Players’ Club with

William Dennis

WORDS BY JENNA SCHWARTZ | PHOTO BY MARÍA MÓNICA CORTÉS

We love our DC Fray players, so we’re highlighting them in our Players’ Club series. Join Fray leagues at dcfray.com/leagues.

Over the course of 12 years, William Dennis built his chosen family playing kickball on Thursday nights. Working in the hospitality industry, playing kickball was a way to take a much-needed break and eventually find his closest friends — including his current roommate. Two years ago, during the pandemic, Dennis began a career with DC Fray as a staffing coordinator and now he’s enjoying his role as senior operations manager.

“Covid took a lot from a lot of people,” Dennis says. “For me, personally, it actually gave me what I needed.”

Feeling burnt out from a career in the restaurant business and craving more time with his community, he found a way to bring both his career and his community together at DC Fray. We sat down with Dennis to talk about his time working for DC Fray, what social sports mean to him and where you’ll find him when he’s not working or playing kickball.

District Fray: What brought you to the D.C. area?

William Dennis: I joined student government in college and I got involved in a lot of different nonprofits. Through mixing and mingling, I first thought I wanted to move to D.C. after I graduated. I got a post-undergrad fellowship working for a nonprofit called New Virginia Majority, where they focus on voter rights, particularly in the Latinx community. But I realized after two months, that’s not the avenue I want to go down. And I was like, “I don’t want to go back to North Carolina. As much as I love her as a state, I don’t want to go back.”

Are you still politically active now?

I’m not as politically active as I was when I first moved to D.C. However, with my kickball team, we raise money for the Wanda Alston Foundation, which is here in D.C., as well as Equality PAC. Two organizations that focus on LGBT rights.

What drew you to do social sports with DC Fray?

I’ve always been an athlete. In high school, I did track and field, cross country and intramural sports. And so when I moved to D.C., I was like, “I want to stay active.”

What do you think is the most important or best part of being a part of a community like DC Fray?

For any young adult coming into D.C., finding their community is really difficult because D.C. is such a transient city. DC Fray just makes it so easy to connect with someone. Not just for me, but for any other player. DC Fray is an escape for us. We’re working either a nine-to-five, or we’re working a double shift at the restaurant. I don’t think about table 12 getting mad because their steak was overcooked. I’m thinking about being here and just connecting and having fun with my friends.

Obviously working for a social sports org is fun, too. What do you do for fun outside of work?

Video games. On Friday, I took a half day because the new Zelda game came out that morning. I just wanted to play all weekend. Outside of that, I enjoy just hanging out with my friends. Having that chosen family is really important. I’m also fortunate that my mom lives in D.C., so I hang out with my mom. And then of course I hang out with my dog Frank and my lovely cat Coco.

Your neighborhood. Ivy City. Favorite cuisine. Seafood and ramen. Favorite D.C. restaurant. JINYA Ramen Bar and Black Jack for happy hour. 2023 goal. Win the national championship for kickball in July, and create not only more queer but also more women leagues at Fray. Favorite D.C. sports team. D.C. Pickleball Team.

Crossword

CREATED BY MYLES MELLOR

This month’s theme is the double entendre of our dreams: all things camp. Make your way through this crossword that interprets our theme in many ways, from adventures in the DMV and beyond to the style, flair and celebration of D.C. Pride. Let’s get this show on the road.

NOTE: Check districtfray.com for the answer key.

Across

1 Express train for an NYC getaway

4 Historic West Virginia city where the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers meet

8 Large deer

9 Tree that’s a symbol of strength

10 Sled dog

11 Wedding vow, 2 words

13 Skiing destination in Colorado

15 Fir tree

17 caching

18 Nav system calculation, abbr.

20 Takes the car

23 Like clear night skies

24 Disappointing firecracker

26 Car club

27 Cocktail additions, 2 words

30 “The Simpsons” character Flanders

3

2 New Jersey beach getaway

36 Pitched a tent for the night

41 Short flight

4 3 Historical time period

44 Falls back, as a tide

45 Location of the Summerfest DC: Beer, Wine & Music Festival, 2 words

Down

1 Virginia city with a historic Old Town center

2 Mock cry of horror

3 Squirrel food

4 Walking a trail

5 Delaware beach city getaway

6 Singer performing at FedEx Field in Maryland in June, 2 words

7 Great blue yonder

12 Bucks’ mates

14 Capital Parade

16 River craft

19 “ -la-la”

21 College email address ending

22 Big sandwich, for short

25 Bear’s winter lair

28 Nod, maybe

40