Most students in the Parkway School District have heard of football, basketball, or baseball dynasties. Now, another program is building one of its own, this time with a Frisbee.

Parkway United has quickly become one of the premier ultimate frisbee teams in Missouri after the boys varsity team won back-to-back state championships and earning a No. 25 national ranking. The team took home the title on May 3 after beating Edwardsville, 13-6. 

The program’s rise did not happen overnight. Before capturing consecutive state titles, Parkway United suffered second-place finishes at state in both 2023 and 2024. Instead of breaking the team apart, those losses helped shape the culture that now defines the program.

Head Coach of Parkway United, Tim Dorsch, said the team’s success begins with its atmosphere,

“We compete hard, but we never want players to feel like the sport is only about winning,” Dorsch said. “When guys enjoy being around each other and genuinely love playing, they perform better. The chemistry on this team is special,” said Dorsch.

Dorsch said the team’s response after consecutive second-place finishes helped build the foundation for the championships that followed.

“Those losses really motivated us,” Dorsch said. “The players came back hungry, and they trusted each other. Nobody pointed fingers or quit. They just kept working,” said Dorsch

That chemistry is noticeable immediately. Unlike many highly competitive teams, Parkway United blends intensity with a laid-back, welcoming environment that players say separates the program from other sports, according to senior Jacob Hurst–South’s only player on the team.

“It’s honestly different than anything I’ve ever experienced before,” said Hurst. “Everyone’s encouraging each other all the time. It’s competitive, but the biggest thing is that everyone’s having fun.”  

Hurst said he originally joined the team after a friend invited him to fill in at a fall tournament. Being primarily a baseball player, he said he was unsure what to expect from ultimate frisbee, but the sport quickly surprised him,

“For people who don’t know Ultimate, it kind of looks like football,” Hurst said. “There’s no tackling, but it’s like a bunch of wide receivers running routes. There’s way more strategy than people think.” 

Players cannot run while holding the disc, forcing offenses to rely on timing, spacing, and quick decision-making. Hurst said stamina and field awareness are some of the most important skills in the game.

“You have to know when to cut and how to create space,” Hurst said. “There’s a lot more thinking involved than people realize,” Hurst said. 

Judah Kesselring, a senior on the team who is homeschooled, believes the team’s bond off the field plays a major role in its success during games.

“A lot of these guys are some of my best friends,” Kesselring said. “We push each other hard at practice, but we also spend time together outside of ultimate. That closeness definitely helps our chemistry.” 

Kesselring was part of last year’s championship team but missed the state tournament while out of the country. This season’s title run gave him a chance to fully experience the pressure and excitement of winning a championship firsthand.

“It was awesome to actually be there for it this year,” Kesselring said. “There was a lot of pressure because we knew every team wanted to beat us after winning state last season.”

That pressure only increased as Parkway United continued climbing nationally. When the team earned a No. 25 national ranking, players immediately recognized the significance of the moment.

“When I saw the ranking, I was jumping up and down,” Kesselring said. “That’s where we want this program to keep going. Hopefully someday Parkway can make nationals.”

Calvin Bacott, a junior on the team who attends Parkway West, said the team embraced the challenge of defending its championship instead of fearing it.

“Our goal was definitely to win state again,” Bacott said. “Last year’s team might have been stronger overall, but this team still believed we could go back-to-back,” said Bacott.

Bacott said the team’s culture has become one of its greatest strengths.

“There’s kind of a balance between being competitive and still having fun,” Bacott said. “When everybody enjoys being there and wants to improve together, you end up playing better.”

That mindset has helped Parkway United continue attracting new players, even those with little or no experience in the sport.

“We’ve had rookies come in and contribute right away,” Bacott said. “If somebody’s interested, they should definitely try it.”

Along with a varsity boys team, Parkway Ultimate also fields a girls team and a JV boys team.

For many players, ultimate frisbee has become more than just another extracurricular activity, it has become a community that stretches across all four Parkway high schools and beyond.

“It was actually really cool meeting people from different schools,” Hurst said. “I think more people at Parkway South should know about the team because it’s one of the most fun experiences I’ve had.”