It's been an amazing year for ultimate. We will have a lot more about the biggest stories of the year, but we wanted to get things started with a list of the biggest and best from 2012. From Best Game to Biggest Spike, we've got you covered for the top moments from the year.
December 31, 2012 by Charlie Eisenhood in Other, Recap with 9 comments
It’s been an amazing year for ultimate. We will have a lot more about the biggest stories of the year, but we wanted to get things started with a list of the biggest and best from 2012. Did we miss something? Should we give out awards in other categories? Let us know in the comments.
Disclaimer: Ultiworld started in July 2012, so really this is the best of the best since then. We didn’t follow the college season closely, so we leave that to commenters!
Best Game: Seattle Sockeye v. Austin Doublewide at the Emerald City Classic.
Best Play: You already know…it’s Dylan Freechild’s universe point layout D in the Portland Rhino v. Doublewide game at the Labor Day Championships. It’s the number one play in our Labor Day Top 10.
Best Achievement: TIE. Doublewide’s first national championship, marking the first non-coastal winner in the open division since 1986 — AND — San Francisco Fury’s seventh straight title, giving them the longest win streak in any division in US history.
Biggest Upset: Toronto’s GOAT over Atlanta’s Chain Lightning at the Chesapeake Invite.
Biggest News: The explosion of professional ultimate, pioneered by Josh Moore and the American Ultimate Disc League. Now expanding further, with Major League Ultimate and, potentially, NexGen.
Most Memorable Line: “You’re not on the FIELD!” — Steve Slocum, Tournament Director, Mid-Atlantic Regionals, after Philadelphia Southpaw players were outraged due to a rules infraction late in their finals matchup against Washington, D.C.’s Truck Stop.
Biggest Scandal: Canada’s play against Japan at Worlds.
Biggest Apology: Team Canada to Japan.
Biggest Surprise: The AUDL lawsuit.
Best Breakout Rookie: Doublewide’s Dalton Smith.
Best Breakout Team: Madison’s Heist, who finished 11th at Nationals after not losing a single game all season.
Best Spirit: We didn’t see this ourselves, but this letter from a spectator at Canadian Nationals shows how powerful great spirit can be.
Most Viral Video: Brodie Smith’s Top 21 Trick Shots.
Top Reddit Post: The official candy of Ultimate (comments section).
Biggest Longshot: Ultimate making it into the Olympics.
Most-Read Ultiworld Article: Exclusive Early Details About Major League Ultimate
Biggest Spike: Medicine Men’s Rico Johnson (#10 in our Mid-Atlantic Regionals Top 10).
Biggest Fan: Sherri Rose.
Best Highlight Reel: World Juniors Ultimate Championships.
Best Play By A Dog: Davy Whippet and Rob McLeod, World Record, Distance to Canine Catch.
