Hippo in Our Hearts

Spanning four years, Hippo in our Hearts presents a visual narrative of The George Washington University Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team (AKA The Hippos). What began as casual documentation of tournaments slowly unfolded into a reflective examination of the program. Moving through seasons, I found myself tracing not just athletic intensity but the quieter rhythms of the team from sunrise huddles and echoed chants across cold mornings to the concentration of taping fingers and the shared joy and camaraderie between players. These moments, small on their own, together form the fabric of a team and the memory of its daily life.

As I documented, new coaches have taken the helm, players have graduated, and mentorships between upperclassmen and freshmen formed. But, the small sacrifices for practice and travel, and the moments of doubt and resilience on and off the field stay the same. In the spaces between points and tournaments, the team’s culture emerges: a network of care, trust, and shared effort that carries players individually and collectively.

All together, they trace a rhythm of history, community, and kinship that has marked my time with the Hippos. They reflect the work and resilience that sustain the program and the ways in which observing and playing over years has shaped my understanding of belonging, memory, and connection. More than a record of games won or lost, Hippo in our Hearts captures the living culture of a team and the shared spirit that will continue to carry the program forward.