D-III College Championships 2025: Pool Previews (Men’s Div.)

Get to know the 16 teams competing for a D-III college title!

May 16, 2025 by Calvin Ciorba and Josh Katz in Preview

Ultiworld’s coverage of the 2025 college ultimate season 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.

The D-III College Championships are almost here, and that means it’s pool preview time! After an up-and-down season once again sees last year’s champions fail to return to the big dance, 16 worthy teams arrive at the campaign’s final weekend ready to crown a national champion. With neither of last year’s finalists in the field, Davenport seems the clear frontrunner with a final ranking that would place them among the bid-earners in D-I, Richmond hopes to finally break through to the final after two years of losing in semis, Elon looks to make some noise after returning from a long Nationals drought as a top seed, and a bevy of other challengers are gearing up to make a push in the bracket.

We’ve got you covered for all the exciting action this weekend, but before the first pull goes up, let’s get to know the teams who will be competing in Burlington. Then follow along on the D-III College Championships event page for updates and a record number of livestreams throughout the weekend!

Pool A

Teams: No.1 Davenport, No.8 Franciscan, No.12 Missouri S&T, No.13 Bowdoin
Overall Strength: 💪💪💪
Star Power: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Upset Alert: 🚨🚨🚨

Davenport Panthers

Never have we seen a regular season so dominant from a D-III team like we have with Davenport. The Panthers have walloped teams all season, going 25-1, with their only loss being a snowy, windy game to Michigan State. Now they sit at 15th in the overall D-I Algorithm and have a four-point win over Nationals’ no.9 seed Washington University.

With only 16 guys on the roster last year, Davenport nearly upset fellow scholarship program Oklahoma Christian in quarters, only losing by one. This year, however, they have added ten players, including ROTY favorite Kai Creed, former Donovan finalist Collin Hill, and App State’s 2024 Callahan nominee Alex Ballentine. Jacob Felton reportedly looks like one of the best players of college ultimate in general, and is backed by the cutting of 2024 ROTY second runner up Rowan Jamieson and the ultra-bouncy Darren Dyer. Sixth year Tyler Shanahan also brings veteran-level handling experience, after playing Whitman for four years and Davenport last year. While starpower carried the Panthers last year, their depth makes the team so much more deadly this time around. On top of that, the addition of Melissa Witmer brought the much-needed tactical level of coaching and organization needed to bring the team to its highest possible level.

Anything but a championship would be a disappointment for Davenport, which sounds crazy as a second-year team, but that’s just how good they are. Obviously, this is college Nationals, where certainty is an illusion, but this team is equipped with so many veterans, high-level coaching, and athletes that it’s hard to spot a weakness. D-I Great Lakes teams: start preparing for next year if Davenport meets expectations.

Franciscan Fatal

What an odd year it’s been for Franciscan Fatal, who have jumped up and down our rankings all season. They started the year off dominating at River City Showdown, defeating Elon in the semifinals before defeating UNC Asheville in the final. However, at D-III Easterns, they fell back down to Earth, losing to Williams, Bates, and Wesleyan. Conferences provided even more concerning when they lost to Kenyon, leaving doubts about if they would even make Nationals. By Regionals, Fatal locked in beating everyone team by at least five, including a 15-10 revenge game over Kenyon in the final.

Franciscan may have one of the most synergistic teams in Burlington this weekend. When clicking, every throw and cut seems effortless, gliding up the field with ease. BPOTY Second Runner-up Jude Schmiesing leads the team, able to go every other when needed, while also taking a backseat when the team is cooking. His smooth throws and beautiful cuts make him one of the most dangerous handlers at Nationals. 2025 leading goal scorer Max Gregor will look to defend his crown and Justin Wallace’s acceleration on cuts is unmatched. Be sure to look for the play of Luke Updike, Taylor Lange, and Joe Redmond as well.

Considering their volatility throughout this season, it’s impossible to know which iteration of Fatal will show up in Burlington. If they play like they do at River City and Regionals, they could make a semis run. If they play like they did at D-III Easterns, it’s totally possible for them to miss the bracket. With their top stars playing a majority of points, choosing when to use their depth verses top guys will be imperative. With Fatal’s destiny under their control, they’ll aim to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2017.

Missouri S&T Miner Threat

It’s almost poetic that after being snubbed of bids in the COVID seasons of 2021 and 2022 (USAU didn’t account for Oklahoma Christian entering the region), Missouri S&T has stolen a bid in 2024 and 2025. After being just outside of the bid range thanks to a questionable 15-6 loss to Lipscomb, Miner Threat capitalized against an injured Colorado College team, winning 12-8 in the game-to-go. Don’t count S&T out just because they stole a bid, however, as they have wins over Berry and other strong D-I teams.

A lot of Missouri S&T players have developed these last couple of years playing with St. Louis club team Moonar. Sam Papin, the star of both teams, is a speedy lefty handler with big hucks and lightning-fast ball movement skills. Papin’s counterpart, Wes Fransen, at 6’7, is consistently one of the taller players on the field. Fransen’s size doesn’t mean he just goes deep– he uses it to grind big under cuts, break any mark, and layout for discs most would think are unreachable. Other stars include Ian Byrne, whose speed allows him to get open on any defender who dares challenge him. Zach Sanders has every throw in the toolkit, whether it be arounds, high releases, or deep throws. Finally, freshman Mason Shiefer has years of Boston ultimate experience, and plays like a veteran as a first-year.

Miner Threat is a team that is heavily reliant on zone, and the weather in Washington will certainly play to their advantage. While they might not beat Davenport, they have a strong opportunity to do very well in their pool and make a surprise quarters run. Their stars will need to show out, and if they do, it’s bad news for other teams in Pool A.

Bowdoin Clown

It’s been a long time coming for Bowdoin, which reached Nationals for the first time since 2019 after experiencing multiple game-to-go losses in the last couple of years. This season, after a regular season where they played okay but not great, Clown played the best they have in years at Regionals. In their run, they defeated last year’s national runner-up Williams, who looked like an easy lock to make it back to the big show with previous POTY contender Charles Tantum. It’s not as if it was a flukey win either, as Bowdoin defeated WUFO both in pool play and the game to go.

The biggest reason Bowdoin qualified for Nationals this year can be attributed to their Donovan nominee Cole Fairfield. Fairfield dominates in the cutting space, getting open ably both under or deep. Fairfield was so dominant at Regionals, his team often trusted to throw the disc to him when he didn’t even have a step, including the huck he caught over Tantum to win on universe point. Backing up Fairfield are Ben Halperin, Jamie Roan, and ​​Theo Barton, who all make significant impacts on the field.

Although the bottom seed in their pool, Bowdoin has every opportunity to make the bracket. Missouri S&T also stole a bid, and Franciscan has looked shaky all season besides River City Showdown. Making it out of the New England region is no simple task, meaning Bowdoin is up to the test. The question is: will they have the depth for Nationals? Their season is filled with playing a lot of easier teams and the gauntlet of Nationals can be brutal. Yet Clown only need to win one game to make the prequarters and have a great shot to do so if they play like they did against Williams.

Pool B

Teams: No.2 Elon, No.7 Carleton, No.11 Rochester, No.14 Berry
Overall Strength: 💪💪
Star Power: ⭐⭐⭐
Upset Alert: 🚨🚨🚨🚨

Elon Big Fat Bomb

After a couple seasons of coming up just short, Elon is finally back at Nationals for the first time in a decade. A season that started with dreams of just getting to Burlington has quickly morphed into so much more; Elon enters the weekend as the no.2 overall seed on the back of a truly outstanding year. BFB are 24-5 overall and 5-2 against other teams in the field, including a 15-10 win over Richmond in the regional final to seal their Nationals spot.

The biggest reason why BFB were able to get over the hump? Rookie sensation Brayden Morrison, a recent USA U20 standout, decided to follow his brother Kalen to Elon. His impact has been felt throughout the program. On top of his on-field performances, adding an international-level player has energized practices and inspired the rest of the team in the pursuit of greatness. Brayden’s not going at it alone though. Kalen and Ben Bronstein are both excellent players, and perhaps more important as leaders for the team. Elon is without a coach, so it falls to the captains to gameplan and set the tone. The supporting cast for BFB is filled with elite athletes: Reed Burkert earned a USA U24 tryout last year and is their best cutter, and Justin Brader-Araje, now fully committed to ultimate after an attempt at playing college basketball, is a true five tool player.

Year one of the Brayden Morrison era is already a success, but BFB aren’t settling for just “happy to be here.” Following a season this dominant, internal expectations are sky-high, and outside predictions are right with them. A title is well within reach for Elon this weekend. And even if they don’t finish the job, the experience will be invaluable for future iterations of the program.

Carleton CHOP

2025 makes back-to-back Nationals appearances for CHOP, who’ve proved that their two year hiatus preceding this was just a fluke occurrence. It was by no means an easy qualification path for Carleton, thanks to the shocking development that was a one-bid North Central. They needed a thrilling, universe point win over the reigning champions, St. Olaf Berzerkers, to win the region, and universe point itself was a nine-turn marathon. But CHOP are here, and that’s all that matters. Now, the question is how far they’ll go.

After Chris O’Mara’s graduation, control of the Carleton offense falls squarely on the shoulders of Nathan Wang. Expect to hear his name again and again after a CHOP goal, usually on the assist. He’ll be mirrored in the D-Line backfield from Ben Garcia, a junior who spent last year playing for the Carleton Karls. Downfield, Carleton have a pair of burners in Jonah Barer, their leading goalscorer last spring, and Dash Brenner, a rookie in name only. Brenner has quickly become one of Carleton’s key players and was their unofficial MVP in the regional final. Rounding out the likely impact players are Danny Shope and Tomomi Perry, a junior and sophomore, respectively, who will take opponents’ best matchups on defense.

Every year sees plenty of change in college ultimate, but Carleton are about to undergo a bigger change than most: longtime coach Michael Massad will be stepping away from the program after this season. He’s leaving the program in good hands, and CHOP will be hoping to see him off on a high note with a strong showing in Burlington. Playing on Monday will be a tall task for them, but having multiple meaningful games on Sunday is well within reach for one of D-III’s mainstay programs.

Rochester Piggies

Rochester enters Nationals in an unfamiliar position. For the first time ever, they’re not the bottom seed in their pool, and they’ve more than earned that distinction. The Piggies went 9-4 in the regular season, picking up key wins over Richmond and #19 Kenyon SERF at River City Showdown and a universe point win over #14 Williams WUFO at Salt City Classic to secure the rarest of prizes, a second bid for the Metro East. They defended that bid with ease at Regionals, qualifying for Nationals with a 15-6 win over Ithaca Nawshus.

Many of the Piggies’ key players from last year return, hoping to finally win a game on Sunday. David Leder, their Donovan nominee, has fully evolved into one of D-III’s most dominant players, armed with an extensive bag of throws and now also a devastating cutter. Cameron Lowe and Jacob Trokel also can be counted on to stuff the box score; Lowe in the assist column, and Trokel with lots and lots of goals. Beyond them, Teddy Schwartz, Mitch Whisner, and JP Mogyordy will fill in as the main complementary pieces, and first-year Sky Abruzese has earned plaudits for relentless energy and willingness to bid for any disc remotely close to them. And for a great story of development, Sumedh Anantha Krishna has gone from B team player to reserve to an O-line stalwart in the last three seasons, a testament to the value of hard work and a role model to rookies at Rochester and now everywhere.

The Piggies have been a bottom seed three times before, and broken seed each time by scoring an upset in pool play. They’ve never been able to get any further than that, losing in prequarters each time. That’s goal number one this weekend: to win a game after Saturday for the first time ever. It won’t be easy in a tricky pool and with a potentially daunting prequarters matchup awaiting them. But with Ben Kelley, one of the more underrated coaches in the division, leading them, it’s a goal well within reach.

Berry Bucks

At the bottom of Pool B are the Berry Bucks, making their sixth consecutive appearance at Nationals following another Southeast ConfRegionals title. Don’t let the seed fool you; Berry is confident that their low ranking is not a reflection of their true talent, and feel that they could shock everyone by winning the pool outright.

If Berry is to pull off the massive upset, Ian VanOrder will likely play a significant part. The senior has made a seamless transition into the featured role for the Bucks this season and is one of the division’s most feared hybrids. He, along with Gavin Zielke in the handler space and Simon Dowdy as a cutter, form the core of Berry’s potent offense. And once they get into the red zone, you can expect to hear Matthew Peterson’s name quite a bit; the third year has made a home for himself in the end zone. Over on defense, Mikey Curtis will make the largest impact, but Berry has a pair of secret weapons they’re ready to unleash this weekend. Adriel Kershner, a junior handler, missed the Bucks’ previous trips to Nationals but will be cleating up this weekend. Their other secret is rookie Tyner Rowley, who’s spent much of this season learning to harness his raw athleticism into a nightmare for opposing offenses.

After being upset by Rochester last year to miss the bracket, Berry’s first target this weekend is to exact some revenge and return the favor. That’s not their only goal, however. They’ve heard the doubters all season, especially those who felt that the Southeast was Ave Maria’s to lose before the Gyrenes moved to D-I this year, and are ready to prove all of them wrong. A little confidence never hurts, especially as the no.14 seed, and a quarters appearance isn’t an outlandish idea. Anything beyond that, though? That’s much harder to envision.

Pool C

Teams: No.3 Whitman, No.6 Oklahoma Christian, No.10 Richmond, No.15 Claremont
Overall Strength: 💪💪💪💪
Star Power: ⭐⭐
Upset Alert: 🚨🚨

Whitman Sweets

The more things change, the more they stay the same. For the third straight season, Whitman won Northwest ConfRegionals, defeating Lewis & Clark in the regional final. And for the third straight season, Whitman earned a top four seed for their troubles, this time as the top dogs in Pool C. Previously, Whitman’s been at the forefront of Pool D, but hasn’t capitalized. In 2023, the Sweets went 0-3 in pool play, and last year, they went 2-1 to finish second in Pool D before losing in quarters. Hopefully for Whitman, a new pool is a harbinger of a brighter future.

It’s a committee-based approach to success for Whitman; don’t expect any one player to put up a gaudy statline. The uber-efficient Elan Gorman Siegler and Nico Darringer reprise their roles on offense for the Sweets. Leo Dungan-Seaver will hopefully get more run this year, after he missed most of last year’s Nationals due to an injury suffered in their first game. Donovan finalist Kai Kirsch can always be counted on for multiple splash plays in any game. Colin Pfister will play lockdown defense. Max Fleming will find the end zone quite a bit. In fact, Whitman’s top six goalscorers from last year’s Nationals are all on the roster this weekend, a level of continuity often unheard of in college ultimate. They also brought back coach Kevin Monohan, and he’s no slouch. Monohan, who’s won countless championships as a player in club and masters competition, is back at the helm for the Sweets.

After the disappointments of the last two years, we’d hesitate to say things are definitely different in Walla Walla. But between a new pool and more development from their top players, there’s plenty of reason to think 2025 is the year for the Sweets. If it is, there’s no reason why Whitman can’t hoist the trophy on Monday afternoon.

Oklahoma Christian Eagles

It’s hard to say that any team has had a better Series thus far than Oklahoma Christian. D-III’s original scholarship program spent much of the regular season playing well below their lofty standards, punctuated by a 1-5 performance at Huck Finn.¹ It wasn’t quite poor enough to question their Nationals credentials, but OC certainly didn’t look like championship contenders. But then they rolled through the South Central, never conceding double digits in eight games across Conferences and Regionals, and now the Eagles are back to their best.

It should come as no surprise that OC has plenty of star power. They’ve got two former Second Team All-Americans in Sammy Roberts (twice, in 2022 and 2024) and Couper Kerns (2024). They’ve got a former Rookie of the Year (Roberts, 2022) and two players who have made the DPOTY podium (Kerns, 2024 and Emmanuel Kameri, 2022). Beyond the hardware, the Eagles return their leading goalscorer from last year’s semis team, Joshua Gill (15), and some other key contributors in Logans Krehbiel and Hammersmith. And they added two key rookies, Luke Norby and Isaiah Platt, who won a YCC title last summer with Dallas Nightfall. Norby also spent part of last summer winning a gold medal at WJUC with the USA U20 Mixed team. The fact is that OC is loaded.

OC has been in this spot before; in 2022, they entered Nationals as the no.6 seed, won their pool, and then won the title. They’ve also lost in this tournament exactly once, ever, in semis last year to St. Olaf. Granted, all that success was under the tutelage of Coach Garrett Taylor, who’s no longer with the team. But that’s the only knock on OC. Everything else about them — the resume, the roster, the history — says that the Eagles are more than capable of winning their third championship this weekend.

Richmond Spidermonkeys

They’ve got a slightly lower seed than we’re used to seeing, but for the eighth time in the last nine seasons, Richmond has qualified for Nationals. The Spidermonkeys took a more arduous route than usual to get here, with a shaky start to their regular season jeopardizing their chances of earning a second bid for the Atlantic Coast. Undeterred, Richmond righted the ship, kept that second bid, and qualified for Nationals by winning the second game to go at Regionals (the first time in this nine year stretch that Richmond made Nationals without winning their region).

Even after losing a large class of seniors from last year’s semis run, there’s plenty of talent up and down Richmond’s roster. It starts with their Donovan nominee (and now finalist), Calvin Ciorba, one of the best pure throwers in the division. Expect to see him doing a lot of pulling for the defense and a lot of hucking after forcing a turn. Sassan Fahim partners with him to form the D-line’s handler core, and Eric Harnisher moves over from the O-line after breaking his dominant right hand at ConfRegionals. He’ll be playing left handed, muting his throwing impact, but Harnisher can still be counted on for goals and blocks. In his place, Gabe Gehtland slides onto the offense, working alongside Anthony Longo and Clay Rosselot.

Perhaps more important than any of those players is Richmond’s coaching staff, led by Matt Graves. Graves and company have found themselves on our Coach of the Year podium four times in the last eight years, an incredible record in such a chaotic and unpredictable division.

The odds are stacked against Richmond making a third consecutive semis appearance, and their fifth in the last six years. All year long, there’s been a gulf in quality between the Spidermonkeys and the division’s upper echelon. But with arguably the best coaching staff in the division, a recent All-American, and a bit of luck, it’s not difficult to envision Richmond pulling off one or more upsets, in pool play or in the bracket.

Claremont Braineaters

Rounding out Pool C is Claremont, making their second consecutive appearance at Nationals and eleventh overall. The Braineaters got off to a slow start this year, going 3-3 at DIII Grand Prix and wearing some heavy losses in the process. They rebounded well, going 5-1 against mostly weaker D-I competition at Southwest Showdown to steady themselves, and qualified for Nationals by winning the three team round robin at Southwest ConfRegionals, sealing their spot with a 14-11 win over Occidental Detox.

After graduating just four players from last year’s team, many of the names for Claremont will sound familiar. Isamu Sims is their standout, a sophomore most known for his defense and athleticism, but more than capable of stepping into a handler role when needed. Ryan Williams is his second in command on the D-line, prowling around downfield and hunting for blocks. As for the offense, that core is made up of Arenaria Cramer, Jacques Paradis, and Elijah Axt. Expect to see Axt and Paradis making defenders look silly downfield, either by shaking free with well timed cuts or exploding over their mark for a catch. As for new faces, Mitchell Yam and Martín Jimenez-Williams are Claremont’s most hyped rookies. Jimenez-Williams partners with Cramer to form the Braineaters handler core, and Yam makes his presence felt all over the field with his explosiveness.

Last year, Claremont entered this tournament as the bottom overall seed. They’ve moved up a slot this year, but this still feels like a program a year away from a statement win. Incredibly, they have zero seniors suiting up this weekend, so another year focused on growth and gaining experience in high-pressure situations will pay dividends in the coming years. Don’t be surprised if the Braineaters play tighter games in pool play this time around, but pulling off an upset, in this pool, might be a bridge too far.

Pool D

Teams: No.4 Lewis & Clark, No.5 Middlebury, No.9 Wesleyan, No.16 Hillsdale
Overall Strength: 💪
Star Power: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Upset Alert: 🚨🚨🚨🚨

Lewis & Clark Bacchus

The rise of Lewis & Clark Bacchus has certainly been a fun one to watch these last couple of years. After flying out to FCS in 2023, they’ve made a name for themselves as a consistently top ten team in the country. This year may be their strongest yet, all the way up at the no.4 seed. Wins over every D-III team besides Wesleyan, including a nine goal win over Williams and a 13-1 drubbing over UNC Asheville, instill a lot of confidence in this 2025 squad.

After only really graduating one player last year, Bacchus is stacked with talent. Their number one player is Max Zwerin, who earned himself a U24 tryout and an All-American spot in 2024. On the D-line, his talents in the deep space shine. Teams must always have their eyes on Zwerin, because you never know when he could fly in for a block. Offensively, he’ll roof any player in the division or make absurd layout grabs. Their O-line is stacked as well, filled with their Donovan nominee, Leo Farley, Topher Olson, and Orlando Impas, who plays for the UFA’s Oregon Steel. Farley is a quick handler who is highly capable of earning the disc back after a turn. Olson plays the steady rock, while Impas will break any mark with their lefty backhand.

Despite their strong regular season over the last couple of years, Bacchus has yet to show up and play a strong Nationals. Pool D will be quite a difficult first test for this Portland crew, having to play one of the best teams in the division in Middlebury, and Wesleyan, who they lost to by three at D-III Easterns. But with a huge senior class and a strong coaching staff, Lewis & Clark will be giving it everything they have this year. Expect a high ceiling if things are clicking, but a low floor if they are not.

Middlebury Pranksters

Another year, another Nationals berth for the Middlebury Pranksters. Middlebury now has the longest Nationals qualification streak of any team, at seven. Even more impressive, this is their first time not being a top 4 seed since they last didn’t qualify in 2018. The only reason they are not this year is that USAU didn’t want to put Whitman and Lewis & Clark in the same pool. The Pranksters look to make it back to the semifinals after losing in the quarterfinals to Richmond, breaking their five-year streak. Talk about a dominant stretch!

The reason Middlebury is so strong again this year? The team’s cohesion and stars remain at an extremely high level. Offensively, Peter Mans is one of the shiftiest players in the division, while Geir Hartl plays a calming presence in the center handler sphere. Gavin Rice and Jorre Dahl are some of the best cutters in the country, getting open at will under or deep. Defensively, U24 star Louis Douville Beaudoin steals the show with his massive pulls, layout blocks, and impeccable break throws off a turn. Backing up Beaudoin, Max Rogers’ handler’s defense is ruthless, leading to many turns.

It’s been since 2019 when Middlebury last won a title. Since then, they’ve placed second, third, second, and fifth. Prankster players and fans have been on the edge of their seats each year, and many are wondering can this year can finally be the one? There are a lot of reasons to believe in this iteration, who have defeated Richmond, Wesleyan, and Williams with ease. Yet, also strange losses have plagued them, including losses to Colorado College, Dartmouth, and a four-point loss to Elon. Middlebury also however, is a team that gets better as the weather gets warmer, and they certainly have an opportunity to finally win another title if they play their best in Burlington.

Wesleyan Nietzsch Factor

It’s been four years in the making for Wesleyan, but the senior class for Nietzsch Factor was able to go full circle and qualify for Nationals after last making it in 2021. This year, Wesleyan looks to be the best Metro East team we’ve seen in years. Despite a shaky start to the season, Wesleyan has dominated since, reaching the finals of D-III Easterns as well as annihilating the other Metro East competition, which included a win over Rochester, 15-11.

The program has been on the rise as of recent, and this year everything was able to be put together. A senior class that included handlers Jack Noble and Judah Hoffenberg, with hybrid Daniel Glickman gelling for years. Eli Fellus has developed alongside defensive powerhouse Denis Cha in the backfield. Talented rookies like Ethan Qu, Jake Klasky, and Malen Cheung arrived to fill in the necessary depth. And finally, decorated Coach Bryan Jones’ tactics has brewed the perfect storm for a scary nine seed.

Wesleyan finds most of their success through small-ball movement, and feels completely fine throwing the disc 100+ times if they need to score. The chemistry of this team makes them so hard to defend, as they know where they want to go and who they want to throw to. With a massive roster as well, their sideline will be one of their best features, using their loud and funny cheers to overpower teams.

While many in their situation maybe just happy to be in Burlington, Nietzcsch Factor is not that type of team. They could very well place first in Pool D, and it would shock few people. That’s how good they looked in Wilmington. Things are looking bright for this nine-seed, who could make a nice bracket run if they play their best.

Hillsdale Chargers

Finishing up pool D is this year’s surprise attendee, Hillsdale. Probably the most talked-about no.16 seed ever, the Chargers qualified for Nationals after defeating Butler in the second-place place game-to-go for their first ever appearance. However, this did not come without multiple controversies. While no intentional wrongdoings, the Great Lakes were awarded a second bid to Asbury, whose Series performance did not match their regular season performance whatsoever. Hillsdale swept in and took the second bid after losing in the game to go last year. However, in pool play of Saturday, they intentionally lost to Davenport, most likely in order to save legs for Sunday. Reports claimed multiple callahans were thrown purposefully in an overall score of 15-1. Maybe not known by leadership, this did violate USAU rules, for which they were punished. All captains have to sit out of two pool play games before they can rejoin the team.

That being said, it’s a big deal for this newer program to qualify for Nationals for their first time. Much of that can be attributed to the likes of seniors Greg Moreno and Gabe Dobrozi. The two play a supermajority of the Chargers’ points, and usually are the reason they score one way or another. Watch out for brothers Jake and Jed Hamilton as well to make some noise for Hillsdale.

With their captains suspended for two of the three pool play games, Hillsdale will need to lock in for their match against Wesleyan if they want any shot at the bracket. It’ll be an uphill battle, but never forget Rochester making the bracket two years ago as the no.16 seed!

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1. Reports indicate that OC wasn’t fully healthy at this tournament. ↩