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They not only enjoyed the sport, but they excelled at it, prompting them to start a new student organization, the Pitt State Disc Golf Club.
And now, they have bragging rights: Along with teammates Noah Kangas (Pittsburg education major) and Hunter Williams (Spring Hill construction management major), they won Golden Eagle Collegiate Tournament earlier this month, qualifying Pittsburg State University to compete in the National College Disc Golf Championship next week in North Carolina.
“To us it means as much as a national football championship,” Wrinkle said. “We’ve all had our own journeys to get to this point.”
McDowell, who is a history and Spanish major from Pittsburg, said that although he played a few times in high school, it wasn’t until the pandemic hit in 2020 that he got hooked on the sport.
“I had time and I could do it safely,” he said. “I love it because everyone has the same goal — to get the disc in the basket — but there are so many ways to go about getting there, and no one does it the same as anyone else. It’s challenging and it’s interesting."
Wrinkle, who is an architectural manufacturing management and technology major from Overland Park, enjoys the ability to compete in an environment that is welcoming.
“The disc golf community is one of the best in the world,” Wrinkle said. “If you are new to it, and you come out here and we see you, we’re going to welcome you. We want to grow the sport.”
It’s inexpensive, McDowell noted, which makes it especially attractive to college students and recent graduates.
“You can get one disc for a few bucks and start playing, or you can get an entire starter set for about $30,” McDowell explained. "It's also a great way to meet people in college."
Similar to golf clubs, the four types of discs are designed for different uses: distance drivers, fairway drivers, midranges, and putters.
“Other than that, there is no expensive or fancy gear — just whatever you want to wear, depending on the weather,” Wrinkle added.
And, speaking of weather, they appreciate being able to play the sport just about year-round, provided it’s not too muddy. The team was out on a course many days throughout the winter.
“We also like the fact that it helps us be active,” McDowell said. “The Lincoln Park course is 1.3 miles and the Schlanger Park course is 2.5 miles.”
Now, in addition to ensuring they’re physically and technically ready for the championship, they’re putting a final push into fundraising to help offset costs. (Want to donate? Here's how.)
Most of all, they say, they are excited to represent Pittsburg and Pittsburg State at a national event.
“It’s exciting to have made it this far,” McDowell said.
Want to get involved?
You can find the Pitt State Disc Golf Club on Gorilla Engage.
Community members also have options: The Pitt Disc Golf group can be found on Facebook and has nearly 250 members. It’s open to anyone interested in the sport of disc golf and being in the know about area tournaments, leagues, and more.
Pittsburg's disc golf courses are managed by Pittsburg Parks & Recreation.
