Help Aidan compete on Team USA

Hi everyone! I'm Aidan Lopez-Escarez. I currently hold dual enrollment as a senior at Cleveland High School while earning an Associate's Degree in Science at Seattle Central College. My Ultimate Frisbee story began in the latter part of my grade school years. It has become an ever-increasingly important part of my life since I began to play consistently in my freshman year of high school.  The sport and community have helped me grow both as an athlete and personally.

 A little bit more about me and my ultimate story: Being a senior now at Cleveland High School, I look back at all the experiences I've had throughout the years. Ultimate has given me the chance to play side by side with my older brother and allowed us to forge strong friendships within our community. Our network began to extend to the friends and competitors that we have met along the way, and together we all learned the sport plus lessons on the field that were applicable in everyday life. Since the start of this academic year, I had the privilege to compete with the Cleveland High School Ultimate Frisbee boys' team, and we went on to win the State Championship title (2019) while maintaining an undefeated record throughout the season.  I think my development and passion for the sport were fostered in the previous 2 summers when I was able to compete with the U17 boys(2018) and U20 mixed(2019) DiscNW YCC teams. These teams worked hard and played well together, and it showed when we brought home the gold at each year's tournament. I believe that frisbee forces me to grow because it teaches me different ways to resolve issues, it has shown me how to be an ambassador for the sport and community and taught me how to value multiple perspectives. All of these experiences from the field have molded me into a more considerate and conscientious athlete, and help me to mature as an individual because our local ultimate community helps us to address issues of social inequities that also emerge in our athletic environment.

Last week I received word that I earned a spot on the U20 Open National Team for the USA. This news has truly been a blessing and offers me the opportunity to compete this summer at the World Junior Ultimate Championship (WJUC) tournament in Malmö, Sweden. This is an amazing event and feels like a dream come true. In fact, my mom even shared with me a story from my childhood when I exclaimed that I would grow up to be a world athlete. Well, that time is now and the opportunity is here.

The WJUC 2020 is the 19th edition of the tournament and is expected to host 54 teams from 30 countries. WJUC began with an inaugural event in 1983. WJUC is now its own event and takes place every two years. As with any international level tournament, cost can be a huge barrier for athletes and is definitely a factor that every athlete is faced with. This is where you come in... I'd truly appreciate your donation and/or your help to share my story and fundraising campaign. No amount is too small or large, and each contribution is accepted with deep gratitude.

I'm hoping to raise money because the estimated cost for participating would be an upwards of $4,500. Anything helps and would mean a great deal to me. There are so many who have helped me to achieve this level of athleticism, and I will work to make you proud when representing you on the U.S. National Team. I'd like to thank you in advance for taking the time to support me and my many peers who will be representing for the nation for the championship title.

All love from,

Aidan Lopez-Escarez <3