Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” Although this quotation is generally associated with community service projects, it is also very applicable when speaking of the Wayland Ultimate Frisbee Team, also known as the Sports—a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens of a slightly different kind.

In a remarkable display of talent and stamina, the underdog Sports shocked Concord-Carlisle Ultimate fans Wednesday, emerging victorious after a hard fought match with a final score of 15-12.

When the Sports pulled into the parking lot that afternoon, a CC swarm of over twenty-five Ultimate players came into view, and as seven intrepid Waylanders stepped onto the field clad in mix and match orange t-shirts and laden with girl scout cookies, many doubted that Wayland could come away with the win.

“It certainly was intimidating,” remembers freshman player Maeve Crimmins. “We all had come in our own cotton t-shirts and here were a bunch of guys who had real team jerseys. Synthetic jerseys. Each player had his own number on the back, and all I could think was, ‘oh no, they must be good.’”

Some of the Sports feared that the match would end in a fashion similar to a previous match played earlier in the season, in which Wayland was greatly outnumbered by a Lincoln-Sudbury horde and consequently trampled. Fifteen minutes into the game, with the score 4-1 and Concord Carlisle in the lead, it seemed that the team’s worries would be confirmed.

Then, Robby Barnes showed up. A sophomore in college, veteran Ultimate player, and Wayland legend, Barnes had trekked all the way to Concord to join the team he loved in battle. Hair flowing in the wind and muscles rippling with every stride, Barnes’ arrival on the field was marked with a sense of awe, as Wayland stared in wonder at its savior and the enemy cowered in fear. The clouds seemed to part for a moment, and time stood still. Steve Byrn claims he heard a booming voice overhead, although this report still remains unconfirmed.

Barnes had come to guide the coachless Sports, and with a calm face and infinite wisdom, he relayed technique and strategy and provided the tiny high schoolers, whom he towered above, with a sense of security and confidence.

The revolution against the oppressive regime had begun. Realizing that CC’s defense on the short passes was very tight, the main handlers (a term identifying the disc throwers) loosened things up, resorting to longer tosses. With bursts of speed and sharp cuts, several of the Waylanders managed to find openings deep in the end zone, and the disc was frequently flung three quarters the length of the field for a point.

Senior Captain Alex Burgen-Tower stunned spectators and players alike as he jumped to astronomical heights on defense in pursuit of the disc. On one of his legendary vertical ascensions, “BT accidentally kicked the hat off of the other guy jumping for the disc,” states Bryant Wolf. “I mean, it’s possible that the hat just fell off on its own, but I wouldn’t put it past BT to get that much air.” It is now rumored that young children and high school athletes around Concord have begun bleaching their hair in an effort to attain Burgen-Tower’s gift.

By half time, the Sports had come from behind and taken the lead, the score standing at 8-6. Because Ultimate is played with seven players on the field at once, Wayland was without a single sub. One would think that fatigue would set in amid the sweltering heat, but the team stayed strong; not once did they falter.

After the game, senior Vincenzo Vitielli took on the role of “Team Father Figure.” In high spirits after the big win, it was suggested that the team get ice cream. When several players said that they had no money, Vitielli stepped in, saying, “Ice cream is on me, kids. I’m real proud of you all.” He then led the caravan of cars to Bedford Farms Ice cream and treated the whole team.

Perhaps this small group of thoughtful and committed Waylanders did not exactly change the world, but it is fair to say that the Sports confirmed the suspicion held by many a wise man, that it is “quality, not quantity” that truly matters in life.