Five New Members Going Into The International Frisbee & USA Guts Hall of Fame

CALUMET: The USA Guts Board of Directors announces the latest inductees into the International Frisbee and USA Guts Hall of Fame. The five new inductees are: Mark Banghart of Lansing; Steve Buckley of metro Detroit; Pat Dexter of Albuquerque, NM; Duane Haralson of Calumet; and Julie Vadnais of Washburn, WI (formerly of Marquette).

Banghart is the driving force behind the Boomtown Saints, who have won six IFTS, four Guts World’s championships, and have been members of three TEAM USAs that have won and placed second in the last three WFDF World Ultimate and Guts Championships, including last year in London, England.

Buckley has won numerous tournaments as a member of the Cupola Bandits and Blame the Dog. Widely regarded as the best end player in the history of Guts, Buckley combined great defense with two great throws: a thumb throw and a backhand (opposite handed).

Originally a Midwesterner, Dexter created the Albuquerque Guts scene, which has produced teams that have won the IFT and several other important tournaments. He also hosts the High Desert Classic, an annual tournament in his hometown that draws top talent from around the Guts Frisbee world.

Haralson played some of the best defense of all time, threw a pinpoint accurate sidearm shot and lead the Paul’s Bar teams of the 1970s to the highest levels of competition. Always stressing sportsmanship and integrity, he continued to play for forty years and taught generations of Keweenaw Guts players the proper way to compete.

Vadnais, originally from Marquette, played with the Mad Hatters during the heyday of women’s Guts in the 1970s and 1980s. She combined a dominating throw and rock solid defense, honed by practicing with men’s teams over the years. She will bring a women’s team to the IFT this year.

This year’s Coca-Cola IFT will be held Saturday, July 8^th and Sunday, July 9^th. A Japanese team will be competing for the first time in six years. The IFT will be preceded by a fun Guts event, Thursday, July 6^th at the birthplace of Guts Frisbee and the IFT, the Eagle Harbor Ballyard.  Freestyle, Disc Golf, Dog demo, and other field events will take place on Friday, July 7, at Agassiz Field in Calumet.  Players and fans are welcome to try their hand at accuracy, distance, speed, and other free, fun events. Also registration for the IFT will take place Friday evening at Agassiz Field.  Please no glass or pets.

The five new Hall inductees will be honored with a dinner Saturday evening at the Calumet Colosseum, home of the International Frisbee and USA Guts Hall of Fame and Museum.

Guts action will conclude around 5:00 p.m. Sunday, with the awarding of the Julius T. Nachazel Cup, Healy Family MVP Award, and Jon Davis Spirit of Guts Award. A new trophy will be given to the winner of the Saucer Division, where first-time players will be matched with old timers who haven’t given the disc a fling for many years.

In Guts, two teams face off at 14 meters and hurl the orange Professional Model Frisbee disc at speeds in excess of 80 mph. The disc must be thrown within reach and must be caught one-handed. Games are played to 21 points and must be won by two.