The Preying Mantis is an insect with killer instinct and blinding speed.
The Manti are a group of around twenty dedicated Frisbee players. Most manti are from all over the country, though a few do originate in cooler climates. Their closest relatives are each other...unlike their relatives at home, the manti undergo simple, or incomplete, metamorphosis when they come to Oberlin. They do not have a completely frisbeeless life away from Oberlin. They go through several stages all of fitness upon arrival at Oberlin and during winter term which look like strange forms of torture to non-frisbee players..
LIFE
Many Preying Manti are from tropical origins and therefore need to be kept warm, as a general rule 20C to 25C will be ideal. The young should be fed on Stevenson’s fine dining cuisine, occasional co-op rations, or some other form of CDS meal plan provisions. They do well if supplied with as much food as they can eat although they can last quite a while without food. Many species are very aggressive towards other Frisbee teams on the field, and if kept in groups they will grow in strength and dominate. Some species will happily tackle other players as large as themselves and even larger. As they grow they can be given larger roles in the game, and almost any opponent players will be shut down. Manti usually need to drink. If they are kept in shape, a disc of beer is a good idea in order to provide some entertainment on non-two-day-tournament Saturday nights. Alternatively the Manti should be consuming massive amounts of water each day.
HOUSING
As the mantis grows it will acquire several pieces
of Frisbee parafanailia, becoming more experienced at each tournament.
Initially a small dorm room such as those found in Dascomb, Tank,
and Krackow, and any other buildings with freshman housing, will make a
suitable cage. As the mantis grows, it can progress into Noah, Burton, or
even a quad. Then in later years the mantis usually moves off campus, and finally into Frisbee House. A small tupperware can be
taken through Stevenson to allow food to be saved for tournament
weekends. The tupperwares can be stored with a back-pack
which will allow for undetected food smuggling. A suitable plug can be
used in the neck of a bottle when bringing drinks into Stevie. Nalgenes
should have lids without holes drilled in them at all times (because
that would defeat the purpose). Whatever type of housing is used,
a mere path should be provided for the Mantis to follow when it
needs to get to North Fields or the gym on time. The distance from the
Manti’s housing to the gym must be the least length
possible.
ADDICTION
Frisbee Addiction usually takes between 3 and 6 months. The young may become attached all at once or in batches over a period of several weeks. The young nymphs can be taught together for a time but the field must be very large with plenty of throwing spaces and an excess of experienced players must be provided to prevent the forming of bad habits and technique. The manti should be fairly experienced after the second or third year on the team.
Copyright P.E.Bragg. 1988
Additions G.Ramel and K.Pitts 1996
in italics are the:
Modifications for Oberlin Ultimate by Becky Hempel 2000
http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub/