomas Edmonds and Alex
Thomas; and defenders Pat McMullen and Anson Reppermund.
“More importantly, we have a group of 30-plus guys who are
committed to playing whatever role the team needs them to fill,”
he adds. “We have consistently found the end zone on offense,
we consistently apply pressure and force turnovers on defense,
and we have focused on executing every opportunity for four full
quarters.”
Since its launch in 2015, the team has certainly had
numerous achievements; even though they’ve fallen to the
Madison Radicals each time, they have made it to the Midwest
championship game three years in a row. In 2016, the team
hosted its first-ever playoff game at Highmark Stadium in Station
Square, defeating the Minnesota Wind Chill by two goals.
“We are committed to making Pittsburgh an ultimate
destination for players, coaches, teams, fans and stakeholders,”
says Gardner. “Our future is in the youth of Pittsburgh, and
our goal is to become a staple in academic, recreational and
competitive environments for youth and adolescents. The
Thunderbirds aim to add to Pittsburgh’s success stories and we
are constantly working to improve each component of the city’s
ultimate community.” n
Owen Watt, #22, lays out for the disc.
Founded in 2015, this marks the Thunderbirds’ fifth year
competing as a professional organization. Andrew Gardner,
the team’s general manager, says that Pittsburgh’s tight-knit
community of players, coaches, teams and stakeholders across all
levels is driving its recognition and success.
“The decision to base the team in Pittsburgh was largely based
on the solid ultimate infrastructure that Pittsburgh had built
in years past,” says Gardner, who played ultimate for Miami
University. “The University of Pittsburgh was consistently a
national title contender, youth camps and ultimate tournaments
were frequent and well-run, many high schools and middle
schools had functioning teams, and the leadership within the
community were passionate for the sport. It made the decision to
start the team in Pittsburgh an easy one.”
The team’s first home game took place against the Cincinnati
Revolution at George K. Cupples Stadium in the South Side.
According to Gardner, more than 650 fans showed up for that
game, with the line extending from the box office out onto East
Carson Street. The team is currently playing its home games at
Lt. J.C. Stone Field in North Park.
The ultimate season runs from early April until mid-July,
followed by the final-four championship weekend in August.
The team will play a game—and sometimes two—nearly every
weekend, aside from a few bye weekends and an All-Star break.
They were traveling to Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis for their
final games of the regular season.
Head Coach Pat Hammonds feels that the team’s biggest
strength this season is the culture they have worked to create.
“We identified three team values that shape how we prepare
and how we hold each other accountable. The guys are
committed to being their best and are always bringing their
best selves to everything we do,” says Hammonds, who played
for the Thunderbirds for three seasons before becoming head
coach. “I’m inspired by the hard work, dedication, leadership
and vulnerability that each and every one of our players has
embraced.”
new professional sport is thriving in the city of
Pittsburgh—and it’s not played with a ball or puck,
but rather with a flying disc.
Over the past few years, Pittsburgh has been
making itself known as one of the latest hotbed cities for ultimate
Frisbee, or simply “ultimate” as it’s known to fans of the sport.
The city’s professional team, the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds, is a
part of the Midwest Division of the American Ultimate Disc
League, a collection of more than 20 teams located throughout
the country that launched in 2012.
Mark Fedorenko, #7, looks to catch the disc off an in-cut.
» For more information about the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds, visit theaudl.com/thunderbirds.
CHARTIERS VALLEY ❘
FALL 2019
11