HIGHLAND PARK: "How about some hard core? Yeah we like it raw!" the Highland Park Enforcers screamed in unison, shouting lines from a hip-hop classic before a day of competition.
Despite the cheer, the ultimate Frisbee teams at a high school tournament at Donaldson Park yesterday were out for fun ahead of hard-core competition. The Enforcers, a Highland Park team, took the field with nicknames such as Too Slick, Happy Meal," and Mr. Boombastic written across the backs of their maroon jerseys.
Sam Bartolone, or Bacon, wore black pinstriped shorts with tall red socks and a Superman visor.
"Some of them are forced to have certain nicknames," said Leigh ""Wonderbag'' Underwood.
It was all part of the light-hearted but competitive atmosphere in high school ultimate. A disc sport invented in New Jersey, ultimate is played across the nation by high school, college and club teams.
"People in ultimate play hard, but they have more of a sense of humor," said Catherine Macdonald, one of the Enforcers' three captains.
The Enforcers hosted its second "Dirty Discing" tournament yesterday, playing a sport that combines elements of football, soccer and basketball. The game is played on a field laid out like a football field, with two end zones. Teams of seven pass a flying disc, or Frisbee, to one another while their opponents attempt to block or intercept passes. Players can't run while holding the disc. If the disc is intercepted or hits the ground, the opposing team takes over on offense and tries to work its way to the opposite end zone. To score a point, a player must catch the disc in the end zone.
Games are played to set point totals, usually taking between one and two hours.
Ultimate players relish the fact that there are no referees. Instead, the teams rely on the "spirit of the game," which mandates that players show sportsmanship and make fair calls, even with the game on the line.
"There's as much emphasis on winning as on spirit and sportsmanship," said Dan Jobbins, an Enforcers captain.
When some Enforcers and an opponent argued over whether a catch was made inbounds, their coach stepped in.
"It's his call! Respect it!" Steve Boikess instructed.
The game has attracted athletes who want to have fun without the pressure of rigid organization.
"Everyone plays it because we love it, not because it looks good for college or anything," said Aaron Karp, captain of the East Brunswick Huckers. "It's a very positive atmosphere in the whole sport."
Karp ran cross country and played varsity tennis at East Brunswick High School but said he has had the most satisfaction in laid-back ultimate games.
Six teams were on hand yesterday afternoon, including a squad from Edison High School and one from Columbia High School, the South Orange-Maplewood school where ultimate was invented in the late 1960s.
Trophies were handed out for top finishers, but also for the team showing the most spirit.
Jonathan Tamari: (732) 565-7347; e-mail jtamari@thnt.com