Ellie Laville 29
Guest Writer
Holy Cross’s club Ultimate Frisbee team, the Purple Heys, traveled to South Portland, Maine this past weekend for the beloved 2026 Lobster Pot Tournament. Hosted annually at the Wainwright Sports Complex, the Lobster Pot is the largest collegiate Ultimate tournament in the United States. Since its founding in 2014, the tournament has built a devoted following and earned widespread respect throughout the sport. The Purple Heys were one of 86 teams to take the field across all divisions, competing mixed with both men and women on the team.
The Heys opened play on Saturday, Oct. 17, with a 7-12 loss to Hamilton College, but rebounded to beat Emerson 7-5 and Skidmore 9-4. On Sunday, Oct. 18, Holy Cross topped Skidmore again, 10-8. The Heys fell to Hamilton a second time, 7-8, but the close game showed how much the team had improved since Saturday. In their final match, the Heys faced Saint Anselm College, where the rookies showcased their talent and leadership.
The Heys had many laudable moments throughout the games. One of the captains, Emmet Price ‘27 praised the team’s newest players saying that, “considering how young most of our team is this year, the Heys rookies showed so much confidence and elite technical execution.” Declan Boyle ‘29 applauded both Aiden DeLiberato ‘30 and Eamon Coelho ‘30 for exceptional handling and great overall offensive movement of the disc. Besides the rookies’ noteworthy talent, Owen Reilly ‘27 had incredible defense, especially in Sunday’s matches against Skidmore and Hamilton. The Heys also witnessed a beautiful point scored by Emily Duarte ‘29, whose sharp, well-timed cut put her in the perfect spot to score. Although Maine’s chilly wind and the oddly placed endzones made the matches challenging at times, the conditions failed to break the Purple Hey’s spirits, and the team as a whole showed incredible grit throughout. Besides team spirit, Hailey Judkins ‘29 acknowledged that, “even though it was definitely the coldest and windiest conditions I’ve ever played in, I think that I learn so much every time I play in new weather.”
The Purple Heys have many reasons to celebrate this Lobster pot, including the growth and skill of nine female Heys who made the trip. One of the most memorable events came in the final match against St Anselm, when the female Heys played a full women’s line for a round. A Hey’s captain, Molly Landis ‘27, shared, “one of my favorite parts of being on the Purple Heys is the bond I’ve been able to form with the female members of the team. I’ve never really been a part of a team sport and I love having a team and especially such a strong group of girls. I’m so lucky to be a part of such a supportive, wonderful, and loving group of girls!”
This team has plenty of people to thank for such a fun weekend, especially this year’s leadership, whose emphasis on team bonding has shaped the team’s chemistry and collective growth. The Purple Heys’ team captains are Molly Landis ‘27, Sophia Vail ‘ 27, Emmet Price ‘27, David Cappuccio ‘27, and Thomas Healy ‘28. The team bonding aspect of the tournament resonated with other Purple Heys players such as Eamon Coelho ‘30, a rookie player, who stated that his favorite memories were, “watching Rio, doing karaoke, and staying up late playing games.” He also recapped that, “[the weather] was a little cold at first, but eventually it was a beautiful and friendly environment. I think we all grew closer both as friends and teammates.” The 28 Purple Heys players who competed stayed both Friday and Saturday night at a charming Airbnb overlooking the tidal marsh and Jones Creek. If weekly practices and team bonding events hadn’t brought them closer, the tight sleeping arrangements certainly did, adding to the fun.
In addition to the exceptional leadership, the Heys were treated to the support of loved ones that showed up with the utmost exuberance. The sideline support included Emily Duarte’s grandparents Sandra and Kenneth Lolli, and Molly Landis’ parents Amy and Chris Landis; all of whom showed such contagious cheerfulness. A special thanks to Molly’s parents for the delicious pasta dinner they provided for the entire team. The Heys could not be more grateful for such devoted family members who boosted morale, especially during times of defeat.
As Charlie Mango ‘29 beautifully put, “I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the end of fall break… Since this is just the start of the season, I can’t wait to see how we continue to improve over this whole year.” Also, the Purple Heys look forward to our home tournament on Nov. 22, so pull up!
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