2009 - Hibida Hall of Fame - Andy Stringer

2009 - Andy Stringer

Stringer was our first 'blue chip' recruit, joining the team during the 2005-2006 season. He came from a storied high school career in Rockford, Illinois. My first memory of him was a young kid coming out to visit CSU with his dad and trekking down to Boulder to watch our sectionals game against Mamabird. Despite us getting shellacked like we tended to do back then, Stringer still decided to attend CSU and the rest is history.

As a freshmen, Stringer slid into an O-line cutting role immediately for Hib. He led the team in goals scored that Spring; an impressive feat considering he played on a line with both our 2006 and 2007 Hall of Fame inductees.

He captained alongside Jordan White his third year and alongside David Johnson his fourth, taking on a leadership role and doing a fantastic job motivating the team as a steady handed, but big-play capable force.

Stringer has the distinction of being the only player, until 2017, to make the Bravo roster while still being in college at CSU. He got got invaluable club nationals experience his first summer on Bravo, in 2007, narrowly losing to Sockeye in the finals. He played Bravo until he graduated, then played several several years on Chain Lightning after moving to Atlanta. While living in Georgia he also helped to coach the Kennesaw State college men's team for three years.

Stringer also had a strong presence in the European ultimate scene, playing on the Czech national team several times at the European championships. 

Perhaps most interestingly (ha), he has the unique distinction of the only player who was captained by me, captained me and was coached by me - his and my relationship has seen just about every iteration of power structure and I think there's a healthy respect that goes both ways (even though we both know he can run circles around me).

He's another player I'm proud to call a teammate, friend and alumni and much like Mickey Thompson and Brett Kolinek has made his mark on the world of ultimate as a CSU grad. This was a super difficult year to decide on an inductee as there were five unbelievable graduating players but Stringer is well deserving of this spot. 

-TK

Honorable Mentions: David Johnson, David Fjelstad, Sam Plasman, Nick Snuszka

2008 - Hibida Hall of Fame - Jordan White

2008 - Jordan White

Jordan joined the team in the 2004-2005 season just oozing with potential. He had a linebacker's frame at 6'4 and 190 pounds. He was fast, aggressive and could jump through the roof. He came into the sport pretty raw, skill-wise, but immediately became a down field contributor while developing the rest of his game throughout the four years he played on the team. 

Beyond his time on the Ultimate field, Jordan was (is) an avid climber, skier and mountaineer. In May of 2005, between his freshmen and sophomore years, tragedy struck as Jordan and his dad, Kip, fell while climbing in the Maroon Bells. Kip didn't survive the fall and Jordan had to descend another 600 feet, then hike out on a broken leg to report the accident. 

Jordan came back to Hib the next season a humble individual, but he didn't let that heartbreak phase his competitive spirit for ultimate or for climbing. He has since then become the youngest person to climb and ski all the 14ers in Colorado as well as making trips all over the world to climb/ski including Alaska, South America and Mongolia. 

For Hib, Jordan really came into his own as a devastating threat in his third and fourth years. He quickly gained a reputation as a big deep, but didn't let himself be one-dimensional as he also became one of the biggest huckers on the team. It was a true pick your poison for defenders and he was a nightmare match up. 

Jordan and I had spectacular chemistry and I couldn't even begin to guess the number of times we connected on hucks. I think some of my favorite moments were Jordan sneaking hucks to me, rather than the far more common opposite occurrence. Jordan and I just knew what the other was going to do - it was some of the most fun I ever had playing ultimate. 

Jordan captained the team in 2008, in his fourth and final year, and led us to a near upset of Mamabird at sectionals and a huge performance at regionals, narrowly missing nationals.

During college, Jordan played club for DTL in Fort Collins, then moved on to Bravo after he graduated, despite living up in Aspen and having to commute. Jordan retired from competitive men's and spent a few years playing mixed in Denver before finally hanging up his club cleats to focus more on his mountaineering. 

Jordan remains one of the most physically gifted players to ever come through CSU, but I think the thing I admire most about him, is how much he re-dedicated himself to his mountaineering after his dad's death. That takes such a strong person and that force of will is what made Jordan such a special player for Hib. For anyone interested in reading more about his mountain adventures check out his amazing blog: Elks and Beyond. 

-TK

Honorable Mentions: Tim Kefalas (yup), Derek Arrington, Dan "Rambus" Delude 

2007 - Hibida Hall of Fame - Joe Roza

2007 - Joe Roza

Joe and I started playing for Hib in the 2003-2004 season. Joe had played a year prior somewhere in the northeast - I was never totally sure, either New York or New Jersey. So, while we were both 'rookies' on the squad, he had a very polished skill-set, whereas most of the rest of us youngins were still figuring out the complexities of things like the flick. 

Joe immediately established himself as a core player on the team with buttery throws, a propensity to get off his feet and a super friendly, laid-back demeanor - almost nothing could phase his game. He reminded me a lot of Nick Petraglia in that he was just such an inclusive friend and teammate on and off the field. 

Not only was Joe incredibly skilled, but his likable personality made him, arguably, one of the most influential, culture-defining characters on the team for his entire four year duration. Other young guys (like myself) prided ourselves on 'throwing like Joe', with his extravagant fakes and crisp release.

Need a goofy, fun game to play while we wait for a tournament to start? Joe'll come up with something. Need a ridiculous ro-sham proposal? Joe's got limitless ideas. Need a big lay-out grab in the finals of High Tide? Joe's up to the task. 

I had the pleasure of captaining with Joe for the 2007 season. I was a focused, analytical miscreant - stressing over every tiny detail from travel expenses to elaborate play calling systems (that never caught on). Joe was a perfect foil to that. He balanced out my hyper-focus with more of what he'd done the previous three years: a chill, laid-back attitude - cool in the face of tough game moments and enough levity to keep the team mentally strong throughout the season. 

Joe never really played club during or after college (to my knowledge) - that wasn't really his thing and that was totally understandable. Regardless of that, he was hugely influential in making Hib the fun-loving, inclusive team that it is today and I'm honored to have gotten the chance to captain with him and to have known him as a friend.

-TK

Honorable Mention: Dan Roarty, Chris "DA" Cahill

2006 - Hibida Hall of Fame - Brett Kolinek

2006 - Brett Kolinek

2006 was a peak year for Hibida. We had graduated almost nobody from the 2005 squad. We had legitimate nationals aspirations and this group, top to bottom, was the most talented team we ever fielded until the 2017 team. This was, without a doubt, the toughest year to decide on an inductee with so many unbelievably impactful and talented seniors graduating, but Brett's legendary post-Hib playing career gives him something that no Hib alumni can rival.

Brett played on Hib for five years, captaining in his fourth. He played club with DTL (elite mixed) out of Fort Collins in college. After college, Brett played several years on Johnny Bravo (elite men's) then on Machine (elite men's) when he moved back home to the Chicago area. Within that time, Brett also played for the Chicago Wildfire, won beach Worlds (at least once) and just this year won Master's nationals with Johnny Encore. I'm sure there's some stuff I'm missing, but long story short, Brett has been and continues to play at the absolute highest levels of the sport even into his mid 30s. 

On the field, Brett doesn't look overly-imposing with his slight frame and 5'10 height, but he's that guy that always does everything right and makes it look easy. In college, he played almost exclusively down field for Hib, consistently being a threat in all phases of the game. In club, I believe he's largely handled for Bravo and Machine but he's someone who I know is comfortable anywhere on the field. His fundamentals are flawless, he's got breakaway speed and is stellar at maintaining position on deep reads. 

Probably the most dominating performance I've ever seen was in the second half of a college game at Mardi Gras in 2004. We were down at half 3-7 to Tennessee. In the second half, Mickey Thompson threw literally all but one or two scores to Brett in a comeback win - Brett was just uncoverable. 

I wasn't super close with Brett in college, but I respected the heck out of his play and I'm proud to cite him as an example of an alumni making the rounds through the highest levels of the sport. I believe he is extremely deserving of this spot in Hib history.

-TK

Honorable Mentions: Adam Zwickl, Chad Pearson, Zach Taylor, Corey Johnson 

2005 - Hibida Hall of Fame - Nick Petraglia

2005- Nick Petraglia

Nick Petraglia, the younger brother of Tony Petraglia, was one of the first in a line of Hib players who truly embodied the inclusive Hib spirit. He always had a positive attitude - he made new players feel welcome and a part of the group, be it from the silly games he taught, stories he told or just his respectful approach to interactions with other people on and off the field. 

I don't think I ever heard anyone speak an ill-word of him. He was just the kind of guy you enjoyed being friends and teammates with.

On the field, much like his older brother, he always put his heart into his play and his body on the line. Small in stature, but not in big play ability, Nick's trademark was active feet. In the two years I had the privilege of playing with him he must have accumulated more than a dozen foot blocks in tournament play. 

Perhaps his best college highlight was a monstrous layout catch against Mamabird at 2004 sectionals, directly into the camera in the back corner of the end zone - the crowning moment of that year's highlight video. 

Nick didn't play much outside of Hib to my knowledge and I believe hung up his cleats for good after he graduated, but his kind, generous and friendly attitude and leave-it-all-on-the-field play reverberated with the team for years after.

-TK

Honorable Mentions: Quinton "Porter" McClain

2004 - Hibida Hall of Fame - Mickey Thompson

2004 - Mickey Thompson

This is a pretty tough year to sort through. There were many hugely impactful seniors including fifth years Ben Aldridge, Tony Petraglia and Mickey Thompson. However, Mickey's sheer force of will and personality on and off the field shaped a huge part of what Hib is today. Beyond that, he's had one of the best overall Ultimate careers of any graduate. 

Mickey was a member of the college all-region team in 2004 for the Southwest (the only Hib player to have that distinction until 2015). He was a core player on the Fort Collins club squad, DTL, who attended mixed nationals from 2002-2005. He won club nationals with Shazam Returns out of Seattle in 2007, finished second at club nationals in 2008 and won bronze at Worlds that same year. Mickey has floated around to several different teams since then, competing frequently in club nationals and even making an appearance in the pro leagues on the Chicago Wildfire.

Beyond his playing career, he was instrumental in recruiting and retaining players for Hib as a captain and mentor. Everyone has a person who got them into the sport. That person, for me, was Mickey. My first year playing was Mickey's fifth so we only overlapped for one season, but his influence on my Ultimate career was enormous.  

I don't think I've ever told him this story, but on the drive back from my very first tournament ever, Hoasis, in Arizona, Mickey was navigating for a late night driving shift - I don't specifically remember who was driving, but it was one of the other older players on the team. They were discussing first year players and how to split A and B squads for the Spring. Everyone else was in the back of the van, asleep, but I was awake and listening intently. 

Mickey said something in that conversation that has stuck with me since then and is pretty much the basis of my entire coaching and playing philosophy. I don't remember the quote, word for word, but it was more or less "I don't care who's the best player - I care who's putting the most into it. I'll take someone on A if I just know they'll put in the work." I was definitely not the best first year player on the squad that season, but I made it onto the A team for the first spring tournament. Fifteen years later and I'm still at it because, as Mickey taught me, you get out what you put into it. 

-TK

Honorable Mentions: Ben Aldridge, Tony Petraglia, Hayden Strickland

2003 - Hibida Hall of Fame - Josh Tabije

2003 - Josh Tabije

The 2002 and 2003 entries will be structured slightly differently than the other entries. Thanks to Mickey Thompson for spearheading these two seasons. For all the hundreds of questions over the years about the "Hibida" name, it seems appropriate that the big 'reveal' be here. 

"Josh Tabije graduated in 2003, as the real founder and eponymous of "Hibida" He was the true embodiment of what Hibida was all about. His big-boy frame and history in disc golf created monster throws and deceivingly nasty breaks. Tabije could get you the disc no matter where you were on the field. His step around/over backhand was legendary at practices - many tried to replicate it but nobody could ever pull it off as majestically as the big man. Tabije was the first Ultimate player to become CSU Club Sports President [not to be confused with team President] and worked to legitimize our presence in the Club Sports world at CSU - getting us funds, fields and respect. Tabije would prove to be a great teacher for the next generation of Hib players - as a natural mentor he helped guide the future of what Hibida became in future years."

-Mickey Thompson 

"On and off the field Josh is a true leader, he took freshmen under his wing, integrated them as part of the team and taught the values of Ultimate - the Spirit of the Game as best he understood it. He encouraged involvement in the local ultimate community as well as pushed players to participate in club when his playing days stopped. He continued to offer support by coming out to local tournaments in Santa Cruz to watch me play on Bravo and expressing interest while I completed on a high level. Josh was an outstanding leader, mentor and still a friend today."

-Brett Kolinek

"The truth about our team name. For 17 years CSU Ultimate has played under the team name, Hibida. Where did that name come from? What does it mean? Is it an inside joke? Is it a mythical beast? Is it a drink? As a player, I fielded these questions on a regular basis. As an alum, I still get asked about it every now and then.

The answer. It's a made up word. Our Captain, Josh Tabije, made it up. It came from his off-kilter mind. It doesn't mean anything. There's no inside joke. It not a mythical beast, or a drink.

Tabije enjoys a good joke and it wouldn't surprise me if he's kept what Hibida means to himself all this time. The genius of letting Hibida be a made up word, is that it can mean whatever the team wants it to mean.

In the mid 00's, the closest thing to a consensus definition of Hibida was, something that's there, but probably shouldn't be. Like a piece of La Luz burrito that fell onto your shirt. Where Hibida went from there, well, I don't know. It's a made up word.

Shouts to Tabije for gifting the program a team name with such versatility and staying power. Few people can pull a word straight out their butt and 17 years later we are all ecstatic to still be using it.

and

In the spring of 2002 Hibida went to Austin, TX for Centex, a tournament hosted by the University of Texas. At the time, using CSU's Motor-Pool was the best way to travel to a tournament. It was far cheaper than flights and much much easier to organize (aka herd cats). What was not easy in 2002? The internet. Well, unless you wanted to download tons of, "free" music. 2002 internet was stupendous at free music.

2002 internet was not great at directions, but if you knew what you were doing, it was potentially better than an atlas. Our Captain, Josh Tabije, was a true pioneer of technology. Using MapQuest, and a fair amount of computer lab paper, he painstakingly mapped every Dairy Queen, and every Dairy Queen Brazier, from Fort Collins to Austin.

Things like; smart phones, Google Maps, and Yelp would make short work of the same task today. However, this is not a story explaining to the youngsters how tough it was back then. It's really a story illustrating what a character Tabije was. Seriously, who needs to know if it's a DQ Brazier or not? Is it even necessary? The state flag should replace that star with a DQ logo. In other words, DQ has a big footprint in Texas. We were going to run into a few.

A great benefit to being a part of an uncommon sport is the uncommon people you meet. It's doubtful that I'm able to give Tabije his just due, as this is just one of many examples. Maybe though, you got an idea."

-Ben Aldridge

2002 - Hibida Hall of Fame - George J Barthel

2002 - George J Barthel

The 2002 and 2003 entries will be structured slightly differently than the other entries. Thanks to Mickey Thompson for spearheading these two seasons.

The 2002 Spring Season was the first year of Hibida as a team name. This was the year that the team re-branded and refocused on being a "competitive force in the southwest." It is fitting that one of the two captains from that season, Jay Barthel, be honored with the first spot in the Hibida Hall of Fame. 

"Hibida became the idea of a team that whatever you put into it and whatever you wanted out of it could be achieved; it was all encompassing to us to ensure Hib meant we competed and had fun. "The Most Fun Wins" from the Wright Life and general Fort Collins community helped fuel that mantra for change. IMO Hibida would never have existed without Jay... [he] probably deserve[s] credit in the history books as much as anyone.

Jay Barthel graduated in 2002 and was know for his "statue of liberty" fake. Quality disc skills fueled his game as a silky smooth lefty with a crushing backhand, a mastery of squirrelly cuts, and tireless effort - Jay was Hibida's first MVP. I don't think I ever saw Jay in a bad mood, he was always upbeat and trying to progress the team forward while having the most fun doing it.  

Jay went on to play some high level ultimate in the LA area on and off for years, but found his passion in biking and continues to work in the industry as well as ride."

-Mickey Thompson

CSU Men's Ultimate - Hall of Fame

Colorado State Hibida - Hall of Fame

This recognition is given to the graduating player who most embodies Hib's core values of hard work, competition and their contributions to the success of the team both on and off the field.

Each Monday*, I'll reveal and have short write-ups for 2-3 new inductees starting on 8/18*/2017.

*EDIT - Within an HOUR of posting this one of the old school players sent me over some selections for 2002 and 2003 - the first two years that Hib was Hib (previously Maddog). I will include those selections in the reveal and we'll get them added to the official plaque next year when we add the 2018 member. This now officially has every single year of Hibida as Hibida.

2002 - George J Barthel

We did it!

2003 - Josh Tabije
2004 - Mickey Thompson

2005 - Nick Petraglia

2006 - Brett Kolinek

2007 - Joe Roza

2008 - Jordan White

2009 - Andy Stringer

2010 - Scott Hanley

2011 - Blaine Dunn

2012 - Kyle Brochu

2013 - Kyle Enns

2014 - Stephen Gross

2015 - Tanner Gossack

2016 - Noah Brown

2017 - Easton Archibald

How did you decide who received the past years' recognitions?

My own experiences as coach of the team for ten years and a player for the five years prior were the factors. It's not the most objectively fair way to do it, but trying to contact hundreds of alum and have them nominate and select their candidates is just too much of a task. I don't think many people would argue with my selections - there's some healthy debate for sure (2006 - oh my), but all these people are pretty beloved in Hib history. 

In your justifications for the selections, are you factoring in post-Hib playing experiences? 

I couldn't ignore what past players have done since their time on Hib. It's just too much a part of the players they are to me. We've had some amazing players who have finished college and been done with the sport, but we also have some players who are still trucking away, playing everything from rec leagues to elite club - I feel like a players post-college career can also say a lot about that player's commitment and potential in college. 

How will you decide future inductees?

The team will vote for the yearly selection for all future years.

What's special about starting in 2004?

Spring 2004 was my first college series. There were some amazing players prior to my time on the team of course, but I don't have the perspective to appropriately award them. I would absolutely be willing to recognize earlier players, but I'd need help from some old school folks to do that. *UPDATE - I got an almost immediate response for the 2002 and 2003 seasons (see above).

Why only one player per year?

My idea was to select the player who best embodied the team core values for that given year, not to compare year to year. Some years we had several seniors who all fit the criteria. Some years there were single individuals who put the team on their back and kept pushing us forward.

Why are you starting this now?

Hib competed at nationals for the first time in program history in 2017. We won the region for the first time, had the player of the year, coach of the year, freshmen of the year, three players on the all-freshmen team and two all-region players. We have positioned ourselves, not just for a return to the big dance in 2018, but hopefully for many more to come. 

Having been a part of the team for 15 years now, I wanted to put something out there to remind both current and past players that every single one of the young men who has donned the Hib "H" (or one of the many variants) have had a part in the program we've become. It's not just about the guys who stepped onto the field for us this past season, but about everyone who's put a part of themselves into our sport, school and team. 

The current team's competitive success couldn't have happened without the ground-work layed for many years prior. I'm so proud of all the current and past players! 

-TK