Highlighting players who took a leap toward stardom in the division this spring.
June 20, 2025 by Josh Katz and Calvin Ciorba in Awards
Each year, Ultiworld presents our annual College Awards. Our staff evaluates the individual performances of players from throughout the season, talking to folks around college ultimate, watching film, and look at statistics, voting upon the awards to decide those to be honored. The regular season and the college Series are both considered, with extra emphasis for performances in the competitive and high-stakes environment at Nationals.
The Breakout Player of the Year recognizes rising juniors and seniors who made themselves known in a new light this season. While our nebulous definition of “breakout” reflects an evolving set of criteria, rather than celebrating the improvement of those from whom big things were already expected, we aim to use this award to celebrate the emergence of those who previously have not been on the national radar. Whether it be through growth in ability, role, or both, the Breakout Player of the Year and runners-up honor those who rose to the occasion with improved and high-impact performance on a new level this season — putting them squarely in the spotlight moving forward.
- Player of the Year
- All-American First Team
- All-American Second Team
- Defensive Player of the Year Award
- Offensive Player of the Year Award
- Rookie of the Year Award
- Breakout Player of the Year Award
- Coaches of the Year Award
- Full Awards Voting Breakdown
D-III Men’s 2025 Breakout Player Of The Year
Oscar de Swaan Arons (Middlebury)
On the final point of the season, Middlebury came out on defense, needing a break to win the title. They sent out their standard defensive line, with two crossovers: Peter Mans, the newly-minted POTY, and Oscar de Swaan Arons. Had we written that sentence in January, many would have wondered how a 2024 🅱️rankster became a universe line player for a title contender. But in the moment, de Swaan Arons place was completely logical.
de Swaan Arons was an indispensable asset for the Pranksters offense this year. The numbers alone are impressive: 14 goals and 11 assists, on just six turnovers, is remarkable work for any player, let alone someone at their first Nationals. But watch any Pranksters game, and you’ll see someone constantly finding ways to make his presence known. He was both a safety valve and a big play threat, oftentimes on the same point, thanks to his sharp instincts and quick feet. When Middlebury needed a goal, he was in the end zone. When they needed a reset, he was in the backfield. And when they were perfectly in flow? de Swaan Arons was running his defender ragged across the field, making perfectly timed open side or break cuts, depending on what the situation called for. He was simply everywhere.
In 2024, de Swaan Arons was toiling away on Middlebury’s B team. In 2025, he was on the field for Middlebury’s A team for the most important point of the season. That’s about as meteoric a rise as physically possible for a college player, and it makes him a well-deserving winner of the BPOTY Award.
– Josh Katz
First Runner-Up
Nathan Wang (Carleton)
A major part of CHOP’s breakout season has to be attributed to its star handler Nathan Wang. Wang took over Chris O’Mara’s role from last year as the rock for Carleton’s offense and consistently made the correct throw. It cannot be understated enough how impressive his 21 assists with only four turns is in D-III. (Look at other star handler stats from teams, who almost all have at least 10 turnovers or more) Wang’s impressive poise and performance stood out to the Ultiworld team, especially after making significant improvements from last year. With one year left in his college career, Wang will look to take Carleton to their first final since 2012.
– Calvin Ciorba
Second Runner-Up
Theo Barton (Bowdoin)
Bowdoin’s offensive duo of Cole Fairfield and Zach Widmyer put up the big numbers, but Barton’s two way excellence was the key to their quarterfinal run this year. Clown’s D-line leader was unflappable on defense, always close to his mark while directing traffic elsewhere on the field. On the turn, he was the ultimate gunslinger, occasionally overzealous with his deep looks but generally finding the success needed to make the strategy work out in the long run. It sums up to a very impressive season for Barton, and he’ll surely be at the center of it all for Bowdoin again next year if they are to return to Nationals.
– Josh Katz
