Picking the semifinalists, plus subscribers get to save one eliminated play!
January 31, 2024 by Ultiworld in Awards, Opinion with 0 comments
Ultiworld’s 2023 Catch of the Year bracket is presented by Spin Ultimate; all opinions are those of the author(s). Find out how Spin can get you, and your team, looking your best this season.
One of our most popular series to begin each year, it’s time to look back at last year and let our readers decide some of the top plays of the year from 2023.
We watched many hours of game footage and asked for help from the community to hunt down the catches, grabs, yoinks and everything else. With so many players making big plays in 2023, it was too tough for us to even cut to a final 16.
This year’s voting tournament introduces two new elements, both of which are exclusive to our subscribers.
First, in our Subscriber Selection, they culled the initial nomination list down to the final sixteen (eight from MMP and eight from FMP) in this article. If you want to help decide who even makes the bracket and see all of the honorable mentions, plus get a bunch of other sweet benefits for 2024, check out our subscription plans.
We are also introducing the Subscriber Save. During this round, subscribers will vote to select one play on each side of the bracket to save from elimination and send to the semifinals. The semifinals will consist of three plays each. Subscribers should be sure to vote for the save at the bottom!
Let’s see who will move on to the semifinals. Round 2 of voting starts now and closes on Friday, Feb 2 at noon Eastern.
Female-Matching Players
Matchup 1: Robert vs. Cheung
Pénélope Robert – Canada Women’s (WFDF U24)
Cheuk Yan Jane Cheung – Hong Kong Women’s (WFDF AOUGC)
We don’t get a lot of rematches around here, but Cheung’s narrow upset in round one was matched — if not exceeded, by voting margin — by Robert’s, so we are running it back!
Catch of the Year 2023 (R2 - Matchup 1) (Results)
- Pénélope Robert
- Cheuk Yan Jane Cheung
Matchup 2: Cardenas vs. Schütz
Manuela Cardenas – Macana (International Club)
Lisa Schütz – Germany Women’s (WFDF U24)
This pairing secured the the Americans are getting shut out on this side of the bracket. While Cardenas’ victory came down to a handful of votes, Schütz’ captured almost three of every votes. Can the German keep it up to knock off the Queen of the Play of the Year?
Catch of the Year 2023 (R2 - Matchup 2) (Results)
- Manuela Cardenas
- Lisa Schütz
Male-Matching Players
Matchup 3: Cable vs. De Marree
Orion Cable – Boston DiG (USAU Club)
Daan De Marree – Belgium Open (WFDF U24)
Cable continues his quest to be the first ever to win two Play of the Year brackets in the same year. But his Catch campaign was nearly derailed in round one. De Marree’s success was only slightly less dramatic. Now the two will have a showdown.
Catch of the Year 2023 (R2 - Matchup 3) (Results)
- Orion Cable
- Daan De Marree
Matchup 4: Henke vs. Brooks
Kyle Henke – Austin Sol (UFA)
Tobias Brooks – Carolina Flyers (UFA)
The AUDL UFA layouts face off after wins that would close in most brackets but look dominant given how close every matchup was. The high flying phenom vs. the clutch playmaker!
Catch of the Year 2023 (R2 - Matchup 4) (Results)
- Kyle Henke
- Tobias Brooks
Subscriber Save
Our subscribers will have the chance to save one of the plays from each side of the bracket that is eliminated to advance to the head-to-head-to-head semifinals!
Bonus Content for Ultiworld’s 2023 Catch Of The Year Bracket (Round 2) is only available to Ultiworld Subscribers
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