History

The history of Oberlin Ultimate begins in 1833 when two young Yankee missionaries arrived at a stump-dotted Ohio clearing thirty-five miles southwest of the village of Cleveland. The Reverend John J. Shipherd and Philo P. Steward, inspired by the example of an Alsatian pastor, John Frederick Oberlin, resolved to found an Ultimate team on the Western frontier “to train handlers, longs and other players for the boundless most desolate playing fields in the West.”

The two set up cones in a clear patch of land. Nearby in a pasture, a herd of Flying Horsecows and a pack of Praying Manti were co-existing peacefully. The Horsecows were munching on some frisbees that had landed nearby, and the Manti, of course, were devouring the males of their species. A crowd of people quickly gathered, discs were thrown, “Seven on the line!” was called, and Ultimate at Oberlin was born.

Ultimate has been played at Oberlin College for a long time. None of us knows exactly how long, but we have records of dating back to the late ’70s. The Horsecows have made trips to College Nationals in 1992, 1995 and 1997. The Manti, the women’s team, qualified for Nationals for the first time in 1997.

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