Hi everyone! My name is Eliseo and I am 15 years old, but most of you probably know me as Ely, (or Seo if you’ve known me forever). If you know my name, then you most likely know that I play Ultimate frisbee. Ultimate frisbee is a huge part of my life and something that I dedicate a lot of time to. I was recently selected to represent the USA National team (U20) in Spain this summer at the World Junior Ultimate Championship. The tournament this July is the Ultimate frisbee equivalent to the World Cup and is a great opportunity to compete at the highest level.

My Journey:

I started playing Ultimate in 5th grade when two of my best friends at Thornhill Elementary school got me to come out to a Catch & Release practice. This was around the time that the COVID pandemic started, but since Ultimate is a non-contact sport we were able to continue practicing. After my first couple of games and tournaments, I really started to fall in love with the sport. When I got to middle school, I started to play for the St Paul’s Ultimate frisbee team. The coaches of the St. Paul’s team were high school students who played for the only high school frisbee team in Oakland, DiscoTech. When I was in 7th grade my coaches invited me to a DiscoTech practice, and that was the day my life really changed. I started to play at the high school level with DiscoTech and began to challenge myself against older kids. Through the years I have also played for many different club teams like Gold Rush (U20), OAK Sparks (U17), and BayDogs (Men’s Club).

What Ultimate means to me:

If it isn’t obvious, frisbee is very important to me. In middle school frisbee really began to take over my life. I would share my love for the game with everyone I met. People knew me as the kid in the yellow hat because I would wear my yellow Oakland Spiders hat every single day! Ultimate has given me a lot: some of the best friends I could ask for, lots of unforgettable experiences, and it has helped me make and strengthen my life skills. Being a Captain for a team that won a National Championship, in the Summer of ‘25, was an honor and taught me how to help lead my group to success. Ultimate has also taught me that hard work and dedication can pay off if you fully commit to a passion. Now with this wonderful opportunity I can represent my country doing the thing I love the most.

How To Help: Team USA does not yet have corporate sponsorships that other sports do. Players are asked to do their own form of fundraising, with the total cost estimated to be around $5,500. This cost includes, the travel to training camps prior to the tournament, coaching staff, medical coverage, lodging and transportation to and from Spain. Anything you are able to donate would be extremely appreciated.

If you have spent the time of day reading this far, you already have a special place in my heart. If you are just here to learn about me I appreciate you for listening to my story. If you are interested in watching me play for Team USA this summer, reach out and I will give you the details.

With love,

Eliseo Vaquerano

Photos: Ultiphotos, https://doubleblind.pixieset.com/2025gurlsbuyahighschoolmixeder/