As many of EMU’s fall sports teams are wrapping up their seasons, the disc golf team is just beginning theirs. On Saturday, Nov. 7 EMU will hold the 4th annual EMU Royals Fall Classic at Swover Creek Farm Brewery Disc Golf Course, in Edinburg, VA. In previous years the tournament was held at Westover Park, an easier course than Swover Creek according to EMU’s disc golf head coach, Trevor Oyer.
Oyer believes his teams will have an advantage over the field because they have already been able to practice on it. For the men’s A team, this will be their second competition of the season, having previously placed fourth at the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Championship. EMU has an A and B team for both men and women. Oyer explained that the teams aren’t set in stone, and can change depending on who consistently performs the best. Oyer expects juniors Jesse Longenecker and Theo Andreas to be a staple of the A team because of their past consistency and accolades. New to the A team, and the team in general, is Isaac Hochstedler. Hochstedler is one of the two first-years joining the men’s team, along with Zach Halteman.
The new additions seem to be welcome as Andreas said, “The dynamic has been really great this season.” Competition is fierce, though, according to Andreas, who said, “I don’t think there has been this much competition to make A-team any other semester that I’ve been on the team, which I think has motivated the whole team to step it up this season.” For the upcoming tournament, Andreas likes EMU’s chances saying, “I think our team is in a good position to win it.” He is looking forward to the new course. “It’s at Swover Creek Brewery, which is a beautiful property and a great disc golf course. It’s peak Virginia disc golf if you ask me,” said Andreas.
He isn’t the only one looking forward to the tournament. Rose Short, a senior who has been on the team all four years, said she is very excited for this Saturday, and that tournaments are a highlight for her. Short said, “It is a great chance to bond with the team, travel to new places, and connect with other players from schools across the country.”
Short will be playing on the women’s A team with Miriam Rhodes, another senior and experienced player. Rounding out the B team for the women will be three more first-years, Kate Metzler, Cori Chupp, and Lilianna Stoltzfus. Both Short and Andreas mentioned the loss of last year’s graduating seniors, but both are enjoying playing with fresh faces. Short said, “Overall I have enjoyed the opportunity to connect with them in a way that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.” The women’s field will be considerably smaller for the Royal’s Fall Classic, but Short said, “It will still be good to play in a more competitive environment.”
Fans are encouraged to come out and support the team as they compete in one singles round and two team rounds across Saturday and Sunday. Supporters are welcome to follow behind the athletes while being respectful to everyone competing. Andreas says he is “looking forward to having some local support.”
