UFA vs USAU Men's Club - Part 2 - Strategic Differences and Offensive Tilt

Writer's note 9/23/2024. This went unpublished despite being written in May. Our defensive numbers for Summit for the 2024 season took a bit of a nosedive this year. I may update some of my thoughts below relative to the changing schematic landscape but I haven't looked through concrete league-wide data to see if defense got worse across the league or if it was just us.

Please review my UFA vs USAU men's club series intro for a contextual framework for what's below.

The basic idea is that I'm weighing the pros and cons of various criteria between USAU men's elite club and the structure and play in the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA).

Strategy Differences and Offensive Tilt

I hear the opinion that the UFA field size tilts the game further in favor of the offense and that defense is too hard/non existent. My role on Bravo and Summit is defensive strategy. Bravo and Summit are both defense first teams. We pride ourselves on our ability to pressure every matchup we face and we certainly work hard to put together a clean product. I could not disagree more with this take about the UFA. For context we have 20+ player overlap between Bravo and Summit. 

Here's some data for defense:

Ok, TK - yeah that's fine and dandy, but there's some bad teams in the UFA, so those Summit break numbers are probably a bit inflated by those games. True, here's some more data:

Yes, the Summit numbers are slightly inflated by some of the weaker competition but against playoff competition, break percentages are right at the same level as Bravo's nationals games.

Successful breaks do not completely capture "defense," but for me it is a pretty reasonable metric to consider what defensive success looks like. A counter-argument is that a higher break percentage in the UFA could be related to the ability to take a timeout and sub players - leading to a higher conversion rate of breaks, not necessarily better defense. Summit (strangely) has converted breaks at a lower rate when we take a timeout and sub rather letting the lines play it out - so at least for us, that's not true. 

Another reasonable question is Summit relatively better than UFA playoff teams than Bravo vs USAU nationals teams - that's possible I suppose but not sure my data backs that up either. Summit's win % in that playoff data is 58.33% whereas Bravo's is 77%. From being on the ground in all these games and crafting the defensive strategy, I actually feel like defense in UFA is a bit easier (hot take!). That's largely tied to the availability of film, data, and prep time. 

In UFA, I can put together an opposing player scouting profile in 30 minutes. I can easily flip to games they were in and see roughly what role they played. I can pull completion %, huck %, their throwing charts; I can make inferences about their role in the offense based on stats, then back it up with info from film. 

Doing that in club is hugely time consuming and a lot of scouting in club is based on the eye-test and reputation, which has value but often can be misleading or privy to bias. The games that are streamed tend to be games with a higher profile which is good for scouting stars, but harder for scouting role players. 

I've also heard the take the play in the UFA is just sloppier so it's less about defense and more about bad offense. Let's look at a some data on turnovers. There isn't a lot of concrete club data beyond flawed counting stats from nationals. But the cleanest club game I have ever been a part of was pool play Bravo vs Truck Stop at 2022 nationals. Bravo lost that game 12-15 but it was an incredible performance from both teams offensively: 6 total turnovers despite significant wind. That's 1 turnover every 4.5 points or so. 

The cleanest UFA game in recent memory is last year's playoff game between DC and NY. There were 14 total turns between the two teams with NY winning 24-19. That's 1 turn every 3 points or so. So some of the cleanest O games in Club have fewer turnovers than some of the cleanest UFA, sure, but 1 turnover every 3 points scored doesn't sound like a sloppy mess to me. Heck our semi finals game vs Machine in 2023 had 8 turnovers in a single point - I just don't think that argument holds water, at least for the top UFA teams. 

All the games I referenced above are outliers, sure, but realistically there's nothing else to really compare with a broader data pool on because there's no externally available data for club teams. I track a lot of specifics for Bravo with some internally created pieces and there are some tools out there like Ulti Analytics, but realistically so much of what we think about club is rooted in 'feel.' 

I push back heavily on the notion that offense is too easy in the UFA or that overall play from the top teams is sloppier than club. Good defensive teams are good at defense in club and USAU. Good offensive teams are good at offense in club and USAU. 

The biggest difference for me is perception: lower-level teams are showcased just as much in the UFA as good teams are in club because everything is filmed. At club nationals we see the 16 best teams battling it out and that's where a lot of the standard is set for what top tier US play looks like in each division. However, with all due respect, tuning in any Detroit game is like watching a mid-tier regionals team play in club and despite the level of play, I can still watch 12 Detroit games every year. However, folks reference the play of bad teams in the UFA as a part of the UFA, whereas lower-level teams in club don't factor in with that the overall club game looks like from a sloppiness or level of skill standpoint. 

If every series club game was streamed would we use that whole library of data to talk about what strategy works or doesn't work or make broad inferences about the club game? 

I also do want to make sure and address the concrete differences (other than officiation, that's a separate entry) as well.

Field Width (larger UFA width and length)

A lot of my thoughts on the larger field is implied above. It is hard to play D with that extra ~13 yards of width but as my data hopefully indicates you can still play good defense. Things that work in club don't work as well or the same in UFA - but that doesn't mean there aren't options. Does more space make it inherently harder? Maybe it does, but I think the advantages that UFA brings from the single game structure and stats/film resources balance that out to where it's comparable if not tilted in favor of UFA - at least for those who utilize what's available. 

Double Teams (allowable in UFA)

Candidly, the Summit suck at doubling. We see other teams have success with it, but we have gotten maybe 2 turns off of doubles in 2.5 years and usually it just leads to use getting beat badly elsewhere. I don't really like the rule in a vacuum - high risk, high reward - doesn't really align with how we approach D on Summit in general. The biggest issue I have with doubles is that that both players are almost always in illegal marking positions and fouls are rarely called (I'll talk more about this in the officiation section). So as far as this being a tool to 'balance' out the additional field width for defense - we don't use it. Other teams do. It's just a fun tactic to consider certainly - more options on tactics, in my opinion, is not a bad thing nor do I believe it damages the integrity of the game as long as it is officiated appropriately. 

Shorter Pulls (new in 2023 for UFA)

As of 2023, the UFA pulling team does so from the brick. I think this is an awesome change. Even at the elite levels in club a lot of pulls go out of bounds - starting centered from the brick is a huge advantage. There are some 99th percentile pullers that can truly leverage an advantage for elite teams (Christian Foster for example) with incredible pulling, but mostly offenses get pretty reasonable setups to start their sets. Additionally, pulls are significantly effected by wind conditions further exacerbating decreased level of play as these conditions mount. 

I think about a stiff upwind/downwind game. It's already much harder to score upwind than downwind. What further tilts this is it's also easier to pin a team further back with a downwind pull. I'm all for players showcasing high level talents in the wind, but for a lot of folks, even elite players, wind has a disproportionate impact on the game. I'd rather mitigate that wherever possible and a shorter pull length helps that out.

I also think that more tactical options are better! There are now a ton more viable ways to attack an opposing team with a pull. Blades, double helix floaters with 100% coverage, sideline rollers. All of these things are more prevalent in the UFA and that is a good thing - it forces teams to adjust and adapt. There are less "clean-motion" pull play options that work when there's often more defensive pressure right off the bat. I don't see this as a band aid for this bigger field, I see this as a great way to encourage teams to play less scripted offense, which for me is more interesting and exciting to strategize against and to watch. My absolute two favorite players to watch in the world are the Cardenas twins and it's in largely part because they play such a free-flow offensive style. 

I also like the rule that if it rolls out the back it comes in on the back line. I don't think is a disproportionally punitive rule - I think all it does is make sure you're mindful about fielding the pull with multiple players. Instead of five people jogging into position, you have four. I like that you reward pullers who have the skill to land it and roll it out the back in that way, and the shorter pull length makes that pool of pullers who can do that larger.

Time-out Subs (players are allowed to sub on timeouts and stall count is reduced)

I mentioned that for whatever reason Summit has not found a lot of success with this specific tactic but again I think it's a great rule. Why not give folks more dynamic options with what to do? I'll acknowledge that there's an argument for encouraging a fully rounded player - you can't have a D specialist with has no offensive skills - but I still think this is a rule USAU should adopt. Allow players and coaches more tactical options. Timeouts are silly and boring right now in club. 

Moving After Stoppages

This isn't totally feasible in club because of the self-officiation rules, but it's a hugely positive thing in my opinion. It's a significant advantage to force the offense to come to a stop. Folks who think that club teams don't leverage intentional fouling to force players to choose between playing through and calling the foul and having offense stagnate are sorely mistaken. A certain level of contact just happens and feels a bit like an unwritten rule in the elite men's game right now, and some teams push that threshold more than others. 

Whistles and fouls in the UFA don't completely solve that problem, mostly because players still stop or slow even though they don't need to, but the movement piece is definitely something that at least somewhat mitigates the beneficial impacts of fouling on the game (along with yardage - I'll elaborate in the officiation section). 

Timed Quarters vs Games to a Score

I do understand, within the confines of a tournament, why games to a score with a time cap make sense. We need to have games end roughly at the same time. It would also be more infrastructure needed to track time appropriately: clocks, timekeepers etc. But dang, you know what's awesome about timed game? It adds depth to strategy and tactics. 

For an offense, you don't just think about scoring, you also have to think about scoring with varying pace. If our team generally takes 42 seconds to score a point but there's 55 seconds on the clock, how do we make adjustments to eat up that time. That adds tactical depth. We run different sets, schemes and personnel packages depending on how much time is on the clock on both sides of the ball. 

That being said, I would very much like the UFA to adopt the WUL end of quarter rule. I hate jump balls. It's not a safe setting. I'd rather the clock going to 0 trigger a final possession situation rather than a heave at a bunch of bodies in the endzone.

The devil's advocate in me also has to say that the end of regulation play in the Salt Lake / Minnesota game at championship weekend  last year was one of the most exciting Ultimate plays I have ever seen. 

I'll update the links as I release new entries.

Introduction

Part 1 - Accessibility for Fans and Season Format

Part 2 - Strategy Differences and Offensive Tilt

Part 3 - Referees vs Self-Officiated/Observers 

Part 4 - Accessibility for Players and Coaches

Part 5 - Grassroots vs Financially Motivated

UFA vs USAU Men's Club - Part 1 - Fan Accessibility and Season Format

Please review my UFA vs USAU men's club series intro for a contextual framework for what's below.

The basic idea is that I'm weighing the pros and cons of various criteria between USAU men's elite club and the structure and play in the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA).

Accessibility for Fans

This is a slam dunk for UFA. I have a wife and 6-year-old daughter - they are incredibly supportive of all my frisbee endeavors and I very much appreciate that. The UFA single game structure, seating, the scoreboard, the fan experience - all of that is miles ahead of even the best run USAU events as it relates to digestibility and accessibility of the product for family and fans.

I'm sure a lot of folks have the "team mom" families that come out for their college and club teams (Bravo, of course, has them). Those folks are incredible: sitting through 2-4 day tournaments, bringing snacks, wandering around a massive field complex, sitting through byes; all that stuff is amazing, but that is just not an accessible experience for many. 

Some folks' families do not have the resources nor work flexibility to commit to a full weekend like that. Some parents or friends simply may not want to. It's hard to keep track of the format, scores, scheduling, field sites, byes and other pieces that go into a tournament. I get confused as a 20+ year coach at times.

My parents have been supporting my frisbee career since I was 19 - they've come to more Summit games in 2 years than they did for college and club in 20. That wasn't because they weren't supportive, it's simply because it's so much more reasonable to sit in the stands for 2 hours and be able to see the freakin' score clearly without squinting at some flip board (if the tournament happens to have them). They've got an announcer at every game telling them what's happening on the field. They've got clear names and numbers on all the jerseys so they can get to know more than just the couple of people they've met before. 

The accessibility of streamed games for fans is also significantly ahead of what the options are for club. Yes, some of the local UFA streams aren't great (we are so fortunate to have Justin "Rabbit" Salvia running our broadcast for the Summit and Ian Toner and Chuck Kindred calling our games), but  regardless, every single game UFA is streamed, archived and available for easy access. 

I appreciate the heck out of what Charlie and Ultiworld have done to expand the coverage of USAU games - there is so much more film than there used to be. I know Ultiworld is continuing to grow their coverage, but regardless of the broadcast quality inconsistencies, every UFA game is streamed, from an elevated angle and available on a single website/platform.

Advantage: UFA

Season Format

I'm on the record in other spaces: I do not like the tournament structure. I understand why it is what it is. I understand and enjoy the bond and community you have the opportunity to create in a tournament setting. I also understand that relative to cost and logistics, it is one of the more feasible ways to play this sport and compete with some level of geographic diversity. 

All of that being said, my biggest issues with the tournament structure are the following:

I do not believe it is a healthy or safe structure for an individual to play 6-7 games in a weekend from an injury standpoint. I have seen dozens if not hundreds of young players get or develop consistent nagging injuries from the tournament format. I do believe folks can appropriately prepare themselves for the structure through training, but I think a lot of folks do not have the knowledge or resources to appropriately do that at all levels of the sport. 

I do not believe tournaments showcase our players at their best throughout the whole event. Early in the tournament there is always some level of consideration for what you need to save for later stages. Bracket games are unquestionably different than pool play games at nationals.

It generally makes game-planning and nuanced strategizing more challenging. At a non-nationals tournament it's possible that I don't see pools until the Wednesday before the tournament. If you're making the semis or finals of nationals there's more opportunity to prep and game-plan but beyond that it's generally more rushed. Do we make it work? Sure we do. Our coaching staff takes pride in Bravo being one of the most prepared club teams at any tournament we attend, but it is a ton of work and effort and I recognize not everyone has the capacity to spend 20+ hours a week leading up to tournaments scouting 10 different teams in an amateur sport. 

What I do like about the USAU season is the ability to build and grow. Yes, every game does matter as it relates to rankings, bids, seeding, etc. but realistically, Bravo gets the chance to spend the regular season tinkering, growing and building up with that clear focus on a single tournament at the end of the season - that's what our end goal is - winning along the way is great, but not important. The ability to have a season structure that reinforces that process-oriented approach is hugely positive for us. 

As someone who did a lot of coaching and playing in mid-tier club, I do want to acknowledge that this could be very different for teams that don't have the reasonable likelihood that they'll earn a nationals (or regionals) bid. The Triple Crown Tour is a rich get richer structure. Bravo gets to go to US open and Pro Champs and play the best teams and know that win or lose, our bid is probably secure - we can experiment with personnel, try new sets or get younger folks a lot of developmental reps against top competition. For teams that are fighting to secure a nationals bid, they may have a very different attitude because every win or loss, and the margins of those games, can be critically important. What is a positive for me, may be a negative for others. 

On the UFA side, I do appreciate the single game structure. I know our regular season schedule months ahead of time and even playoffs give ample prep time for individual opponents. 

Additionally, players to get mentally and physically prepare to play one game a weekend (maybe two on road trips or championship weekend) and that allows them to really approach it with an all-in mentality. Fitness is still hugely important, because playing 100% for 2+ hours is still a really challenging thing, but there is still that knowledge that win or lose, there isn't another game right after or early the next morning. 

What I really dislike about the UFA structure is the inherent conflict with being process and growth oriented when there are only 12 regular season games and winning game 1 is the same as winning game 12. There is a tension here because making the season longer just isn't feasible without leaning into more games in more weekends (USAU structure!). Knowing that the season is shorter and wins all really matter, there simply are less opportunities to give that young guy a shot or to try that new personnel grouping or that new scheme, because we do need to make sure we both win enough games to qualify for playoffs, but also feel like we have built up enough chemistry across the shorter season to feel ready to compete with the best. 

Advantage: Push

-TK

I'll update the links as I release new entries.

Introduction

Part 1 - Accessibility for Fans and Season Format

Part 2 - Strategy Differences and Offensive Tilt

Part 3 - Referees vs Self-Officiated/Observers 

Part 4 - Accessibility for Players and Coaches

Part 5 - Grassroots vs Financially Motivated

The Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) vs USAU Men's Club - Introduction

I've seen a fair amount of discussion about the benefits and challenges of the semi-pro league(s) vs  USAU club. There's a lot of feels for folks surrounding both versions of the sport, which I totally understand, but I feel like it would be worth chiming in given my perspective of coaching and organizing at both the elite USAU club men's level and for an elite UFA franchise. 

My Experience and Context

UFA - I have been the co-head coach of the Colorado Summit since it's inauguration into the league in 2022 alongside my good friend Mike Lun. This role is very player-facing but it is also significantly involved with the off the field organizational pieces as well. I have a pretty good sense of the (immense) efforts and energy it takes to keep the Summit running.

The Summit is a Tier 1 UFA organization which is not specifically related to results, but rather to our fan experience, attendance numbers and things of that nature. Summit have also qualified for the playoffs for each of the past two years, reaching championship weekend in 2022. 

USAU Club - I have coached Colorado Johnny Bravo since 2020 alongside Joe Durst and (more recently) Mike Lun as well. The 2020 season was lost to covid, in 2021 we lost in quarters, in 2022 we won the club title and in 2023 we lost on universe point in the semi finals.

Bravo coaching staff works closely with the elected Bravo captains to coordinate and plan the season both on and off the field so again I have a pretty comprehensive perspective of on and off the field pieces at the elite club level. 

I have a bevy of other club and college coaching and playing experience, but the context that seems most relevant for this discussion is above. I don't share these pieces to toot my own horn just to show that where my perspective is coming from - one of the premier UFA franchises and one of the top men's club teams for the past 3-4 years. 

Personal Challenges and Shortcomings

I don't have any experience coaching in the women's division either in club or the WUL/PUL. I am an avid supporter of the Colorado Alpenglow and Molly Brown, but that is purely as a fan; I have no formal role with those teams. My thoughts below will be framed around the men's game, because that is where my first hand experience lies, not because I believe it is exclusively what the conversation should revolve around. 

Another shortcoming for this conversation is that I only have UFA experience with the Colorado Summit. Every franchise is different and I have had the absolute privilege of being a part of an organization that has an unbelievably passionate ownership group and staff that make the Summit pretty incredible. I know that is not the case across the board for UFA franchises.

Lastly, this is simply my opinion. 

What's the structure of these pieces?

I'm going to write out some of the critical criteria of how I evaluate each of the two playing structures with pros and cons of each and an overall advantage between the two structures. 

I had originally envisioned this as a single entry, but as I approached 3000 words and only had hit a few criteria, I decided it would make more sense as a series. 

Hope this is interesting for folks - it was fun to put a lot of my thoughts to paper. 

-TK 

I'll update the links as I release new entries.

Part 1 - Accessibility for Fans and Season Format

Part 2 - Strategy Differences and Offensive Tilt

Part 3 -  Referees vs Self-Officiated/Observers 

Part 4 - Accessibility for Players and Coaches

Part 5 - Grassroots vs Financially Motivated

Reflecting on a 3rd Place Finish

It's @MachineUltimate taking the first men's semifinal on Universe point win, defeating @BravoUltimate 15-14 in a thriller!#USAUltimate | #USAUNats pic.twitter.com/qJGKJPqpU2

— USA Ultimate (@USAUltimate) October 22, 2023

Setting the Stage

My third full season coaching Johnny Bravo came a close this past Saturday in San Diego with a 14-15 universe point loss to Chicago Machine in the semifinals of club nationals. It was disappointing that we came up just short from returning to the title game, but despite that, it's easy for me to consider this club season a resounding success for Bravo. 

The Friday before club nationals, I sipped a bit of wine and sat down to write some thoughts on the 2023 season as I'd seen it unfold thus far. I rambled and meandered through some parallels between Colorado State's 2017 run to our first college nationals and the Bravo 2022 title run. I talked a bit about culture. I reflected on the team's regular season and regionals performance, but ran out of steam and decided it was a blog entry better left unpublished. As I re-read through what I had written the next day the following passage stood out to me:

This year has been challenging for Bravo. We're title defenders but certainly not title favorites. We've had a solid regular season, but haven't cemented ourselves as anything other than a pretty good team. We didn't win our region (again). We aren't entering nationals as a top seed. Expectations for the team, at least externally, aren't high. 

Despite all that, I'm so f'ing pumped up for where Bravo is in this moment. We've dealt with injuries all season. We've struggled to find an offensive identity. We've got a ton of talent, but we haven't quite put together all the pieces together. But the real reason I'm excited isn't because I think we're guaranteed to make another "miracle" run to the title, but rather because I know that this team believes in ourselves and each other. 

That's the crux of it right there. We believe in ourselves and each other. It sounds like cliché cat poster material, but it's the reality of why Bravo is such an amazing team. 

The Tournament

I was really excited for the World Cup Draw seeding this year at nationals. A quick rundown on the new seeding process: the 1st-4th seeds were determined by the USAU post-regionals rankings, then the 5th-8th ranked, qualifying teams were randomly assigned as 2 seeds in each pool, the 9th-12th ranked teams as 3 seeds and 13th-16th as 4 seeds. 

Honestly, my enthusiasm for the new system was about knowing our pool a lot earlier than normal, giving us more time to prepare for specific opponents. The rest of who ended up where wasn't important - it was all about that prep time. 

We were drawn into pool A with DC Truck, Raleigh Ring of Fire and Eugene Darkstar. It was literally the top overall seed (Truck), the highest ranked 2 seed (Ring) and the highest ranked 3 seed (us) - an absolute juggernaut of a pool. I have no idea what Truck thought about it, but getting placed into a pool with us (again) and with the 2021 champions (Ring) must have stung after their dominant regular season. 

We stormed out of the gates, breaking Truck five times on route to a 15-14 victory. Our defensive attack was headlined by Mathieu Agee and Jay Froude who set the tone early with a pair of absolutely jaw dropping blocks. This win wasn't an upset from our perspective - Truck has been overall best team of the past two club seasons in the men's division - no question. However, three of their previous four losses dating back to 2022 US open were to us. This is a matchup we look forward to every single time because we know it's going to be an absolute slug-fest. 

Heading into our second game against Ring we knew it was essential to keep the energy high. Beating Truck could quickly be rendered moot if we followed it up with a loss to Ring and create the potential for the dreaded 2-1 three-way tie. Early the game, Ring's defensive pressure was spectacular. Our O was holding on by the slimmest of margins before we found our footing late in the first half and pulled away in the second with a handful of breaks winning 15-12. This clinched the pool for us and gave us some breathing room heading into our last game of the day against 0-2 Darkstar. 

The first half we struggled to find the right energy and Darkstar showcased a polished deep game. The halftime score was only 8-7 and despite the fact that the outcome of the game wouldn't change the pool standings, we wanted to finish the day strong. First year captain Justin Abel lit a fire under the team with his half-time speech and we pulled away, allowing only a single point in the second half and winning 15-8. 

This was a far cry from our 1-2 finish in pool play at the previous year's nationals and gave us a cushy 11:45am start time the following day against the winner of Austin Doublewide and San Francisco Revolver for quarterfinals. Doublewide had kicked our butts in the South Central regional final and Revolver had beaten us 15-13 in a blustery game at Pro-champs. Truck, meanwhile, had lost to Ring in another thrilling 15-14 game, dropping the top overall seed to a 3rd place finish in the pool. 

The coaching staff got to the fields early to watch the prequarters matchup and scout our potential opponents. My hope was that Doublewide would win, not because I felt they were the easier matchup, but rather because we knew we had a better showing in us that what we'd brought in the regional final. My hopes were dashed as Revolver handled them 15-7, but we were still excited to have a quality game against a great opponent. 

We knew Revolver would leverage the vertical threat of Adam Rees and Kevin Tien and we had phenomenal matchups on both our D lines for those two in Mathieu Agee, Saeed Semrin, Jay Froude and Kai Marshall. Feeling good about the personnel pieces, we came out strong, breaking four times in the first half, feeding off fresh legs and good vibes. Revolver punched back a bit in the second half, breaking us twice, but we righted the ship and cruised to a reasonably comfortable 15-11 win. This was our cleanest offensive game of the tournament. Revolver likes to switch and bracket a lot in the downfield but our backfield core of Jon Nethercutt, Connor Tabor and Nate Buchholz kept calm, moved the disc from side-to-side confidently and gave our cutters the time to negotiate the brackets and switches. 

On the other side of the bracket, Machine trounced Rhino 15-9 setting up a semi final between the only two remaining undefeated men's teams at the tournament, us and them. Truck had squeaked by Atlanta Chain lightning in pre-quarters then won a controversial universe point game vs Boston DiG in quarters. Ring had beaten Vancouver Furious George in prequarters and then beat an absolutely loaded New York PoNY team in quarters, 14-13. All three of the top teams from our pool had pushed through to semis - a wild, but not overly surprising outcome. Thanks world cup draw! 

We started strong in the Machine game. We knew a lot about their personnel and what they liked to do as well as having a reasonable expectation for how they'd approach the game on both sides of the ball. All tournament long they'd utilized the 1-2 punch of Joe White and Nate Goff off the pull. They weren't looking just to huck but rather were looking to leverage those two to chunk the field early with the combination of speed, size and Joe White's throws. Often they'd move the disc out to the high side-line (there was a reasonable crosswind basically the entire tournament) and then break the mark to Joe with Goff chunking the field on the next continuation.

Similar to Revolver, this was a dual vertical threat that we felt good about our ability to match on. We started the game strong, breaking early and often. On the offensive side of the disc, they played a lot of soft junk and poaches but we slid around the shallow spaces and worked through their sets. Denny Bechis spent the whole game running through poaches and switches to keep Machine on their heels and in the first half, it worked wonderfully well. We led by three breaks at half and were starting the second half on O. 

In the second half Machine made a very clear and concerted effort to play more physically.  Early in the half they committed to a more dedicated zone then zagged into more physical poachy D, headlined by Johnny Bansfield. The game turned into a scrum. Players were hitting the turf left and right. Things were getting chippy and heated. They broke three times to tie it up at 11-11 then we slogged through a 15 minute point with 8+ turns before finally punching in the score. We had started the point with one of our D-lines receiving but lost Noah Coolman, Mathieu Agee and Saeed Semrin to injuries, so by the end of the point, it was a mish-mash of whoever had survived. 

Machine held on a quick huck from Joe White to Paul Arters on the next point then we worked it up wind before Connor Tabor hit Alex Atkins for a hammer score. Bansfield bid into Atkins on the catch and Atkins gave him a stare down then a huge spike. As he was walking away, Bansfield shoved him in the back and was ejected from the game. 

The energy and tension that had been building the entire second half bubbled over in that moment. On top of the ejection, Machine received their third yellow card which resulted in a reverse brick for them on the subsequent pull. After the dust finally settled and Bansfield left the stadium, Machine again responded with a quick hold on a huck from Joe White. Adding to our injury list, Erik Hotaling separated his shoulder on the deep pursuit. The game was tied at 13-13 with us receiving.

On the subsequent pull, a rushed throw from our backfield popped up in the air and Andrew Sjogren elevated for a massive block. Bechis unfortunately had pursued super hard on a directional change after the disc floated over his head and ended up in Sjogren's landing space unable to adjust and Sjogren landed hard and had to be carted off the field. 

Machine broke shortly after to take their first lead of the game 14-13. We held quickly which tied it at 14s, setting up universe point. We took a time out, called our line and reinforced that we'd do it together. It's embedded at the top of this entry, but Machine worked it cleanly down the field before Joe broke the mark around for the score and win. He was untouchable in the second half on O - an absolute world-class talent. 

Big props to Machine for the comeback and the amazing game. I'm sure this is a game that people will continue to re-watch for a very long time for a whole bunch of different reasons. Congratulations to Truck Stop for avenging their loss to Ring in the other semis then taking down Machine in the finals 15-12 for their first ever club title - a very much deserved win. I hope other teams are taking notes. (The strategy is to go 1-2 in Pool A). 

Wrapping It All Up

About a year ago I reflected on our 2022 National Championship. It was an amazing, affirming and  transcendent experience having the opportunity to work with that group of individuals and for all that work to pay off with winning the title. We didn't quite get there this year, but I would argue this year was just as successful as last.

We preach a lot on Bravo about being process oriented. This is on both a micro and macro level. For example, we approach defense from a lens of maximizing what we identify as high leverage situations. We know we won't get them all, but work hard towards creating as many of those moments as possible, so that over time we consistently perform at a high level. There's a level of trust built in that what we're doing and how we're approaching things is moving things in the right direction, even if the outcome isn't always there. 

Having truly bought into the mindset of detaching from outcome is how we're able to rise to the biggest moments when the spotlight shines brightest. We know that we could have lost the game in prequarters last year to Sockeye and not won a title - a single play could have changed that entire season. But the fact that we didn't panic. We didn't implode. We stayed calm, kept running our sets, didn't worry as much about the outcomes that were out of control but stayed focused on process - that's how we came back and won the game - and from that point on, nobody could touch us.

I care deeply about winning. I'm wildly competitive. Bravo also cares deeply about winning. We're a group that's come together to compete at the highest levels of the sport and to win championships. People spend 10 months in the gym, at the track and on the practice field prepping to compete. But what makes this team so special is that we know there's so much more there than just the wins. Knowing that your teammates have your back when you screw up. Knowing that you're going to be lifted up whether the outcome of a moment is a positive or negative. Knowing that the journey is genuinely as important as the result literally makes us more likely to win. 

In close games, it really comes down to a handful of individual moments that can go either way. We work hard to make sure as many of them go our way as possible, but that's not always the case. One moment or outcome that didn't go our way doesn't change who we are as individuals or who we are as a team. The person who threw our last turn vs Machine is also the person that got the block that led to our first lead of the Sockeye prequarters game last year. Was he devastated at the turnover vs Machine? Absolutely. Is there a single soul on the team that felt any negativity towards him for that throw? Absolutely not.

There were a lot of Bravo tears when that game ended. A whole lot. But I promise that those tears weren't because we didn't win. They were tears because we know this was the last time some of our players would wear the rocket on their chest. They were tears of knowing that we didn't have practice together the next Tuesday. They were tears of knowing we wouldn't have another game together with this exact group, ever again. 

I'm generally known as someone who likes advanced tactics and schemes. I've got hundreds of powerpoint slides with clips of different situations; descriptions of how to approach situation X Y Z; justifications for the what the why and the how of what we want to do on the field. Anyone who knows me, knows I'll sit down and talk Ultimate nuance for hours on end (DM me, I'll totally chat any time). If folks watched me closely at nationals this year you probably saw me mouthing something to myself pretty frequently. It wasn't advanced tactics. It wasn't working through all the matchup permutations. It wasn't planning for specific pull plays or sets. It was simply my energy matters more than scheme. My energy matters more than scheme. 

I talked last year about growth as my why. I talked about how I respond to negative situations as being an area for growth. I'm proud to say I've made a lot of progress and I'm really excited to see that growth continue into future seasons.

For all of y'all who worked your tails off this club season, congratulations. Your work is noticed. It matters. Thanks to the USAU staff, observers and volunteers that put on such an amazing event. It's always a pleasure spending time engaging in this wonderful, wacky sport. 

Lastly, thanks to my amazing wife and daughter - Shayna and Mila. Having their support at the tournament this year meant the world to me and I literally couldn't do what I do without them. 

Until next time.

-TK 

 

Reflecting on a National Championship

 

Watch as Denver's @BravoUltimate secures the national championship! 🏆#USAU | #USAUNats pic.twitter.com/NPqXL6SBbW

— USA Ultimate (@USAUltimate) October 23, 2022

On March 2nd at 7:45pm, my phone rang. I had just finished reading bedtime books with the kiddo and my wife was still in the bedroom doing the final round of cuddles and hugs. On the phone was my best friend, Andrew. He never calls - he's more of a mysterious texter. I answered the phone and Andrew told me that our friend Jason had unexpectedly passed away that afternoon. After the call, I sat calmly in my chair staring at the wall. Shayna came out of the bedroom and looked at me. I mumbled, "Jason's gone," and completely broke down. 

Jason was a local singer/songwriter who never played Ultimate but when we were in college together, he would frequent the CSU Ultimate parties, belting out makeshift songs on his guitar and sharing his humor, bombast and energy. We played disc golf together. We frequented karaoke. We played collectible card games and board games and reflected on the state of the world. Jason was such an energetic and passionate individual. He taught me a lot about what it really meant to live life.

Johnny Bravo won the Men's Club National Championship this past Sunday in San Diego. When Quinn Finer reeled in the game winning score, my thoughts immediately went to Jason. The players screamed and hugged and cried. Joe (Durst) and I walked towards the crew as they celebrated on the field. Spicer came barreling out unable to get any words beyond a high pitched squeak and we shared a big hug. As I watched it all unfold in front of me I thought, Jason would have written a fucking epic song about this.

After the 2019 club season I was ready to hang up the clipboard. I had spent the season co-founding and coaching Mixed Signals. We had an amazing season, finishing 9th at regionals and staying true to our core principles of competition, spirit, ownership and inclusivity. Despite that success, I was emotionally and physically exhausted. It was time to take a break from coaching. 

On March 3rd, 2020, I got an email from Todd Wolma, one of the Bravo captains, asking if I had any interest in applying for a Bravo coaching position. I did some internal reflection, talked it over with family, and agreed to submit an application. A few weeks later we had an interview where I rambled on about intentional defense, force-middle principles, playing as 7 on the field, blah blah etc. I'm not totally sure why (maybe the coaches of the 1st-8th mixed teams were unavailable), but they decided to bring me on board.

The 2020 season was lost to COVID. Bravo spent that time thinking critically about our role in the Colorado community as well as our role in this everchanging world landscape. 

In 2021, Boulder Lotus formed and several long time Bravo stalwarts didn't return. The team had a huge amount of turnover from the last full-season Bravo squad (2019), but there was an excitement and buzz around the opportunity to re-establish culture and enter into a season with only the expectations we set for ourselves.

We won the region over Doublewide and cheered as Lotus took the 2nd bid. We had a solid nationals, culminating with a respectable 12-14 loss to Sockeye in quarterfinals. 

As the 2022 club season approached, we got a new wrinkle; The Colorado Summit, a new AUDL franchise, was announced. I knew Mike Lun, longtime coach of CU Mamabird, and coach/captain of Lotus was going to be involved with the Summit and that there was a reasonable chance a lot of current Bravo players would likely be trying out for the squad. 

The existential AUDL conversation is a complicated one for a lot of folks in the community, and I won't delve into the depths of that here, but I felt like the opportunity to work with my longtime rival, Mike, and the chance to coach more of the younger Lotus guys would be an amazing experience. 

I applied for a coaching role with the Summit, went through some interviews and conversations with owners about my own vision, experience and expectations and was brought on board.

The Summit had an incredible inaugural season, going 11-1 in the regular season, winning the west division over rival rookie franchise, the Salt Lake City Shred, before falling to the Chicago Union at championship weekend. It was an amazing experience that has several blog entries itself worth of reflection. 

The core tenant that the players and coaches kept centered that entire AUDL season was simple, "joy". Find your joy. It can't just be about wins. It can't just be about the competition. What brings you joy? Why do you put in the work? Why do you grind? How do you center that joy in challenging moments? How do you support others to find that joy? I hoped that joy would continue on through Bravo season.

Lotus didn't reform. We pressed Mike to join Bravo to run the offense (which he did!). A whole bevy of current Mamabird and recent grads joined the team including Alex Atkins, Danny Landesman and Calvin Stoughton. Atkins unfortunately tore his PCL in a Summit game in July and wasn't able to suit up for Bravo until nationals. 

Bravo had a lot of success early in the season. We won the Pro-elite challenge in July. We lost to Truck Stop on universe in the finals of the US Open in August. We lost to PoNY on universe in the quarters at Pro Champs in September. Heading into our final game of the weekend at Pro Champs, it seemed likely that with a win in that game vs Rhino, we'd probably be a top 3 seed heading into nationals. Rhino beat us on Universe. A lot of negativity surrounded that loss for myself and the team. I struggled to find my "joy" and my "why." 

We rolled through sectionals and regionals until a windy final where a fired up Doublewide squad took us down on Universe. It was a very disappointing loss. We didn't bring our best game. We beat Hip for the 2nd bid to nationals, but a lot of that negativity still remained. For me, after 9.5 months of coaching across multiple teams and seasons, my joy was slipping further away. 

After regionals, Alex Tatum ("Plow") emailed the team and organized a players-only meeting. It was an opportunity for players to talk about "why each one of us here" and "what each of us looking to get out of this." I don't know all the specific content of that meeting, but after that the team absolutely dialed for our last several practices heading into nationals. The energy, grit and grind were there. A total re-centering of people's "why."  After our final evening practice as Ben (Lohre) was dropping me off at our carpool spot, he called out, "TK, I never asked, what's your why?" I answered simply, "Growth."  

We stumbled out of the gate at Nationals. GOAT put together an inspired performance and took us down on Universe (dang, common theme). In the post-game huddle Chance (Cochran) said exactly what we needed to hear; "We get to decide what happens from here. We write the story. Is this Bravo crumbling at nationals or is this a bump on the way to a national championship?"

I wandered off to spend some time alone before our next game against Omen. I sat down with my back to the fence in the corner of the complex and put on my favorite Jason Keen song. I thought about the loss. I thought about the games in front of us. Matty Jackson came over and chatted with me a bit. As I got back up to return to the team, I pushed away the negative energy that had seeped into my heart. We can get this done. We are here for each other. We have put in the work. The team believes and trusts each other.

We destroyed Omen. We played inspired, incredible disc against Truck in pool play, losing 12-15 in a game that, despite significant wind, only had six total turnovers. This left us at 1-2 in pool play and a pre-quarters matchup with 2019 national champion Seattle Sockeye. A tough draw, but we were absolutely up to the challenge.

We didn't have the cleanest offensive first half in pre-quarters vs Sockeye, but the O-line battled valiantly after every turn and the D-lines exerted consistent pressure. Down 11-8 with 19 minutes until cap, we rallied. O punched in a clean hold and we put out a standard D line. Seth Faris knocked a floaty disc to the ground and the D patiently worked the disc back and forth on the goal line for 15+ passes before punching it in for the break.

Bryce Dixon skied for a big hold for Sockeye and our O followed suit with a beautiful huck from Quinn to Calvin. Sockeye's O tried to force a huck to Rehder around our force-middle that hit the turf. Our D worked the disc down the field and patiently found an open Denny to tie it up at 12s. 

We swapped in our "starting" d-line for the 12-12 point (d2 had gotten both the previous breaks) and Nathan Buchholz got the clutch block of the tournament on a Kwon OIO flick attempt. The D took a timeout then patiently worked the field with Spicer finding Erik Hotaling for a up-the-line score and the 13-12 lead. Sockeye held on a huck to Nick Stuart then our O line grinded out an amazing Universe win with Cole Wallin making multiple contested grabs before Ben found Danny for the score and the win. 

This game was where ALL of what we'd worked on all season came together. We didn't expect to play perfect, but it was how we were able to react to those imperfect moments that defined our season. We didn't feel that our best chance at a come back was to stack every line with our "best" but rather that our squad was deep, hungry and ready from 1-26. Our d2 line scored 3 of the 4 breaks this game. Our O had a bunch of turns but grinded almost all of them back. Players didn't waver when their number was or wasn't called to get on the field. This is the trust and belief we had as a group. Instead of letting negative energy overtake us, we stayed positive, supportive and just shared all the love we could. 

We rolled through Machine in quarters. Our O was only broken once. Our D only had two turns. 

We rolled through Rhino in semis. Our O was broken 3 times, but didn't get broken in the 2nd half and the D finished the game with 7 breaks. Every single player contributed. Every player made plays. Our d2 line grinded out a coverage sack stall late in the game that captured that energy perfectly. We believed in ourselves and each other. Prior to the Rhino game, Sockeye game MVP Nate Buchholz tearfully informed coaches he couldn't play with swelling and pain in his knee. "Buck" took on marking duties (which is wildly important in our defense) on the far sideline and may have put me out of a job with how flawlessly he called the shifts. 

The morning of the finals, the vibe was very laid back. Chance told me afterwards that when he felt the energy in the players' house that morning, he knew we were going to win. The trust and belief had infiltrated the entire team so thoroughly that it was inevitable.  It was the biggest game of just about each player's life, and we played about as perfect of a game as you could ask for. We made significant offensive and defensive adjustments and the players simply rolled with it. We played deep through the roster all weekend and it showed in the biggest moments.

I absolutely love what Truck Stop did this season. They dominated all year. They worked hard on every play. They played deep into their roster. They are amazingly well coached. They trust each other so dang much (you have to, to play offense like that). Despite all that, there is nobody else we wanted to play more in the finals because they are so much like us. Not in style, but in energy. And that felt like the best men's title game the sport could ask for. Huge props and love out to their team for an unbelievable game and season. I'd assume folks have watched the clip above, but we took the finals 15-11. O had 2 turns the entire game and was broken 0 times. An absolute masterclass in dynamic, efficient offense from Mike Lun and the O crew.

To circle this rambling narrative all the way back, I knew I wanted to write about this season no matter the outcome. I reflect again about my "why". I think about my own growth. I think about the things I learned from my friend, Jason, about living life to the fullest. 

My personal growth isn't so much about on-the-field pieces. I'm pretty good at X's and O's. My growth is all about how I react and respond to negative situations. It's an ongoing journey for me, but I'm proud to say I'm making progress. Our time on this earth is limited, why spend that time focusing on the negative? 

I am so proud this season, not just of this team for winning a national championship, but for centering trust and love when it mattered most. I don't often smile because I internalize a lot of my emotions but this season was absolutely worth smiling about. It's easy to say that as a champion, but it would have been worth smiling about no matter the outcome. 

There's only one 'champion' for each division, but that doesn't change the value of the journey for all the thousands of people that put their time and energy into this wonderful, wacky sport each season. Don't take those moments on and off the field for granted. Be kind to yourselves and each other. Your work matters and is noticed, whether your clawing to make regionals or whether you're winning a title. This community is amazing and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Until next time.

-TK

2019 - Hibida Hall of Fame - David Miller

2019 - David Miller

Apologies to Mr. David Miller on the delay in this much deserved entry. The one-year delay appears to be the new normal, unfortunately. Also working to expand out the voices in these entries beyond just a single college coach. 

-TK

Hannah Matthys

I had the honor of coaching David Miller during his high school career. While a gifted athlete who also played Varsity Soccer, Miller was dedicated to the Lakewood Ultimate Frisbee team. I had no doubt that he would fit on CSU's Hib, given that he would join their program already embodying their core values. Despite being one of the best male downfielders in the state (I would argue he was the best), Miller always worked hard and sought feedback. He helped to create a culture of development, growth, and hard work for Lakewood Ultimate's budding program- because as younger players saw a dominant player and leader like Miller asking for feedback, they learned that this is what it takes to be great. Miller was also fiercely competitive- pushing himself and his teammates during every scrimmage and game. While it's been years since I've coached him, he stands out as one of the grittiest workhorses I've coached. Not only did Miller have the trifecta of athleticism, hard work, and competitive spirit, he was also an incredible teammate. By the end of his junior year and throughout his senior year, he became a leader off the field as well. He became vocal- holding his team to high standards and inspiring greatness. His senior year was magical- and he was a large part of the reason that Lakewood won their first State Championship. Not only did he help win a championship, but David Miller was part of defining the culture for Lakewood High School, current a leader in the High School Ultimate Community.

When I said that it was an honor to coach Miller, that wasn't just a fluffy way to start a statement. It was truly an honor. Miller is back in Lakewood, and is now giving back. I am excited to have him join the Lakewood Coaching staff - and it is truly a loss that we won't get to coach together this spring (because of COVID-19), but I look forward to coaching alongside him in the future. HIB and Bravo have given him strategic insight and taken his game to the next level - and I am excited to share this with the next generation of ultimate youth. He will be joining Coach Phil Lohre and myself in coaching the Cutthroat U20 Boys, and I am excited to now lead with him. Thank you, HIB, for developing Miller's talents and character further. I look forward to continuing to send Lakewood DEEP players to you!

Peter Raines

Dave was and is, quite often, the hardest worker on the field. His unrelenting defensive pressure would tire out the most ambitious cutters and then he would be the first person to take off after a turnover.  On top of being a workhorse, he would make his impact felt with athleticism. At least once per tournament he would get some ridiculous over the shoulder D that would cause everyone on the sideline to look at the person next to them to confirm that had actually just happened. His dominance in the air led to the coining of  the term "Dave ball" for any disc that was thrown absurdly high because he would most likely come down with it in a pack. If you get a chance, check out his callahan video for some examples. What makes that even more impressive to me is that he was able to make these plays at the end of tournaments when he had the most points played.


As a teammate he encouraged everyone to be their best, whether it was by pushing them at practice or picking them up after a tough point. No matter the score,  Dave would be the loudest on the sideline or first on the field after a point. He set the precedent for everyone else to put in the work. I am thankful that I had the privilege of coaching Dave, even for a short period.

Tim Kefalas

David Miller joined CSU program in the much-hyped 2015 class that included, Jack Hinchsliff, Cody Spicer, Jake Servaty and many other amazingly talented players. Within that group, Dave immediately established himself as a key player and role-model, even as a first-year. He had a storied high-school career at Lakewood High School and we knew he was going to be a special college player as well.

My trepidation with any star high-school player is not knowing what kind of attitude accompanies them when they're coming from a place where they were likely quite dominant, into a new competitive context. This was never an issue, in any capacity, for Dave.

He carried himself with an improvement-focused, humble attitude that permeated throughout the entire team. It didn't matter if he just skied one of the top college players in the country, Dave would be on the side-line the next point asking what he could do better. He always put forth full effort on the field. He was/is an incredibly savvy and heads up player. He was always seeking out opportunities to both help deep as well being a very intelligent underneath poacher. I don't know how someone so large (6'3) can stay out of the line-of-sight so effectively, but Dave made a killing on sidling in front of underneath cuts with for layout (or pancake), catch Ds.

Dave also had amazing body control for someone so tall, especially on his layouts. I remember one specific huck that went up to Dave's guy - it was a perfect throw and the receiver was positioned such that he had a straight line to the disc with Dave directly behind him - there was no good angle to get in for a good jump. Dave closed the gap and then bid up and over the receiver, getting a clean block on the disc and avoiding contact - it was one of the most impressive and unexpected blocks I have ever seen.

Beyond the jaw-droppers, Dave always maintained his focus on fundamentals. He worked diligently on footwork, positioning and working out mechanics in his throws. One of my other favorite Dave memories was college nationals, 2017, when him and our other big man, Sten Larson (6'4), ended up behind the disc on a defensive point. The two of them ran the most crisp handler rotations, maybe of the whole tournament, and small-balled their way straight to a break - I don't think they threw a single pass downfield, just the tall-man weave - it was beautiful.

I coached Dave for 4 of his 5 years in college and while he was never technically a captain in any of those four years, inevitably his intensity, work-ethic and abilities made him a core leader on the team. He was elected captain for his 5th and final college year and I know he carried himself with the same principles within that official role as well.

Beyond the field, Dave is such a thoughtful, principled, incredible person. He taught me about staying focused on what's important, staying true to one's self and working hard no matter the circumstance. For those pieces, any so many more, I am so grateful to know him as both a player and a friend.

While it's hard to say what's in the cards for Ultimate this club season and beyond, I'm really excited for the opportunity to coach Dave again on Bravo this year. There's nothing that makes me more proud than watching CSU alum make their mark on the Ultimate community.

Honorable Mentions: Daniel "Chuck" Crump, Jake Marrapode, Jack McGinnis, Luke Beal

2018 - Hibida Hall of Fame - Cody Spicer

2018 - Cody Spicer

I'm about a year behind on this specific entry so my apologies to Mr. Cody Spicer, but that doesn't make his induction into the Hibida hall of fame any less meaningful. 

Spicer left an amazing legacy at CSU and the impact he continues to have on the Fort Collins and Colorado Ultimate community as a whole can't be understated. 

In the Fall of 2014, Cody started his first Masters degree at Colorado State and joined Hibida after playing a single year at the South Dakota School of Mines. It was a transitional time that I've spoken to in previous entries, but that particular year we had a huge influx of talent and Cody was a big part of that core. After rehabbing some injuries and finally getting on the field for us, his impact as a defender, athlete and work-horse was immediate. 

I know that labeling someone as a "try-hard" can carry a negative connotation - a backhanded compliment of sorts. That person who maybe isn't as naturally skilled or athletically gifted, but gets by because they put in the work. The person that gets a "nice running" in the high five line at the end of the game. Spicer was and is absolutely a "try-hard." However, he couples the "try-hard" mentality with an amazing athletic talent and high field-IQ. Putting those pieces together has resulted in one of the best players to ever come through CSU. 

Spicer's dedication and commitment to fundamentals made of the core of his athletic game: foot-work, body control and positioning. Despite being 6'2, Spicer always dominated all our our quickness drills and sets. He wasn't going to win a 100 yard straight line sprint, but there is nobody who was a more consistent deep defender or deep threat. His ability to process the line of the disc in the air, the match-up with his defender and know exactly where he needed to be to make a play, whether it was on O or D, is one of the most unique and impressive skill-sets I have seen in all my years coaching and playing ultimate. The focus on the little details made all the difference. 

As a thrower, Cody didn't begin with Hib as a particularly skilled individual - he had a funky grip and some issues with core form - but he dove right into the steps necessary to grow his offensive repertoire and work out the kinks in his throws. By his final year on the team he was one of our most consistent and reliable players with the disc in his hands.

Spicer's defense on Chase Cunningham at 2015 Regionals solidified his place in the south central pantheon of top players. His fundamentals, quickness and motor gave him the ability to match up on any player in the country. Throughout his college career he covered the likes of Ben Sadok, Ben Jagt, John Stubbs, Khalif El-Salaam - the list goes on and on. I think the biggest factor that played into Spicer's effectiveness as a defender was that he never gave anyone anything without making them work. Where folks often backed Jagt because he was 6'6 and blazing fast, Spicer forced him out and contested his deeps. On Stubbs, defenders normally had to "pick their poison" of getting beat with his throws or his downfield speed. Spicer locked him up in the backfield and made him cut 2-3 times to get a routine reset - finally forcing Stubbs to push into the downfield. It wasn't that these players were completely shut down or not making plays for their team, but it was always contested - there was nothing free.

Spicer made the south central All-Region Team all four years he played with Hib, taking home Player of the Year honors in 2017. He led the team to our first nationals berth, gained some notoriety with the Ultimate pundits and even has a Callahan video or two floating around on the internet. 

Despite all this, what I appreciate the most about Cody, is not what he does on the field - I truly appreciate the person that he is. He's a genuinely good, kind and honest human being. He carries very close to heart his humility and the importance of faith and family. He does things because they are the right thing to do. I don't agree with every view that he holds, but I respect the heck out of the fact that he maintains his integrity across his core values and doesn't let it cross into judgment of others. 

I am honored to call Cody a friend. His example has helped me be a better person, coach and father. I am thrilled to dive into a new club experience with him this summer and I hope he never forgets the positive impact he has had not only on the CSU Ultimate program but on the people that have been a part of his life.

-TK

Honorable Mentions: Jake Servaty, Jack Hinchsliff, Dylan Johnson, Cole Turner, Mark Stratford, Toby Nordhoff, Matt Bush