The Donovan Award: The 2026 Finalists

The top five candidates in each division!

May 13, 2026 by Charlie Eisenhood in Awards

Ultiworld is excited to present the finalists for the 10th annual Donovan Award. The Donovan Award is a peer-voted award for the Division III player that best demonstrates an exceptional level of skill and athleticism on the field; upholds the principles of Spirit of the Game, equity, and fairness in their own actions, as well as holding teammates accountable to do the same; and is a leader off the field, both on their team and in the greater ultimate community.

Here are the five finalists in each division, listed alphabetically, with their bios from their nominations attached.

The 2026 Donovan Award winners will be announced at the Division III College Championships.

Men’s Division

Wade Buchheit (Williams WUFO)

Wade “Butter Dog” Buchheit arrived in the purple valley in 2022 with six more years of experience than anyone else in his class. Hailing from Chapel Hill and playing YCCs with a little-known program called Triforce, Wade instantly became one of the most skilled and dependable players on a WUFO team seeking to return to Nationals for a second straight year. He started on the D-line, but was quickly moved to offense after the defense beat the offense in every scrimmage at practice. From there, his dominance was undisputed. Whether delivering silken around-backhands or unbelievable layout blocks on unsuspecting upline cutters, Wade’s skill and poise is without peer. What he lacks in stature he makes up for — and then some — with talent and hard work. If you want to play mini in freezing rain, he’s your guy. If you want to lift at 6am, he’s the man for you.

Every year Wade has found new ways to improve his game and those of his teammates, and his positive impact off the field has grown in lockstep: team DEI coordinator his sophomore year, essentially running the team his junior year (including while he was abroad in the fall), and now serving as president. His commitment to WUFO, the sport of ultimate, and the broader Williams Ultimate community inspires us every day to be our best selves and figure out how to make our best even better. There is no one else in the entire division who does as much as Wade to be able to bring his best when tournament time comes around. Whether he’s playing 26 of 29 points in a game-to-go or defending people five inches taller than him in the deep space, Wade does everything he can to put the team in a position to succeed. We couldn’t be more proud to nominate him for the 2026 Donovan Award.

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Mikey Curtis (Berry Bucks)

Mikey D Curtis (his middle name is actually D) arrived at Berry without any knowledge of ultimate frisbee. Since his first ever practice with the Bucks, he’s been fully bought in. Known by teammates, opponents, and spectators for his defensive prowess — farming layout Ds on the other team’s main options and baiting chase-down blocks in the deep space — he was a born block-getter, truly putting the “D” in Mikey D Curtis. On the other side of the disc, he creates separation against defenders with ease, pairing his unrivaled speed with rhythmic cuts and a deep arsenal of throws that bend the air around the disc to break zones, marks, and defenses.

It wasn’t always this way. As a freshman defensive cutter, his determination to prove himself as a playmaker rapidly became a team sentiment of “MIKEY NO” and “HOLSTER” whenever he held the disc. Disregarding wind, score, and matchups, if there was a fellow Berry Buck in sight, he was launching it deep. Nothing could discourage him from shooting, and as he refined his throws day in and day out, our confidence in Mikey caught up to his confidence in himself.

Off the field, his discipline is unmatched — fine-tuning throws, grinding speed drills, rehabbing and stretching, all the little things, compounded. As captain, he has refined Berry’s culture, held his brothers accountable, and cultivated growth across generations of Bucks. His servant leadership has been on display all season: showing up early to set up fields and drills, going out of his way to provide constructive criticism, staying late to answer questions, and setting up extracurricular “grind times” for anyone who wants to put in extra work. All this not even to mention his undeniable drip. Notable accessories include leg sleeves, wrist tape, bandanas, PJ pants with a gaping hole for nonrestrictive movement, and short shorts; he’s not afraid to change the look from mullet to buzz, and he single-handedly crafted our 2025 and 2026 season kits. Without Mikey the Bucks would not be complete, and we are beyond proud to have him as our 2026 Donovan nominee.

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Orlando Impas (Lewis & Clark Bacchus)

Orlando has become one of the most recognizable faces in D-III with his infectious energy, blazing speed, and incredible playmaking ability. A Seattle product, Orlando has been an on-field leader for Bacchus since 2022 and has more recently represented the program as a part of the UFA’s Oregon Steel and with Oregon Scorch during the USAU Club season. We, as Bacchus Ultimate, are proud to nominate Orlando because of his unwavering dedication to on-field excellence, his drive to better his teammates through kindness, and his ability to face adversity head-on with a growth mindset. If you don’t already know who Orlando is, stay tuned — he plays his best when the stakes are high.

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Peter Mans (Middlebury Pranksters)

After graduating from Edina High School in 2022, Peter took his talents to Middlebury, growing to love the Pranksters’ identity of high-level play and higher-level fun. Ultiworld’s 2025 D-III Player of the Year, Peter makes a great individual impact on the field, but as Pranksters captain for the past two seasons, his biggest impact has been as a leader. He can only be described as consistent, focused, and effective. He makes every decision for the betterment of the team, is fair and honest in competition, and inspires his teammates to be the best they can be. We are nominating Peter because of his unwavering love and commitment to the Pranksters, on and off the field.

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Jacques Paradis (Claremont Braineaters)

Jacques is the heart and soul of this Braineaters team. Coming from a basketball and track background, he started playing frisbee in his sophomore year of college and found an immediate love for the sport. He quickly picked up the game and has grown into an incredible leader both on and off the field. From a cultural standpoint, this team would not be the same without him. At every practice and tournament over the past three years, Jacques brings a fun-loving, supportive energy that elevates his teammates and makes the Brains an amazing place to be. From leading warmups with silly cheers to pushing his teammates through drills, he has shaped Brains culture into what it is today. Everyone who has played with him — college teammates, club teammates, randoms at Saturday pickup — has only good things to say about his energy, work ethic, and dedication to Spirit of the Game.

Jacques also puts in unrecognized work behind the scenes: he’s the guardian of the disc bag and the team’s mega-speaker, and he eagerly volunteers for bigger tasks like planning tournament logistics, creating newsletters for family and alumni, and maintaining the team’s well-designed, goofy social media presence. He’s also really, really good at frisbee. He can outjump everyone in the division, has high frisbee IQ on both ends of the disc, and can hit every throw asked of him — and his celebration bag is so deep you’ll never see the end of it. Jacques is an incredible role model who lights up the field, gym, classroom, and dining hall with his presence. We are extremely proud to nominate him for the 2026 Donovan Award.

Women’s Division

Maggie Brown (Wesleyan Vicious Circles)

Ever since her frisbee debut on the John Stanford Lightning Goats at age 10, Maggie Callanan Brown has dominated on and off the field. Whether she’s breaking ankles with ferocious cuts, hucking a crisp lefty backhand to the endzone, or generating a full-sprint run-through D off the pull, Maggie’s teammates trust her to give this sport everything she has. Her frisbee skills have awarded her no shortage of accolades — U20 World Champion, 2024 D-III First-Team All-Metro-East, 2024 Irish Indoor Vice Champion, 2025 D-III National Champion — but it is her thoughtful, transformative leadership that truly sets her apart.

Formally elected captain her junior year, Maggie has led by example since arriving on campus in 2022. A natural cutter turned handler, she has become the team’s most versatile player, leading Vicious Circles to four consecutive Nationals appearances and, as a captain, a Division III National Championship. Her steady presence grounds us in the most stressful situations, and her sideline energy keeps Vish engaged in every game regardless of intensity. Maggie’s dedication comes from a deep love for the game and her value of Spirit of the Game. She approaches every moment on the field as an opportunity to uphold spirit for her team, her opponents, and herself, navigating conversations with open-mindedness, honesty, and care while balancing her competitive drive with deep respect for the game. Teammates describe her leadership as “selfless, inspiring, exemplary, professional, spirited, and filled with love.” Though she notoriously has a real sibling on Vish, Maggie makes the whole team feel like family. Wesleyan Vicious Circles is incredibly proud to nominate our captain for the 2026 Donovan Award.

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Gabbie Campbell (Whitman Sweets)

When thinking about what Gabbie Campbell means to us, we keep coming back to a quote by the legendary Bill Russell: “The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.” This is the type of player Gabbie is. She is a leader who inspires greatness in her teammates and gives us all the belief that we, too, can play like her. She is a force of nature on the field, unmatched in intensity and drive. We often overhear opposing coaches and players scrambling for a plan to defend her; rarely, if ever, do they succeed. Even on our own team, there’s always debate on the line over who will be unfortunate enough to mark Gabbie — a fear usually overridden by the desire to learn from trying.

A natural handler since fourth grade, she is deft at getting uplines and arounds, breaking marks left and right, and throwing full-field dimes. What is less known is her prowess as a defender, snagging discs clean out of the air and stymying poor souls in downfield space. Her accolades include Ultiworld’s All-American Second Team in 2025, Northwest Conference All-American First Team in 2024 and 2025, and the most assists of any player at 2023 Nationals. But her most important accomplishment has been her wisdom in captaining us these last two years. As a leader, she effortlessly combines fun with learning — constantly bringing the hype to practice with her singing, dancing, and excellent taste on aux. Most of all, she embodies what it means to be a Sweet: someone who isn’t afraid to call the shots, and yet is still our equal, our friend. So, without further ado: our very Sweetest onion, Gabbie Campbell, for Donovan 2026.

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Claire Lee (Macalester Pursesnatchers)

The Macalester Pursesnatchers are absolutely thrilled to nominate Claire Lee for the 2026 Donovan Award. Claire embodies and redefines what is possible in every aspect of ultimate — from her athleticism and extensive knowledge of the sport to her Spirit of the Game and dedication to welcoming new players. She began playing in her hometown of Washington, DC in middle school and continued throughout high school, including all four years of YCCs. She played for DC Rally in 2023 and 2024 and was a crucial part of their underdog qualifications for Nationals. She currently plays for Minnesota Strike, where she perfectly places pulls, pulls off impossible Ds, and plays with the most spirit.

For the last four years, Claire has been integral to the Pursesnatchers and is absolutely adored by all on the team. She is a threat in the deep space, in the handler space, and even on the sideline with her involved sideline talk. Claire was the D-III BPOY in 2024 and has only further expanded what it means to be an ultimate player and teammate. Following her 2025 ACL tear, her impact, joy, and passion for ultimate took new form and grew. Her commitment to coming onto the line before each point to outline strategy and share words of encouragement demonstrated the breadth of her humility and impact. And as soon as Claire returned to the field, she got right back to getting open against any opponent, laying out for end-zone Ds, and ripping perfect deep dimes right off the pull. Claire is the blueprint for what Pursesnatchers strive to be, and we are wholeheartedly proud to nominate her for the Donovan Award.

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Sonia Nicholson (Haverford/Bryn Mawr Sneetches)

Sneetch Ultimate is proud to present Sonia Nicholson as our 2026 Donovan nominee. Primarily a handler, Sonia is a speedy do-it-all player who runs any field she steps onto. From handle to cut, deep-deep to cup, Sonia excels in every position she plays. Her massive flick huck fakes will have your head spinning, and her ability to break mark is unmatched. Just when you think you have her trapped on the sideline, Sonia’s cross-field hammer is there to save us. She is an incredibly reliable center handler for our universe line, whose speed and fakes allow her to go every-other.

Sonia’s smile has never failed to elevate the spirit of the Sneetches. She is the most encouraging and supportive teammate we could ask for, always pouring her heart into the team. Whether she is teaching us a folk dance or leading our call-and-response to put a star on our yellow bellies, her joy and positive intensity are contagious. Sonia has been named a “speedy defensive menace,” 2025 All-X Factor (and best celly, of course), 2024 Honorable Mention First Team All-Region, and earned votes in the 2024 tiebreak for DPOTY. Sonia is at the heart of the Sneetches, and the impact she has made during her two-year captaincy and four years on the team is second to none. As her ever-proud teammates, we are beyond grateful to nominate Sonia Nicholson for the 2026 Donovan Award.

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Eliza Williams-Derry (Mount Holyoke Daisy Chain)

Eliza first started playing ultimate in middle school, took a hiatus during high school, and then continued upon entering college. Since joining Daisy Chain, Eliza has been a pillar of sportsmanship, leadership, and positivity. They took on the responsibility of captain their sophomore year, and for the past three years they have not wavered in their passion and commitment to this team. On the field, Eliza is incredibly talented — teammates can always rely on them to get open, catch any wild throw, or whip it deep with an outstanding flick huck. But they aren’t just talented; they have some of the best spirit in the division. Eliza is known to drop and do the worm (forwards and backwards), lead team dancing during halftime, or put their teammates up on their shoulders (yeah, they’re super yoked too).

Eliza is the epitome of what it means to be a leader. Regardless of whether the team is winning or losing, Eliza is going to leave it all on the field. If a teammate is struggling, Eliza will be there with a pep talk and a hug. They make an effort to know everyone on the team both during and outside of practice, and the time they devote outside of practice is astounding — regardless of their numerous other responsibilities, you always know Eliza is on top of planning practice, organizing tournaments, or simply showing up to team social events. Whether teaching a new player how to throw, giving defensive tips to a returning player, or being open to receiving feedback themself, Eliza exhibits a true love for the sport and community. It is our absolute pleasure to nominate Eliza Williams-Derry as our 2026 Donovan nominee.