Winnipeg teen makes Ultimate Frisbee squad

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This article was published 18/07/2024 (762 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kale Peterson thought an opportunity like this was unreachable.

Good thing he has a knack for making tough grabs.

The Winnipeg teen will play for the Canadian men’s team at the World Junior Ultimate Frisbee Championships in Birmingham, UK, beginning this weekend.

Peterson, who has blossomed into one of the province’s premier young players, said he may need to pinch himself when more than 20 nations and 1,000 athletes gather at the Birmingham City University Sports ground for the week-long event.

“I didn’t even think about the possibility of playing Team Canada until probably around two years ago. I knew it was a thing but I always figured it was either out of my reach or just not something I’d be into,” Peterson, 17, told the Free Press by phone from London, England earlier this week.

“It was something I loved doing, but I never imagined taking it this far.”

The Canadian men will open the group stage against Belgium on Sunday. Canada is also pooled with Italy, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, Ireland and China.

Peterson will be happy to see a familiar face in high school teammate Daniel Mann, who will play for the country’s first mixed junior team at the tournament. The Manitobans, who are both cutters on the field — akin to a receiver in football — were forces for the Kelvin Clippers during their recent Grade 12 season, which ended with a national championship.

Mann, 17, followed his Team Manitoba coach, Elliot Wong, to the mixed team, which will open its tournament against Singapore on July 22. The co-ed squad is also pooled with Hungary and China.

The rules in mixed play are the same as the open game for the most part, with the only difference being teams must have the same amount of women on the field at once — normally three or four. Mann, who has played on a men’s-only team, said the co-ed game challenges players to be more aware of who they’re on the field with and adapt to different play styles on the fly.

“I think it’s cool to have that diversity of men and women playing together, and I think the play style is a bit unique compared to open,” said Mann, who plays for PBHG Ultimate, a co-ed team, when he’s home.

“In mixed, you have to be more aware and certain and know who you’re throwing to. If you’re a guy throwing to a girl, you might have to put a little bit more spin and more float on it. I think you just have to be aware of who’s on the field, who’s around you.”

Mann, whose older sister played for the Clippers before him, never imagined ultimate frisbee would turn into anything more than a pastime. An equally skilled soccer player, his focus was on developing on the pitch.

In Grade 10, however, Mann won a regional tournament as a member of Team Manitoba. The taste of victory on the ultimate field suddenly hooked him on the sport.

“It’s definitely unique,” said Mann. “At first, I wouldn’t even call it a sport but then as I started playing, as I started enjoying, I really fell in love with it and never looked back.

“I think it’s just amazing that I get to represent my country on an International stage, and I’m still excited to see the other countries that we play. They’ll speak a different language and I’m excited to see the different level of competition that the countries bring.”

Donning the Maple Leaf will be the latest achievement in a banner year for Peterson, who earlier this year committed to play for Davenport University, an NCAA Division 3 program in Grand Rapids, Mich, beginning this fall.

At Davenport, he’ll join two of his Team Canada teammates: Kai Creed and Rowan Jamieson.

The youngest of four brothers who all still play, Peterson was born into the sport and excelled throughout high school. Last fall, he played in the Pan American Ultimate Championships, held in the Dominican Republic, with his club team Winnipeg General Strike.

However, the next week will have a different feeling to it when he’s running with the best in the world. There will be an extra sense of excitement when represents his hometown on the biggest stage to date.

“It’s an honour to be able to represent Canadian ultimate, especially the Winnipeg ultimate community has been so amazing,” Peterson said.

“I loved being able to see all the different play styles (at the Pan American Championships), and that made me even more excited to play against the whole world.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jfreysam