In 2022, the ETHS ultimate frisbee team was teetering on the edge of collapse. With only fifteen registered players, the program often failed to field the number of players necessary to play in matches. Now, in 2025, the program has over fifty registered players, with both a JV and varsity team for boys and a fully separate DISCO team for girls—all for the first time in program history.
In just three short years, Head Coaches Christian Contretas and Kelly Kulig not only saved the program from possible extinction but also oversaw such rapid expansion that ETHS now has comparable numbers to many of the top programs in the state.
Members of the team explained that there was no one set recruitment method they used; instead, they tried to reach people in as many ways as possible, using social media, announcements and suggesting the sport to friends. One thing that everyone agreed was a major contributor to their expansion was the truly vibrant community they were able to establish.
“I fell in love with the sport because of the people I was playing it with. My coaches, teammates and opponents are always incredibly kind and supportive. I think this atmosphere really supports kids who maybe have felt rejected in other sports,” remarked sophomore Liam Murphy.
Due to ultimate’s small size, the immersive community extends up to the pros.
“After a professional ultimate frisbee game, the fans are allowed to go on the field and talk to players and get autographs, which is an incredible experience that feels very unique to ultimate frisbee,” commented sophomore ultimate frisbee player Adam Sklar.
A big reason that roster size is especially important in ultimate frisbee is that many kids who work hard and are dedicated to the sport can go from beginners to varsity during their time in high school. Murphy is a perfect example of this—he played soccer for eight years before joining the team as a freshman and is already one of the varsity team’s most crucial players.
“We have a lot of players who come in with experience in sports like soccer and basketball. Those skills—from both a physical and tactical standpoint—often translate very well into ultimate frisbee, which makes it easier for completely new players to make the transition once they have mastered throwing and catching a frisbee,” explained Contretas.
The trust in the development of these new players is already paying off. In the 2023–24 season, the team had several impressive tournament performances. Most notably, they finished third at Naperville after a 13-10 comeback win over Oak Park.
“I was very proud of a lot of the performances in the tournaments last year. Even when we lost, I still often thought of it as a victory, considering that we were often rubbing shoulders with some of the best high school teams in the country,” praised Contretas.
The team believes that last season’s success is only the tip of the iceberg, as many of their key players are still underclassmen.
“We have young players that are playing at a very high level, even though they are still not close to their full potential,” said Contretas.
With the selling so high, many on the team believe that their state championship window is wide open.
“If we are going to win State in the next ten years, then I feel that the next three to four years are the time to do so,” added Murphy.
