The biggest and best of ultimate in 2015.
December 31, 2015 by Charlie Eisenhood in Opinion
We now take a moment to reflect on the highs and the lows of 2015 in our annual superlatives list.
Best Game: San Francisco Revolver v. Washington DC Truck Stop (National Quarterfinals // Recap)
Best Play: Toronto GOAT’s Remi Ojo’s catch block at the US Open.
Best Achievement: Lou Burruss, who retired from coaching this year after winning yet another gold medal. As a coach, he won four Championships (Oregon: ’15, ’13, ’10; Carleton: ’00). They go in his trophy case alongside his National (’04) and Worlds (’97) titles playing with Seattle Sockeye.
Biggest Upset: Team Japan over Team USA in the final of the Women’s Division Under-23 World Championships.
Biggest News: Tulane’s disqualification from Nationals.
Biggest International News: The IOC granting WFDF and ‘flying disc’ full recognition.
Best Round: The Men’s Quarterfinals at the National Championships (Sockeye v. Madison Club, Revolver v. Truck Stop, Machine v. Ring of Fire, Ironside v. Doublewide)
Best Individual Performance: Seattle Mixtape’s Khalif El-Salaam in the National semifinals against Polar Bears. [Recap / Video ($)]
Biggest Breakout Star: Jaclyn Verzuh.
Most Improved Team: Raleigh Phoenix, who went from not qualifying for Nationals in 2014 to earning a spot in the Pro Flight.
Biggest Controversy: The language penalties assessed at Club Nationals
Best Celebrity Cameo: Jim Harbaugh at Michigan (and don’t miss his scouting report of MagnUM)
Top Reddit Post: ‘Ultimate Frisbee’ Recognized By International Olympic Committee
Most-Read Ultiworld Article: Basic Concepts Of Person Defense In 42 Seconds
Biggest Viral Video: Chicago Wildfire’s AJ Nelson’s Giant Layout
Top Callahan Video: Hannah Leathers
Most Fun Read: What If…? The Top 11 College Mixed Teams Of All Time
Best Highlight Reel: AUDL 2015 Season Highlights
Biggest Semi-Pro News: The Dallas Roughnecks’ signing of Beau Kittredge, Cassidy Rasmussen, and Jimmy Mickle.
Biggest Disappointment: Tulane, after being disqualified from Nationals for playing with an ineligible player.
Most Memorable Quote: “Hey! It’s our fucking lives here. Let’s go.” – Jimmy Mickle
Best Tweet: Machine’s alter ego, Mean Machine, discussing the team’s win over Ring of Fire for the first time in team history.
Best Podcast: The pilot episode of our new podcast, Sin The Fields.
Best Trick Play: Trenton Spinks’ ‘Snake In The Grass‘ for the Atlanta Hustle
Best Celebration: UNC’s Nick Macleod in the College Semis
Best Interview: Josh “Cricket” Markette
Best Use Of Social Media: The All-Star Tour’s Spiking Conversation
Best Rules Discussion: Was Brian Schoenrock’s Highlight Catch Actually A Foul?
What did we miss? Feel free to disagree or share new categories in the comments below.
