Awards season comes early!
May 25, 2025 by Alex Rubin and Edward Stephens in Recap
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.
BURLINGTON, WA – With stunning upsets, heroic individual performances, and heightened energy, Saturday was a fan’s dream. Every round had consequential games, and by the end of the day some teams were celebrating unprecedented success while others were witnessing their final game of the season. Amidst all of the (gestures around) happenings, here are some awards we’d like to offer ahead of the traditional award season.
Most Endearing Moment: UC Santa Cruz
There was one moment today that made me cry, and that happened at the end of the thrilling game between #13 Western Washington DIRT and #9 UC Santa Cruz Slugs. DIRT came from behind to force universe point behind the stellar play of Elijah Diamond, Cedar Hines, and Zoli Ishikawa-Szabo. The Slugs hung in, clinging to hopes and expectations of a bracket appearance. Against all odds, Western Washington turned over the disc and Santa Cruz had a chance to win. Picking up on his own goal line, Selim Jones let Toby Warren clear out the inside space and tossed a centering pass to rookie star Cole Mires. Mires to that point had played a stellar game, but he dropped this pass, and a moment later DIRT put the disc in the end zone and won the game. As Western Washington rushed the field in jubilation, the Slugs all rushed over to Mires, forming a tender group hug.
This is what sports is all about. While I’m sure they were wrestling with feelings of disappointment and regret, the most important thing in that moment for the Slugs, led by Toby Warren, who was first on the scene, was to support their teammates and live in that moment together. Though they may have had more lofty on-field goals, the Slugs can return to Santa Cruz proud of their performance as a team and proud of the way they played together as a team.
Most Shocking Result: Utah 15-14 Oregon State
D-I College Championships 2025: Saturday Superlatives (Men’s Div.) is only available to Ultiworld Subscribers
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