A quartet of Belmont Middle School eighth-graders recently garnered recognition for their play with the Belmont Ultimate program.
Simon Hering, Ronan Kuppendender and Sebastian Running earned Massachusetts Middle School All-Star nominations and will participate in the Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance (BUDA) All-Star game Saturday in Medford. Corey Etkind is an alternate.
“The distinguishing factor that made us nominate one player over the other is how hard they worked during the season to play better,” said third-year coach Alon Manela, who nominated the Belmont representatives. “They’re hardworking, athletic and really love the game.”
The BUDA includes 13 mixed-gendered teams representing towns across Massachusetts. Of the 44 All-Stars selected, 28 play in the game, which begins at 4 p.m. Saturday on the grass field near Hormel Stadium in Medford. Following the game, All-Stars receive free admission to a 7 p.m. professional Ultimate Frisbee Association match between the Boston Glory and Philadelphia Phoenix.
At the middle school level, Belmont Ultimate fields outdoor teams in the spring and fall, and indoors in the winter.
The spring season, which begins in April, wraps up on Sunday. The crowning achievement this year? Participating in the Massachusetts Middle School State Championship tournament in Devens for the first time.
Generally, position groups are split into handlers, cutters and hybrids. Handlers essentially, as Manela said, “quarterback” the disc and specialize in passing skills. Cutters know how to find open space with sharp, tactical movements. Hybrids are a mix of the two, like a midfielder in soccer, field hockey, or lacrosse.
Belmont Ultimate serves Belmont students in grades 5 through 8, but All-Star nods go to eighth graders, a nod to their multi-year dedication.
Hering, a cutter, uses his instincts to help the team get into a disc-moving flow. He also rock climbs. Kuppendender, also a soccer player, owns primary handling responsibility and benefits from his leadership and calmness. Running, another cutter who also rock climbs and skis, flashes impressive quickness and speed to separate from defenders and receive the disc. The do-it-all Etkind, a hybrid who also plays soccer and skis, usually defends the opponent’s top player.
“They are all good athletes and very supportive team members,” Manela said.