Niki Tavakoli ’27 was first introduced to Girls Ultimate in eighth grade, when her science teacher would take a few students after school and teach them how to throw a frisbee. This marked the start of her love for the sport, which has continued throughout her journey at Andover.
“In eighth grade, I went to a local middle school, and I had a teacher who was actually an alum here. She was a science teacher, and she decided at one point that she would take a couple of us after school, and would teach us basic throwing. She was an Ultimate Captain [at Andover] as well, and her name is actually in [George Washington Hall]. But that is how I got introduced to the fact that I like throwing a Frisbee. When I came [to Andover], I figured, why not give it a shot? And so I basically started as a novice, and I really enjoyed it,” said Tavakoli.
Tavakoli recounted how, in her Junior year, mentorship from Seniors on Ultimate critically aided her development both as a player and now as a Co-Captain.
“I take a lot of inspiration in my leadership, and in character, from the team that we had [my] freshman year. It was two freshmen, two Lowers, and a bunch of Seniors, so just seeing the way that they were able to help us feel more comfortable on the field and on campus was a very formative example for me. And something that I realized is that this was really valuable to me and something that I would love to do for the people on the team,” said Tavakoli.
As Co-Captain, Tavakoli focuses on creating a tight-knit community within the team, ranging from throwing a Frisbee to simply getting to know one another.
“My goal is to make Ultimate focused on player development, because a lot of people start off new, so going aside with people, throwing with them, that is really important to bring everyone up to the level where we can function as a team. I try to be a person that has a big mantra, and in Ultimate, we look after each other on and off the field, so I try to be that person that my teammates can feel comfortable talking to,” said Tavakoli.
Teammate Jeannie Kang ’28 described Tavakoli’s consistently positive energy.
“Niki is like a ball of sunshine. She can be very grounded and mature when leading the group, but she can also be very hyped up, and bring energy to the team. That’s what all of us appreciate about Niki, that she knows when to be grounded and when to have fun, and she is very good at serving as the core of the team,” said Kang.
Teammate Emma Tan ’29 similarly detailed how Tavakoli creates a positive environment during both practices and games.
“She is always pumping people up and being supportive. Even if people mess up, she tries to help them with what they are doing. She always makes sure to be really positive, and she leads by example by always demonstrating drills and throws and everything that we would need to do,” said Tan.
Editor’s Note: Niki Tavakoli is a News Editor for The Phillipian.
