Combing through all the men's division storylines at this pivotal junction along the road to Nationals.
April 25, 2025 by Edward Stephens, Alex Rubin, Aidan Thomas, Matt Fazzalaro and Graham Gordon in Preview
Ultiworld’s coverage of the 2024 college ultimate season are 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.
This is it, folks. This is where the college season officially separates the wheat from the chaff as, over the course of the next two weekends, teams from across the continent compete for their place at Nationals. Between longstanding regional grudges, hopeful potential first-timers, elite teams getting one last live tune-up before the Big Dance, legacy programs trying to hold on, bumrushes at the door to Burlington in select crowded regions, and the sheer unpredictability of the division, it’s always one of the most lively times of the year.
Stick with us as we take you through all the top storylines in each of the ten regions.
Atlantic Coast
- Schedule & Results
- Location: Axton, VA
- Number of Bids: 1
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifier: UNC
- In the Hunt: Virginia, South Carolina
- Potential Spoilers: UNC Wilmington, William & Mary, NC State, Maryland, Virginia Tech
Will Darkside Break a Sweat?
The answer is probably no. A #2 UNC Darkside program who have set the divisional standard by appearing in the last 10 national semifinals, return at least five tentpole stars for the 2025 run, and are among the division’s best in terms of both coaching and depth of talent will not bow out against a set of teams barely within hailing distance of them. But hey, that’s why they play the games. Could anyone stun the world and knock Darkside out of Nationals? If anyone has a shot, maybe it’s Virginia Night Train, who have wins over #19 Georgia Tech Tribe and #10 Washington Sundodgers this season, the best resume of any non-UNC Atlantic Coast squad. Even then, it’s the longest of long shots. The real storyline is not so much ‘will Darkside sweat?’ Rather, it’s do they stay healthy and get their reps up to speed for the real challenge next month?
The Battle to Reach the Final
Who will earn the honor of being the final contender standing, though? It’s probably a three-horse race between Virginia, #25 South Carolina Gamecock Ultimate, UNC Wilmington Seamen, all of whom have played schedules that will have seasoned them to the standard of play necessary to fit in amongst the division’s elite. It’s doubtful that any of them reach that lofty standard against Darkside, even with notably strong players like Matthew Callen, Gavin Russell, and Stewart Kelley in the mix.
The Fun of the Upset
A one-bid region led by the No. 3 team in the country? Not much drama at the top, so root for some chaos and fun. Likely contenders to cause that chaos could be tenth-seeded Maryland Space Bastards (who have beaten Virginia this season) and historically strong NC State Alpha, who have enough talent that they could find some magic out of the 12th seed. Don’t overlook Virginia Tech Burn and William & Mary Merry Men either, if we’re trying to identify thorns along the main challengers’ garden path. Spoiled weekends lurk everywhere for the challenger class.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Josh Singleton (UNC) – Insert Singleton, Ben Dameron, Matt Barcellos, or a number of UNC players here. They probably don’t need to extend their stars much, but they’ve got plenty who would be the best player on any other roster they’ll face. Singleton combines the heart and field-bending ability to carry them through any adversity.
Gavin Russell (South Carolina) – An X-Factor in the rise of South Carolina over the past couple seasons into the top-25 conversation, Gavin Russell will get one more postseason stage to shine on for his senior campaign.
Christian Belus (UNC Wilmington) – Belus is part of an improved Seamen core that just didn’t do enough to earn a bid. Regardless, between his bag of throws and his physical defense he’s a top player to watch on perhaps the second most talented roster in Axton.
Great Lakes
- Schedule & Results
- Location: Holland, MI
- Number of Bids: 1
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifier: Michigan
- In the Hunt: Chicago
- Potential Spoilers: Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue, Notre Dame, Illinois State
Do You Trust Michigan?
Trust. That’s what it comes down to with Michigan MagnUM. On one hand, it was clear early on (possibly as early as last season) that this was going to be a one-bid region: no sense tripping all over yourself to earn a strength bid. That was the Michigan Philosophy in 2024, and they made an artform out of dogging a little in the regular season before taking care of their primary challenger, Illinois Rise. Rinse and repeat 2025, only change out the challenger. This year’s contenders come in the form of Chicago Fission, who, if they are at full strength, have the pieces to steal MagnUM’s turf.
Michigan know how to knuckle down and lock in for regionals. Or, at least they’ve known how in the recent past. Do you believe that they’ll remember the recipe again in 2025?
Jockeying for a Chance
With MagnUM a virtual shoe-in to at least reach the final, the question becomes who they’ll meet. The obvious answer is top-seeded Chicago, but there have been huge stretches this spring when stars Grant Harris and Max Devine aren’t healthy, and it isn’t a guarantee that they’re a go for regionals. A short list of contenders are waiting in the wings to get a shot at the bid, all of whom have had glimmers of greatness this season: Indiana Hoosiermama?s, Illinois, Purdue Undue, Notre Dame Papal Rage could find their way to the game-to-go. And, should they get there, between notoriously fickled Great Lakes weather and the any-given-game nature of the enormous middle of the men’s division, they’re not completely boxed out of a shot at Nationals.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Filip Icev (Michigan) – Aaron Bartlett is a great player, but he isn’t at his best when he starts with the disc. Enter Icev, the first-year from Seattle, to take on a heavy share of the distribution for MagnUM. Everything just seems to click into place around him. He has a bright future and, crucially, a bright present.
Max Devine (Chicago) – When in doubt, recruit, recruit, recruit. Fission got a great one in former Ohio State Leadbelly stalwart (and Club Nationals player with Cleveland Crocs) Devine. He has been one of the primary forces powering their march into legitimate Nationals contention in 2025.
Justin Burnett (Illinois State) – The 2023 Callahan winner is making the most of a grad school year by cleating up for the Gnomes. Will it propel them to contention? Probably not, but it will be one of the best displays of ultimate at the fields.
Eric Palia (Purdue) – There are a lot of sneaky-great players on the second-tier Great Lakes teams, but perhaps none of them present as much of a matchup problem as Palia. Don’t make the mistake of trying to guard him one-on-one, and don’t come without a plan B if he matches up on your top option.
Metro East
- Schedule & Results
- Location: Middletown, NY
- Number of Bids: 1
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifier: Cornell
- In the Hunt: Ottawa
- Potential Spoilers: UConn
Buds vs Gee-Gees: Redux
Last year’s surprise team, Ottawa Gee-Gees, ran away with the Metro East. In the final against Cornell Buds, they hardly turned the disc over. It wasn’t much of a fight.
What a difference a year makes, as the Buds have gotten stronger since a year ago and the Gee-Gees, thanks to the departure of Worlds-level player Marty Gallant1 have taken a step back. The best player on the field could end up being Cornell’s Davith Chan, although both Maxime Ayad and Logan Keillor of Ottawa will give him a run for his money. As for depth, the Buds have plenty of it: Milo Rappoport, Iram Liu, and Jacob Groner are just a few of the supporting players that have Cornell looking like a legitimate back-end Nationals team (as opposed to merely Metro East qualifiers). Can Ottawa match them there? It’s unclear, since, like last season, they barely ventured into USAU play. Expect a tight, crowd-pleasing game if the rematch takes place, and don’t bother trying to predict a winner.
Hello? Contenders?
In one of the most bizarre developments of the 2025 Series so far, SUNY-Buffalo Green Eggs and Ham, whose list of wins this spring includes Maryland and Case Western, failed to qualify for regionals. That significantly reduced the number of teams who could challenge either Ottawa or Cornell for a spot in the final. Do any remain? That largely depends on what you think of UConn Huskies, who ran through the competition at conferences. They’re a longshot against a focused Cornell or Ottawa, but take out the word ‘long’ and you’re still left with a shot.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Davith Chan (Cornell) – Davith Chan is one of the best players in college ultimate. He’s quicker than you (yes, you) and his throws are crispier than yours. Whether he starts downfield or begins a point in the handler set, he’s going to set up the Buds offense for success.
Maxime Ayad (Ottawa) – As a player with a large frame and even larger throws, Ayad has a power game that always seems to put opponents on the back foot. It isn’t clear whether he does more damage as a big play thrower, a big play cutter, or a big receiver.
Iram Liu (Cornell) – Liu’s break throws are so smooth they put the ‘b’ in subtle. While not a takeover player (see: Chan, above) in the strict sense of the word, his role is essential to keep the Buds’ motor humming.
New England
- Schedule & Results
- Location: Portland, ME
- Number of Bids: 3
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifiers: UMass, Brown, Tufts
- In the Hunt: Northeastern, Vermont
- Potential Spoilers: McGill
Four Teams, Two Bids, Infinite Drama
#12 Brown Brownian Motion, #14 Tufts E-Men, #16 Northeastern Huskies, and #24 Vermont Chill. Doesn’t matter who ‘earned’ a bid in the regular season. Only that there are four teams, ranked 15th through 18th per the USAU rankings, that seem to be of relatively equal caliber who will clash in the hopes of claiming two remaining bids, with #3 UMass Zoodisc almost assuredly taking the top spot. All four teams have exactly one total win over the other three teams this season. Anyone’s game in Portland, lots of drama up north.
Will last seasons nationals champions Brown be shut out of a repeat attempt? Can Vermont keep up the solid multi-year run after an inconsistent regular season? Is this the year that Northeastern’s streak of regionals heartache ends and Peter Boerth finally gets a Nationals appearance? Or do the young stars of Tufts have the juice to muscle past everybody?
A Perfect Nationals Tune-Up for Zoo
New England Regionals won’t be a completely sweat-free run for Zoodisc, since they’ll still have to face off against a field with four other ranked opponents (and an intriguing unranked one in McGill MUT). But with three bids, a Nationals berth should not be a question mark, allowing UMass to focus on some bigger questions. Questions like, “Can they maintain an elite standard of play throughout an entire weekend?” And perhaps, more importantly, “What is going on with the health of stars Wyatt Kellman and Caelan McSweeney?” How they answer those questions will cast an important light on what they might be able to accomplish on Memorial Day weekend.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Peter Boerth (Northeastern) – If you are of the mindset that the team with the best player frequently wins out in top matchups, you like Northeastern’s odds of surviving the New England gauntlet with Boerth leading the way. He’s the top player from the quadrant of teams fighting for two spots.
Nolan McCloskey (Brown) – Brownian Motion’s starring rookie has to make the list, as he’ll need to be a force for this young Brown roster to return to nationals and defend the crown. Look for Brown to get a high touch rate for their freshman (alongside fellow high-touch rookie Teo Huson).
Oscar Graff (Tufts) – Graff is he go-to guy for the E-Men both on offense and defense. Is his star power enough to lift an E-Men squad who weren’t really on the national radar at the beginning of the season back to Nationals?
North Central
- Schedule & Results
- Location: Des Moines, IA
- Number of Bids: 1
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifiers: Carleton
- In the Hunt: Minnesota, Wisconsin
- Potential Spoilers: N/A
CUT’s Top Dog Status
For the past three seasons, #5 Carleton CUT and #24 Minnesota have been roughly equal teams in regular season play, and, outside of 2022, when CUT missed Nationals altogether, have played close games in the Series time and time again. This year, though, Carleton have built a much stronger resume leading into regionals, and they just drubbed their neighbors from the Twin Cities 15-5 at Northwoods Conferences. That game was tied up at 5s in the first half, but Carleton went on a 10-0 run to close it out, with relentless defensive pressure leading to many mistakes from the Minnesota offense. They look to be a league above the rest of the region this year. Every indication is that this is just a quick stop on the route to a deep Memorial Day Weekend run.
Blue Bloods in the Hunt
For the first year in many, Minnesota have not had the regular season results necessary to be a bid-earning team in the division. Even though they still attended Florida Warm Up, Smoky Mountain Invite, and Easterns, they failed to win a single game against competition from within the strength-bid-earning bubble and have looked shaky. Wisconsin have been reasonably similar, with middling-to=poor results against a slightly stronger schedule. With the Hodags holding the early season win in the head-to-head matchup, it’ll be interesting to see which of the teams claims the intra-region bragging rights, or if either can summon some vintage North Central Magic™ and give CUT a scare.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Cullen Baker (Carleton) – Baker’s steady presence at the center of CUT’s defensive counterattack has led to a much improved break percentage when they get a turnover. Expect the U24 Mixed selection to take high-level handler marks against all opponents and cross over to offense when that unit needs reinforcements to secure holds.
Tej Murthy (Carleton) – After being a high-level contributor as a first-year in 2024, Murthy’s been sidelined with an injury most of this year. He took his first (limited) reps at Easterns, but if he’s at full health, he’ll increase the verticality of the CUT offense, both as a thrower and a receiver.
Levi Dohman (Minnesota) – Dohman is well-known as a stingy handler defender, long shutting down matchups for Minnesota’s defense. He’s got one of the best reaction times of anyone in the division and will not give up easy reset looks. He will also need to bring his grit as an offensive workhorse if Minnesota are to make noise in the game-to-go.
Zach Morton (Wisconsin) – Wisconsin will get production from veterans Graeme Alexander and Saul Diaz, but the highest ceiling Hodag is the rookie. Morton shows all the promise of being a major player, not just in the future, but right now.
Northwest
- Schedule & Results
- Location: Burlington, WA
- Number of Bids: 5
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifiers: Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, UBC, Western Washington
- In the Hunt: Victoria
- Potential Spoilers: Utah Valley, Utah State, Utah
Can Anyone Challenge Ego?
This season, #4 Oregon Ego have made by far the strongest case to be the best team in the Northwest. In addition to great results against the division’s elite, with convincing wins over Carleton, #1 Colorado Mamabird, and UNC (albeit in consolation), they’ve proved to be resilient to challenges from rivals like #8 Oregon State Beavers and #19 Western Washington DIRT. The two teams with a realistic shot at taking their crown are the Beavers and Washington, who haven’t played Oregon yet. It would take a really strong game for either of those teams to disrupt Oregon’s flow that few have stymied, and Ego will appreciate the battle-testing come Nationals.
Downstream Chaos
So, five bids are at stake, with six teams truly at a level where it’d be no surprise if they qualified. Western Washington, #18 Victoria Vikes, and #17 UBC Thunderbirds are all teams that can clearly get hot, with lots of close games against Nationals-level teams, including one another. It will be a tough order for any of them to challenge Ego, but they could easily steal a win against Oregon State or Washington and disrupt the perceived pecking order, as well as Nationals seeding. Beyond the ranked teams, there is plenty of danger from three talented Utah teams (Utah Zion Curtain, Utah Valley Ultimate, and Utah State Scotsmen) who haven’t quite put it together this season but have enough talent to figure it out at regionals. That means that there are nine teams who could legitimately compete for five tickets to Nationals. Get your popcorn.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Max Massey (Oregon) – Massey has been receiving the centering pass all season for Oregon’s offense, and his ability to run the offense as well as boost hucks to players like Mica Glass and Alex Hall-Witt presents the complete package for a do-it-all handler. He’s also a bulldog defender who has frequently played both ways.
Cedar Hines (Western Washington) – Clearly one of the most talented first-years in the division, we haven’t gotten to see Hines in action on the biggest stage enough to know his potential for DIRT this year, due to his absence in their finals run at Stanford Invite. If he can dictate flow and make plays in big games, there’s no way WWU don’t qualify for the Show.
Ben Thoennes (Oregon State) – Thoennes is one of the largest drivers of a resurgence of the big-play huck game in the open division. His massive throwing bag allows Oregon State to play a high-variance style of offense that is brutally efficient when it works — if he’s on, they’re nigh impossible to stop.
Ohio Valley
- Schedule & Results
- Location: Fairborn, OH
- Number of Bids: 1
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifier: Penn State
- In the Hunt: Pittsburgh
- Potential Spoilers: Carnegie Mellon, Temple, Cincinnati, Ohio State
En Sabah Not
Pittsburgh En Sabah Nur fell out of Ultiworld’s power rankings for the first time ever a few weeks ago. They failed to finish within bid earning range in the USA Ultimate rankings. They suffered winless pool play performances at both Smoky Mountain Invite and Easterns. These results are the worst from a Pitt team in nearly two decades, but the program that Pittsburgh built over the course of generations seems stable enough to withstand these bumps in the road. Tristan Yarter remains the face of the program, but role players like Reid Duncan (shutdown defense), Peter Kotz (smooth downfield cutting), and Will McGlynn (reliable resets) each play their own roles very well. Julius Clyburn is budding into the next Pitt star. Gutting through a challenging season may just turn out to be preparation for a tough regionals, but it also could be a sign that this is the beginning of the end for a dynastic program who have won their region more often than any other team in any division since the regional redraw.
Keystone State Battle
#18 Penn State Spank won the West Penn Conference championship, and they’ll be the favorite heading into regionals. Despite the talents of Alex Mullen, Doug Hoyer, Zander Lutz, Logan Piercy, and Michael Maroon, Spank are not guaranteed anything. Their win over Pitt a few weeks ago was their first ever series win in the matchup, and just a few games earlier they lost to a much lower ranked Carnegie Mellon Mr. Yuk side who are not on anyone’s Nationals radar. Pittsburgh have not missed Nationals since 2004, while Penn State made their first appearance in 21 years last spring. While the other teams will all play their games, the sole bid from the Ohio Valley should come down to the matchup between an ascending Penn State team and the proud program of Pittsburgh.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Tristan Yarter (Pittsburgh) – One of the most experienced players in the division, there is little on the field that Yarter has not done. Once a defensive specialist and D-line gunslinger, he now occupies the center handler role on offense and carries Pitt through most of their possessions. His ability to pace himself while he probably plays more points than anyone else in the region will be key to Pitt’s success at Regionals.
Alex Mullen (Penn State) – At various times different players have taken the mantle as Penn State’s most impactful player, but when push comes to shove Spank wants the disc in Mullen’s hands. A careful decision maker who always seems to find just enough space for a bail out reset, Mullen’s balance and poise will help Penn State immensely in their push to win the region.
William Wettengel (Cincinnati) – If anyone is going to knock off one of the top teams at Regionals, the most likely candidate is Cincinnati. Local product William Wettengel is known on the club and pro circuits as a tall defender, but in college he is a do-everything talent who can take over a game. If he goes on a heater, Cincinnati are as good a bet as any to steal an unlikely win.
South Central
- Schedule & Results
- Location: Tulsa, OK
- Number of Bids: 3
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifiers: Colorado, Texas, WashU
- In the Hunt: Colorado State
- Potential Spoilers: Missouri, Texas A&M
Fly High, Mamabird
Colorado are coming off one of their most impressive tournament performances in recent memory, with wins over UNC, UMass, Oregon, and SLO to take home the prestigious Easterns crown. Tobias Brooks has matured from an exciting curiosity as a rookie into a bona fide offensive centerpiece in his sophomore season, and the talent around him is blossoming as well. Ryan Shigley, Zeke Thoreson, and Tucker Kalmus are all in elevated offensive roles compared to seasons past. Mamabird have a very strong developmental team, and will often have first year players play a season with the B-team before joining the more competitive roster. However, two true rookies, Ezra Thoreson and Elliot Hawkins, are carving out big roles and making highlight plays for the defense nearly every game. With star power and more depth than previous iterations of the team, Mamabird are the runaway regional favorites, and it is quite possible that regionals won’t be the last tournament they win.
Bids For Everyone
#23 WashU Contra did just enough at Huck Finn during the final weekend of the regular season to keep a third bid in the region. That’s a relief for them and for #15 Texas TUFF, who otherwise would have had to fight out a really tough game-to-go. Both teams may not have reached the highest highs they wanted to during the regular season – they each lost the final at their home tournament – but they have built a steady case over the course of the season as bracket threats at Nationals. In John Clyde and Xavier Fuzat (Texas) and Cam Freeman and Ben Reimler (WashU), each have the star power to go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the country. While neither team will face much threat to finish in a top-three spot, their expected face offs for final placement will be impactful for setting seedings and matchups to start their Nationals runs.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Tobias Brooks (Colorado) – At this point, Brooks is a one of one player in the division, with a combination of sprint speed, throwing prowess, and processing speed above anyone else playing college ultimate right now. Mamabird would still be the regional favorite without him, but his presence elevates Colorado to national title contenders.
Xavier Fuzat (Texas) – Fuzat has the green light to do what he wants on the field – and that’s not in a selfish way, it’s just the best way to maximize Texas’s chances of winning. Fuzat grew over the past few years from a steady cutter into an all around star, adding defensive intelligence and a powerful throwing repertoire to his game. If Texas have any chance of unseating Colorado atop the region, Fuzat will likely need to have a monster game and dominate the matchup.
Cam Freeman (WashU) – Freeman is the hub around which WashU flow. Comfortable in the backfield or downfield, on offense or defense, Freeman finds a way to be effective wherever he is on the field. While occasionally unconventional, Freeman blends power and finesse in a unique way, and he fits seamlessly into the systems Contra have used over the last few years to grow their team into a Nationals-level program.
Southeast
- Schedule & Results
- Location: Decatur, AL
- Number of Bids: 1
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifiers: Georgia
- In the Hunt: Georgia Tech
- Potential Spoilers: Emory, Ave Maria, Florida, Tulane, Alabama-Huntsville
There Can Be Only One…
Not much to say about this one except that it is for all the marbles. For the first time in what feels like a decade2, #13 Georgia Jojah have some real competition when it comes to making it to Nationals in May. On the back of the brothers, Adam and Sam Grossberg, Georgia Tech have finally put together a team of real nationals level quality. The Southeast regional rivals have met three times this season, with Georgia taking two out of three of those games, both by a score of 15-11. Tech, who have wins over teams like UNC, Texas, and Pitt, will be labeled as certified, bona fide giant killers if they can pull this off. The SE Region has long been Jojah’s and chances are it will stay that way. That being said, expect the regional final down south to be dramatic and stressful.
Pitfalls Aplenty
That ‘not much to say’ being said, the potential for chaos is not insignificant in the Southeast. While none of Tulane Tucks, Emory Juice, Alabama-Huntsville Nightmares, Florida, or (newly D-I) Ave Maria project to take the bid, all of them are dangerous in a one-game elimination situation. If you’re Georgia Tech or Georgia, do you really want your season to hinge on the length of a Luke Kim (Emory) or Isaiah Mason (Alabama-Huntsville) hot streak? Don’t get caught looking to far ahead and you won’t fall into the trap.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Aidan Downey (Georgia) – Any Callahan winner is always going to be a player to watch for the rest of their life. Downey is one of the few Callahan winners who was able to return for a victory lap. The multi-time Wplayer will definitely want to end his career with his 5th Nationals appearance in a row.
Scotty Whitley (Georgia) – When Whitley entered the college scene, we knew he would make noise. Now a fully matured college ultimate vet, this junior has a motor that rivals the best in the division. He, along with Downey, easily plays the most points per game on this Jojah team.
Adam + Sam Grossberg (Georgia Tech) – A twofer! The first season of the combined powers of the GrossBusters3 has been a historic one. Adam alone is one of the best players in the region but when paired with his huck-happy younger brother who rarely misses, they are a force to be reckoned with. Expect lots of sibling connections at regionals and beyond if they can make it there.
Jason Evans (Emory) – Evans is by far the most powerful player on Emory Juice. He was pivotal in their early wins against teams like Brown and Texas A&M. Evans’ greatest skill might be his literal double-jump that he has ready to go on a moment’s notice. If only the Southeast had a 2nd bid…Then there could be a chance of fireworks by Evans and co.
Southwest
- Schedule & Results
- Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Number of Bids: 3
- Excitement Level:
- Expected Qualifiers: Cal Poly SLO, Cal, UC Santa Cruz
- In the Hunt: UC San Diego
- Potential Spoilers: UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, Stanford
Betting on the Chalk to Walk
The Southwest continues to be an exciting multi-bid region dominated by a few top programs. The three teams expected to qualify this year are, obviously #6 Cal Poly SLO SLOCORE, #9 Cal Ursa Major, and #10 UC Santa Cruz Slugs. These are three high-powered programs in the college division and are no strangers to what it takes to make a deep run at Nationals. Barring any serious upsets, the only thing these teams are fighting each other for is seeding. In regions with multiple bids, where you are seeded very much can make or break your bracket. Taking the 3rd bid instead of the 2nd can be the difference between ending up in a pool of death or making the bracket. SLOCORE are the clear favorites for the first bid but the second is a coin toss between UC Santa Cruz and Cal. Since neither of them will want to fall to the backdoor, expect their battle to be one for the ages.
The SLOCORE Ceiling
Last May, Cal Poly SLOCORE did the unthinkable and beat UNC Darkside to go to the final of college Nationals. Don’t lie, I know you all saw it, it was one of the greatest comebacks of our generation. The thought that has been on our minds all year revolves around if that was a one-year-only sort of occurrence, or will SLOCORE be a team who are consistently knocking on the door of the finals. They’ve had a stellar season: Only six total losses, with four of those coming from Colorado and Carleton by close margins. They definitely have the talent, the coaching, and the experience to get back to the final, it is just going to come down to if they can pool all that together to make something happen. Southwest Regionals will have good Nationals-caliber talent for Cal Poly to cut their teeth on before heading to Washington in May.
Players Who Could Make a Difference
Kyle Lew (Cal Poly SLO) – Lew, who has been a force for SLOCORE for years, has fully stepped up into being their guy this year in the absence of Calvin Brown. He hits all the flashy throws on the field with ease AND he nails all the hard ones that people ignore because he makes them look so easy4. In every game SLO plays the defense knows Lew is going to want a lot of touches on the disc and there’s still not much anyone can do about it. If SLOCORE is going to make a run like last year, it’ll be on the back of Lew.
Dexter Clyburn (California) – Ursa Major’s favorite son is always the player to have your eyes on when they take the field. After failing to make the bracket of College Nationals last year, Clyburn will be even more motivated to tear through regional opponents to have possibly one final shot at making a deep run into the heart of May.
Toby Warren (UC Santa Cruz) – Warren and his teammates have been feeling it this season. The Slugs are poised to have their best campaign since in a while, and Warren will continue to be the one to shepherd the disc down the field, into the endzone, and hopefully further to Nationals than the team’s most recent trip in 2023.
Seriously, Gallant was on the most recent shortlist of players in contention to represent Canada at this summer’s World Games tournament. ↩
Editor’s note: It has not been an entire decade since 2018 when Auburn Aetos took the region’s lone bid, but we don’t mind a bit of hyperbole, and ‘feels like’ is doing some important heavy lifting. ↩
The brothers Grossberg played for Philadelphia Ghostbusters this past club season ↩
arounds, insides, blades, etc ↩
