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

New Colorado Mixed Club Team - Mixed Signals!

Mixed Signals – Colorado Mixed Ultimate 2019

We are excited to announce the start of the 2019 season of Mixed Signals, the new Colorado Mixed Ultimate team!  You’ll find info about the team culture, planning and an RSVP for our April 20^th combine below.

What is Mixed Signals?

Mixed Signals is a tryout club team based in Colorado comprised of players who are skilled, highly competitive, fun to play with, and who come together for the joy of playing competitive Ultimate. We are forming to further support and encourage the development of the Colorado Ultimate community, and to provide a unique opportunity for club players in Colorado and Wyoming.

What are the team’s core values?

The team functions by subscribing to the following core values:

1. To play in a competitive and spirited environment.
2. To take ownership.
3. To be dedicated to an inclusive culture and style of play.

What do these core values mean exactly?

We believe being highly competitive and spirited are not mutually exclusive. A team can compete at the highest levels of the sport while still maintaining a high level of spirit: treating teammates and opponents with respect, a depth of knowledge surrounding the rules and one’s own accountability with upholding respectfulness and mindfulness across all contexts.

Taking ownership means you own and are personally responsible for both yourself and your team. You own your attitude, your practice, your fitness, and your discipline.  It also means you own Mixed Signals itself and become both a representative and a shareholder of the team. You’ll know you will always have a voice, that you are committed to the team, and are part of the fabric that makes it great.

Dedication to an inclusive culture and style of play means valuing and affirming all members of the team at all times. It means playing stylistically in a way that incorporates every player’s strengths. It means being mindful of language and how one shows up to practice, tournaments and team interactions. Lastly, it means a responsibility to represent that inclusive culture, not just through team functions, but also across the community at large.

What are the team goals?

For the 2019 season, Mixed Signals is setting the goal of establishing the foundation of our culture, identity and cementing ourselves as a regionally competitive team.

What will practice be like?

We will have practice once per week on Tuesday at 6:00pm.  Each practice will begin with a description of the practice theme, followed by a short warm-up, two to three effective high-level drills, scrimmage, (brief) conditioning, and a warm down.  Practice will teach and enforce principles-based Ultimate, and will pay great attention to details.  Drills will be designed specifically to simulate real game scenarios, and most will be technically intermediate and advanced.

What will the season arc look like?

The season will begin with defining the language we will use for the season, with practice focusing on getting a lot of touches and defining play principles. Our intention will be to develop a variety of schematic specifics early in the season and then use our regular season tournament schedule to round out and refine those schemes.

What tournaments will we go to?

Fort Collins Summer Solstice, June 22^nd-23^rd, Fort Collins, CO

Select Flight West (tentative), July 13^th-14^th, Aurora, CO

Heavyweights August 3^rd-4^th, Chicago, IL OR Grub August 3^rd-4^th, Boulder, CO

Sectionals (tentative) September 7^th-8^th Denver, CO

Regionals (tentative) September 21^st-22^nd TBD

Nationals (tentative) October 24^th-27^th San Diego, CA

Will there be dues?

Yes. Dues will cover the cost of fields, tournament bids, hotels, rental cars, and jerseys.  We will take advantage of group rates and local travel to keep costs as low as possible. The specific amount will be determined once the roster is finalized but we’re aiming to play as much locally as possible.

What are the team’s expectations?

The team expects a full understanding of, and adherence to its three core values at all times.  Practice and tournament attendance to the best of one’s abilities is also expected, along with clear and consistent communication.  Email is our primary form of communication off the field but some of the older folks in leadership are open to exploring new technology options (What the heck is a groupme?).

When are tryouts and what will they be like?

We will be hosting a combine on Saturday, April 20th at Rossborough Park from 9am-2pm. We’d love to have ANY player with a love for Ultimate to come out and get some high quality reps in, regardless of their club season plans. Whether or not you’ve committed to playing elsewhere this will be an opportunity to come together, run some high-level drills/scrimmages and meet some great people. 

If you’re interested in attending the combine, please RSVP here so we can track numbers and plan appropriately.

After the combine we’ll host open practices on Tuesday April 23^rd, April 30^th and an open practice on May 7^th all at 6pm. Locations to be determined. A final tryout structure will be communicated. 

Candidates will be competing for approximately 14 roster spots and we look to be 25 strong for tournament season. A handful of conditional tryout positions may be reserved for interested players who are out of town or who may be wrapping up their college seasons. 

What does the BEST candidate for this team look like?

The best candidate for this team is someone who is skilled, competitive, committed, intelligent, plays selflessly, and is dedicated to maximizing joy and fostering inclusivity.  This candidate is mentally robust, can grasp new offensive and defensive plays quickly and effectively, and is adaptable to new and challenging situations.

What kinds of candidates would NOT be a good fit on this team?

Someone who wants to go to Nationals at all costs, someone who is not competitive, someone who whines about play time, someone who whines at all, and someone who breaks down mentally. Someone who doesn’t believe in fostering inclusivity. Anyone who might be considered a schmuck by more than a few people, regardless of skill, will not be a good fit for this team.

Look forward to seeing everyone out on the field!

Regards,

Jess, Spicer and TK

Shout out to Mr. David Chan as much of the structure of this post is a testament to his original "Chanifesto" from 2014.