Whether layout blocks or shutdown defense, these players made life miserable for opposing offenses
November 19, 2025 by Edward Stephens, Alex Rubin and Patrick Stegemoeller in Awards
Ultiworld is pleased to announce our annual Club Awards, starting with the First Team All-Club in each division. While we consider both regular season and postseason performance, because of the nature of the Club division, we weight success in the Series and at Nationals above all else. The Club Awards are voted on by Ultiworld reporters, contributors, and editors.
Our awards continue with the Defensive Player of the Year, recognizing the individual, and two runners-up, who we felt were the top defensive performers this club season. Whether through generating blocks, shutting down options, helping out teammates, or all of the above, these defenders stood out doing the tough work that too often go unrecognized.
Player of the Year Award
All-Club First Team
All-Club Second Team
Offensive Player of the Year Award
Defensive Player of the Year Award
Breakout Player of the Year Award
Coach(es) of the Year Award
Club Awards Voting Breakdown
Snubs and Superlatives
2025 Men’s Division Defensive Player of the Year
Daniel Lee (Rhino Slam!)
Rhino Slam! may not have repeated as champs, but they do end 2025 with one back-to-back gold medal finish: Daniel Lee becomes the first men’s division player to win with two Defensive Player of the Year awards, following up his 2024 honor. As he did last season, Lee formed the backbone of the stingiest defense in the division. His ability to do everything an elite defender needs to do seemingly without weakness was peerless. In any given game he might be tasked with locking down an opponent’s top weapon, calling out cascades of switches downfield, or hunting for blocks.
As offenses get more sophisticated and varied, defenses typically struggle to keep up. With Lee at the forefront, Rhino Slam! turn that paradigm on its side and force other offenses to adapt to their high-pressure, intelligent defense. This season, Lee earned more opportunities to shine on offense too, both on the counterattack and at times during the season on the O-line. While some players might find split responsibilities difficult to manage, Lee never let his defense slip no matter what else was asked of him.
Even on a D-line with standouts like David Sealand (2024 DPOTY runner -up), Lukas Ambrose (2024 mixed division DPOTY runner -up), and Dylan Freechild (3x World Games defender), Lee continues to stand out as the best of the best. With the Herd rampaging towards another title-contending season in 2026, opponents would be wise to spend their offseason scheming up ways to avoid getting the disc anywhere near Lee. While it can be tricky playing to individual matchups like that, such is Lee’s impact that he has earned that respect.
– Alex Rubin
First Runner-up
Michael Ing (Revolver)
After saving Team USA with his defensive prowess at the World Games, Michael Ing continued playing all-world level D during the club season with Revolver. It’s one thing to dictate with your positioning on defense — any coach with tell you that’s a prerequisite to getting on the field — but Ing is virtually alone in how he attacks with his positioning, shunting receivers off course and out of the play before they even know what’s happening. Taking the initiative and moving cutters off the map puts Ing a step ahead of the offense, giving him the time and space needed to pick his head up and go make some of those tremendous plays in the deep space and helping into the lane that he has become famous for.
– Patrick Stegemoeller
Second Runner-up
William Wettengel (Chicago Machine)
It was a banner year for defenders in the men’s division, with many more deserving of honor than the three the podium can accommodate. So what separates William Wettengel, the youngster in his second season with Machine? Great defense in ultimate comprises qualities that are numerous and diverse, but only a single outcome goal: gaining possession of the disc. Wettengel was – with his length, speed, concentration, willingness to throw himself at the disc, and (improved this season) body control – one of the division’s geniuses when it came to the art of the takeaway.
More than that, he was clutch as hell. His unforgettable deep block against PoNY’s Ben Jagt in semis (one of three blocks he notched in the game) may have been the deciding moment that led Machine to the final. And, though it didn’t end up mattering in the end, a layout block underneath Revolver’s Adam Rees in the first half of the final gave Machine an early edge. For that reason, he earns the podium spot over other potentially podium-worthy peers.
– Edward Stephens
