USA Ultimate Announces U.S. National Team for the 2016 World Ultimate Championships

Colorado Springs, Colo. (February 11, 2016)—USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate (Frisbee) in the United States and member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, announced today the 71 athletes who will represent the United States this summer on the U.S. National Team at the 2016 World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) World Ultimate and Guts Championships (WUGC), June 18-25 in London.

This historic announcement marks the first time USA Ultimate has held an open tryout for what is considered to be the pinnacle of international ultimate competition. Previously, USA Ultimate sent its reigning national champion clubs to represent the U.S. at the quadrennial event.

The 71 selected athletes will compete in one of three gender-based divisions – men’s, mixed or women’s. The players, considered by many in the ultimate community to be some of the world’s best, arguably represent the greatest collection of talent ever assembled.

"The U.S. National Team is comprised of some of the most spirited and successful athletes in the history of our sport," commented Team Leader and USA Ultimate Manager of Competition & Athlete Programs Ernest Toney. "Along with our coaching staff, we strongly feel that all the necessary pieces are in place to compete for a gold medal in every division. Over the course of the next several months, I'm excited to watch as the team builds chemistry and prepares to represent our country on the biggest of stages."

The final rosters were chosen following two weekends of tryouts that included more than 200 participants chosen by coaches from a pool of nearly 600 applicants. The team boasts world champions, elite-level national champions, collegiate champions, Callahan Award winners and more.

"Coaches (Alex) Ghesquiere, (Jake) Henderson and (Matty) Tsang did a phenomenal job selecting our teams from a long list of talented and qualified individuals," continued Toney. "The high level of play and effort at both camps was very impressive and served as a strong reminder that America's talent pool is incredibly deep across all divisions of play."

The 2016 WUGC represents the 14th edition of the tournament which dates back to 1983. Since its inception, the U.S. has won 35 medals: 25 gold, five silver and five bronze.

This year’s incarnation will host 121 teams from 41 nations and feature five total divisions, including men’s and women’s masters. The U.S. will continue to be represented by the current national champions in those two divisions.

At the most recent WUGC, in Sakai, Japan in 2012, the U.S. National Team won three medals, a pair of golds in the men’s division and women’s masters division and a silver in the women’s division.

2016 WFDF World Ultimate & Guts Championships

U.S. National Team

Men’s Division

Head Coach: Alex Ghesquiere (Washington, D.C.)

Assistant Coach: Ben Van Heuvelen (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Athlete City, State College Club Team Tyler DeGirolamo Pittsburgh, Pa. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Temper Trent Dillon Pittsburgh, Pa. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Temper Tom Doi Washington, D.C. Green Mountain College Washington Truck Stop Ryan Farrell Boulder, Colo. William & Mary Denver Johnny Bravo Dylan Freechild Portland, Ore. University of Oregon Portland Rhino Kurt Gibson Dallas, Texas University of Florida Austin Doublewide Jonathan Helton Fernandina Beach, Fla. Wheaton College Chicago Machine Ashlin Joye Albany, Calif. UC-Davis San Francisco Revolver Danny Karlinsky Seattle, Wash. UC-Santa Cruz Seattle Sockeye Beau Kittredge San Francisco, Calif. University of Colorado San Francisco Revolver Chris Kocher Brooklyn, N.Y. George Washington New York PoNY Alan Kolick Washington, D.C. William & Mary Washington Truck Stop Henry Konker Denver, Colo. Colorado College Denver Johnny Bravo Josh Markette Medford, Mass. Georgia State Boston Ironside Jimmy Mickle Golden, Colo. University of Colorado Denver Johnny Bravo Peter Prial Washington, D.C. Middlebury Washington Truck Stop Cassidy Rasmussen San Francisco, Calif. UC-Santa Cruz San Francisco Revolver Matt Rehder Seattle, Wash. University of La Verne Seattle Sockeye Joel Schlachet Berkeley, Calif. UC-Berkeley San Francisco Revolver Joe Sefton Seattle, Wash. University of Washington Seattle Sockeye Nick Stuart Minneapolis, Minn. Carleton College Minneapolis SubZero Nathan White Woodside, Calif. UC-Davis San Francisco Revolver Russell Wynne Kensington, Calif. UC-Santa Cruz San Francisco Revolver

2016 WFDF World Ultimate & Guts Championships

U.S. National Team

Mixed Division

Head Coach: Jake Henderson (Minneapolis, Minn.)

Assistant Coach: Nancy Sun (San Francisco, Calif.)



Athlete City, State College Club Team Erica Baken Ames, Iowa Claremont Colleges Minneapolis Drag’n Thrust Lucas Dallman San Mateo, Calif. San Francisco State San Francisco Revolver Khalif El-Salaam Seattle, Wash. University of Washington Seattle Mixtape Ness Fajardo San Francisco, Calif. Northwestern San Francisco Fury Carolyn Finney Goleta, Calif. UC-Santa Barbara San Francisco Fury Jack Hatchett Arlington, Mass. Tufts Boston Ironside Simon Higgins Alameda, Calif. Las Positas College San Francisco Revolver Sarah Itoh Springfield, Va. George Mason Washington Scandal Kelly Johnson Seattle, Wash. North Park University Seattle Riot Sandy Jorgensen Washington, D.C. University of Wisconsin Washington Scandal Sam Kanner Berkeley, Calif. Carleton College San Francisco Revolver Eli Kerns Alameda, Calif. UC-Davis San Francisco Revolver Reid Koss Seattle, Wash. Western Washington Seattle Sockeye Jeff Loskorn Austin, Texas University of Texas Austin Doublewide Becky Malinowski Somerville, Mass. University of Michigan Boston Brute Squad Brett Matzuka Kansas City, Mo. North Carolina State Chicago Machine Chris Mazur Brooklyn, N.Y. University of Miami New York PoNY Jack McShane Westminster, Colo. University of Colorado Boulder Love Tractor Sarah Meckstroth Minneapolis, Minn. University of Minnesota Minneapolis Drag’n Thrust Becca Miller Fort Collins, Colo. Iowa State Denver Molly Brown Raha Mozaffari Philadelphia, Pa. University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia AMP Nicky Spiva Washington, D.C. Colorado College Washington Truck Stop Mac Taylor Emeryville, Calif. University of Colorado San Francisco Blackbird Robyn Wiseman Madison, Wis. UW-Eau Claire Madison Heist

2016 WFDF World Ultimate & Guts Championships

U.S. National Team

Women’s Division

Head Coach: Matty Tsang (Oakland, Calif.)

Assistant Coach: Andy Lovseth (Seattle, Wash.)



Athlete City, State College Club Team Sarah Anciaux St. Paul, Minn. University of Minnesota Minneapolis Drag’n Thrust Georgia Bosscher Raleigh, N.C. University of Wisconsin Madison Heist Calise Cardenas Seattle, Wash. Seattle University Seattle Riot Claire Chastain Denver, Colo. UNC-Wilmington Denver Molly Brown Katy Craley Seattle, Wash. University of Oregon Seattle Riot Claire Desmond San Francisco, Calif. UC-Berkeley San Francisco Fury Jenny Fey Arlington, Va. Mary Washington Washington Scandal Katey Forth Houston, Texas University of Bristol (UK) Austin Showdown Sarah Griffith Seattle, Wash. University of Michigan Seattle Riot Kami Groom Boston, Mass. Washington University Boston Brute Squad Lien Hoffman Somerville, Mass. Northwestern Boston Brute Squad Kaela Jorgenson San Francisco, Calif. UC-Santa Barbara San Francisco Fury Hana Kawai Seattle, Wash. Brown Seattle Riot Anna Nazarov San Francisco, Calif. UCLA San Francisco Fury Octavia Payne Washington, D.C. University of Pennsylvania Denver Molly Brown Maggie Ruden Berkeley, Calif. Sonoma State San Francisco Fury Lauren Sadler Seattle, Wash. American University Seattle Riot Amber Sinicrope Somerville, Mass. University of Wisconsin Boston Brute Squad Dena Slattery Denver, Colo. University of Indiana Denver Molly Brown Tina Snodgrass Denver, Colo. University of Oregon Denver Molly Brown Alex Snyder San Francisco, Calif. University of Colorado San Francisco Fury Rohre Titcomb Seattle, Wash. Dartmouth Seattle Riot Leila Tunnell Amherst, Mass. University of North Carolina Boston Brute Squad Mira Walker Atlanta, Ga. Agnes Scott College Atlanta Ozone



Facebook gallery of headshots

###

ABOUT USA ULTIMATE

USA Ultimate is the national governing body for the sport of ultimate (Frisbee) in the United States and proud member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).





Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Ultimate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is the largest flying disc organization in the world with more than 53,000 members, including athletes, coaches and observers.





Governed by a core principle called Spirit of the Game™, ultimate remains proud of its historical and continuing practice of being a self-officiated sport – even at the highest levels of competition – which places a unique emphasis on sportsmanship, respect for one’s opponent, conflict resolution, self-confidence, communication and integrity.





USA Ultimate currently administers the full spectrum of ultimate in the United States and owns and operates 11 major championship events across all ages and abilities, including youth, high school, college, elite and masters divisions, as well as the Triple Crown Tour – ultimate’s premier elite competitive league for men’s, women’s and mixed gender divisions. USA Ultimate is a member of the IOC-recognized World Flying Disc Federation and also selects, trains and supports U.S. National Teams for international events.





Recently cited as one of the fastest-growing team sports in America by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) with more than 7 million players worldwide, ultimate was invented in 1968 by students at Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J.





For more information, contact USA Ultimate Director of Marketing & Communications, Andy Lee at 719-219-8323 or andy@hq.usaultimate.org

Have any questions or comments? We welcome community feedback and discussion made in a respectful manner. Please refrain from profanity or personal attacks, as such public comments negatively reflect on our sport and community.