Lori Parham Ewald

I learned to throw before I played the sport. My high school friend, Richard Hollingsworth, played. He always encouraged me to join, but I was running cross country and track in high school, and felt I had enough activities. When we spent time together, he’d teach me how to throw the disc. When I finally did start playing, I could already throw, so I predominantly played handler. The only exception was in 1995. I broke my hand three times during that year (all while playing ultimate), so I wrapped my cast in an ACE bandage and play long as a receiver. When my cast came off just before the National Championships that year, I couldn’t throw a right-handed backhand, so I played handler with two backhands and a lefty forehand. There is photograph of me from the UPA Newsletter (December 1995) that year throwing a left-handed backhand.

As a captain of my team, we won the Nationals Championships four times and worlds once. As a non-captain player, we won the National Championships once. Also as a captain, I made the finals of nationals twice, semis and quarters multiple times, and the finals of club worlds once. I had the privilege of playing for three great teams, and I believe I’ve always been a good teammate. I worked hard to fit in with the team I played with. My first year on Godiva was a tough one. Their offense wasn’t what I familiar with, but the very next year, the team designed plays based on my strength for breaking the mark.

I was best known for my throwing skills, in particular, breaking the mark and being able to throw in the wind. At the same time, I was a fierce defender and would get diving blocks when my team needed them. I was smart about when to bid for blocks so our defense wouldn’t be out of position if I missed. I’d like to also think I’m known for my competitive spirit but also being a good teammate and person.

While playing with Lady Godiva, who at that time was the winningest team in history, I was a thrower and starter, and I also captained the team during the 1999 – 2002 seasons. I designed plays and practices, and I made decisions during the biggest games of our season. During my years with Ozone, I captained the team in 1995 and 1996.

The peak of my career was likely between 1998-2002. I was successful in my own career and also coached the Brown University women’s team to a semifinal appearance at the D-I College Championships the next spring. My club team recruited from this college team, which was a plus that those players already knew the Godiva offense. Once I decided not to play my most competitive ultimate (post 2002), my role didn’t change much. I still played a starting offense position, although I would give up a defensive position to younger players. I stopped playing competitive ultimate in 2010 after a 22-year career.

I was an official sectional coordinator for my college section (South Central/Indiana for over two years), club region (Midwest/Central for over two years), ran Boston Invite (over two years), club region (Northeast, over two years), coach of Brown University (four years: three times making D-I College Championships – semis twice and quarters once), President of the IU Ultimate Club (club sport, one year), and served as a selection committee member for the Worlds Mixed team in 1998.

I ran numerous women’s clinics for college players in the Northeast, hosted an elementary school clinic in Indiana and served as a coordinator and coach for Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance (BUDA) women’s learning league. I also coached the Georgia Tech women in 2004.

I devoted the majority of my life to the sport, succeeded at every level, played 22 years and competed at the National Championships for 11 years straight (winning five times and being a finalist twice for a total of 12 years) before retiring.