LOWVILLE — It took only one month for C. Alexander Merrell, 21, to put together an Ultimate Frisbee tournament in Lewis County.

The tournament was held Saturday at the Lewis County Fairgrounds, Bostwick Street, with games beginning just before 11 a.m. For insurance purposes, Double Play Sports Center sponsored the event, Mr. Merrell said.

The double-elimination tournament — meaning teams must lose twice in order to be eliminated from the tournament — featured seven teams from across the state.

Teams from Lowville included the Dream Team, the Leftovers, Team Strider and Memorial Version 2.0. Also participating were the Bone Zone from Watertown, Buffalo State from Buffalo and Old No Name from Utica and Lowville. There were six to nine players per team.

As expected, the first year was a learning experience. For the most part, everything went according to plan, save for a late start and a few minor bumps and bruises.

“It’s the first year; the year to work out all of the kinks,” said Sue Merrell, Alex’s mother.

It is Mr. Merrell’s hope that the Ultimate Frisbee Throw Down tournament will turn into an annual event. He said proceeds from the tournament will go toward funding next year’s tourney.

The tournament wrapped up close to 5:30 p.m. “It was a long one,” Mr. Merrell said.

The members of Buffalo State were crowned the champions. In second place was Team Strider; the Dream Team took third.

Ultimate Frisbee has exploded in popularity over the past few years, primarily in college athletics.

Buffalo State team member Christopher “Andy” Pappas, a Lowville native, recently graduated from Buffalo State College, where he was on the collegiate Ultimate Frisbee team. “We travel all over Western New York for collegiate tournaments,” Mr. Pappas said.

“I knew Alex and he asked me to invite the club,” to Saturday’s event, Mr. Pappas said.

He said that someday down the road, Ultimate Frisbee could become a regular school-funded sport.

With the establishment of the American Ultimate Disc League in April, it seems the game has the potential for further growth.

According to the group’s website, league play started to accommodate the quickly growing Ultimate Frisbee fan base and players.

“In just over 40 years, the sport now boasts almost five million Americans who play the sport at least once per year,” the website says.

The league has eight teams, four in the Eastern Division and four in the Western Division. New York is represented by the Eastern Division’s Buffalo Hunters.

The AUDL “has potential that a few players aspire to,” said Mr. Pappas, a political science major.

The next stage for the sport in Lowville will be the upcoming Lewis County Ultimate.

“We have a group of 20 to 25 people get together every Sunday and play here” at the Lewis County Fairgrounds,” said 19-year-old Brandon M. Roggie, Lowville.

Mr. Roggie and his friends hope to establish an Ultimate Frisbee league in Lewis County.

Overseeing the Lewis County Ulitmate is Corwin Christman, owner of North Country Memorials.

The first official game will be played at 4 p.m. Aug. 12 at the fairgrounds.

For more information on the Lewis County Ultimate, contact Mr. Christman by e-mail at corwinchristman90@yahoo.com or by phone at 771-9476.

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