Bill Nye “The Science Guy” and the Lovehandlers share a common fondness – ultimate frisbee. The women’s ultimate team got a new logo and took the name the Lovehandlers when it separated from the men’s team for its 2007 season.

Jessica Gamwell, a junior biology and chemistry major, said the team joined with women from the University of Texas at Arlington last spring and fall but will compete this semester solely with TCU students.

“I think, for a girl’s team, we’ll have a lot better chance of being more competitive this year,” said Gamwell, the women’s team co-captain.

Gamwell said ultimate is like a mixture of football, basketball and soccer. The object is to get the disc to one of your teammates in the end zone to score a goal. According to cstv.com, Bill Nye started playing while attending Cornell University.

Daniel Bess, a senior secondary education major and men’s team captain, said he is happy for the Lovehandlers because it gives them a chance to become more competitive on their own.

The teams practice twice a week on the intramural fields. Gamwell said practices are scheduled with the University Recreation Center so conflicts with intramural events are not frequent.

Although the teams are now separate, Bess said, they may have one practice a week remain co-ed.

“The big thing is we like to hang out and do a lot of stuff together,” Bess said.

Becky Meachum, club president and women’s co-captain, said practices started this week because the team is preparing for the Mardi Gras tournament. She said they will travel to Baton Rouge, La., on Feb. 16 to 18 to compete against 32 college women’s teams. Meachum, a senior secondary education major, said the $30 team dues required of each player help pay for team insurance and the $750 per semester stipend from the Student Government Association pay for tournament fees.

Bess said last semester was the 10th anniversary of the TCU Ultimate team.

When Meachum started playing four years ago for the co-ed team, the team only had three or four women on the team, she said. Four years later, 10 players now make up the female-exclusive roster.

“We would love to have more people so everyone can have a sub whenever they need it,” Meachum said.

She said their main challenge in separating from the men’s team was recruiting enough players to fill an adequate roster.

“The transition from us not having very many women to having a team of our own was awesome,” Meachum said.

Gamwell said she is looking forward to kicking off the Lovehandlers’ inaugural season.

“It’s good for them because they are going to get to go out on their own,” Bess said. “They’re actually really, really good.