Bacchus Revels in First-Ever National Ultimate Frisbee Championship

During a history-making moment in May, the Bacchus ultimate frisbee team secured their first-ever national title at the 2025 USA Ultimate D-III College Championships in Burlington, Washington. The team triumphed with a thrilling 15-14 overtime victory against Middlebury College.

The match was a fierce back-and-forth battle. Bacchus led for most of the game, but Middlebury fought back, tying the score at 12-all. However, Bacchus held strong and clinched the victory on the final point.

The team is led by head coach Ben Whitenack BA ’16, along with assistant coaches Sam Franer BA ’14, MAT ’15 and Jack Hochberg BA ’17.

“I am just so grateful for the opportunity and trust to lead the last few years of Bacchus into a place where our players can learn and grow as people and athletes,” says Whitenack. “Since 2021, our coaching staff has been exclusively Bacchus alumni, and bringing home a title for our younger selves feels great, but building a team we are proud of is even better.”

Whitenack recalls that winning a national title had crossed his mind even as a student. “I captained the team to a third-place finish at nationals my senior year and was heartbroken when my story was over,” he says. “As soon as I saw the team in 2021, I knew I had to be involved with this group’s journey. I am so happy to have returned and helped make Bacchus a great team, and earning a championship is a really nice bonus.”

Growth On and Off the Field

The victory didn’t come easily. Throughout the season, the Bacchus team faced numerous challenges, including several injuries, confidence issues, and performance anxiety. But despite those hurdles, they maintained a collective focus, always stepping onto the field ready to meet the next challenge.

Whitenack attributes much of the team’s success to its student leadership, which was built on a foundation of trust and vision. “We are so lucky to be led by incredible student-athletes who ensure we actively prioritize a culture of consistent care and effort,” he says. “It’s been amazing to see the personal growth every player has shown, whether they were first-years or seniors.”

Leo Farley BA ’25, an international affairs major and one of the team’s three captains, has been with Bacchus since his first year at Lewis & Clark. He echoes his coach’s sentiments about the team’s growth: “Some of the team’s main strengths are trust in one another, our love for one another, and our grit,” he says. “Throughout the past four years, we have grown tremendously close as teammates and friends. That off-the-field connection has directly impacted the way we are able to work together on the field. We push each other to work as hard as we can.”

As for the championship win itself, Farley says the victory felt surreal. “It felt unreal,” he remembers. “Truthfully, throughout the season, I faced constant doubt about what I and my team would be able to do this season. We worked so hard, and I never really thought that my hard work and my teammates’ hard work could lead to such an accomplishment. I felt both immense joy and sadness. This nationals win marked the end of my college experience and my time with a team I love so dearly.”

Looking Ahead

This year’s team had 28 players. With a solid group of 18 returning, Bacchus’s future looks bright. “My hopes for the team going forward are for them to continue to work just as hard and love every second of doing so,” Farley says.

For Whitenack, the work is far from over. “Honestly, it’s the same as if we hadn’t won—we go back to work!” he says. “This is an amazing opportunity to recruit new players from high school programs and within the college while continuing to build a program we’re proud of. Rebounding after winning a championship and losing a large number of seniors will be difficult, but if we stay focused on our core values and vision, then we’ll be just fine.”

Bacchus Ultimate Frisbee