Both finals were broadcast live on ESPN-U, and plays from the college ultimate postseason were featured three times on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10. The College Championships generated excitement nationwide as 91´«Ă˝â€™s media partner streamed 62 games live throughout the tournament, and 91´«Ă˝â€™s social media platforms generated over 8 million views across all channels. All 40 competing teams were broadcast live at least once during the event.

The Championships, which took place May 22-25, generated significant local impact as well, with roughly 2,500 tickets purchased as spectators came to cheer on the best college teams in the nation. These spectators — plus the visiting athletes, team personnel, event staff and volunteers — are estimated to have contributed approximately $2.2 million in total economic impact to the local community.

“Hosting a National Championship event was a great win for our local community,” said Illinois Ultimate Director of Operations and tournament director Jacob Nuxoll. “Getting to showcase the best of college ultimate in Chicagoland helps to elevate the profile of both our organization and our sport locally. Both 91´«Ă˝ and Go Rockford were great to work with and helped make the process of hosting an event of this caliber go smoothly. Roughly 60 individuals came out to volunteer for the event, doing everything from scorekeeping and stats recording to keeping water stations stocked and staff fed, many giving up their entire weekend to support this event. I’m proud of the way our local disc communities came together from across the greater Chicago area, and hope to bring more events like this here in the future.”

This year’s event also saw the return of the annual college , which was broadcast live on the final day of the tournament just prior to the women’s championship match. Two mixed gender teams faced off for a fun and spirited game highlighting players of color from across more than 20 college teams.

Awards

The winners of the 2026 Callahan Award were announced in separate ceremonies during semifinal play Sunday, with the award going to Mika Kurahashi (British Columbia) in the women’s division and Zeke Thoreson (Colorado) in the men’s. Kurahasi and Thoreson were each selected by their peers, finishing ahead of the other finalists as the players who best represent not only superior skill and athleticism, but also demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship, leadership and dedication to the sport of ultimate

Team Spirit Awards for the College Championships went to Cal Poly in the men’s division and Vermont BRuckus in the women’s. Vermont took home the Team Spirit Award once previously, in 1987 — the first year there was a women’s division at the College Championships. Interestingly, the Cal Poly men’s team also took home the spirit award that year, then again in 2019 and 2024, making this their fourth win. Team Spirit scores overall were lower than typical in the women’s division, although above average in the men’s — particularly in bracket play which have historically been games with lower spirit scores assigned.

Stat Leaders for the tournament were Mina Brown (Tufts) with 25 goals, Chloe Hakimi (Carleton) with 42 assists and Freya Spiekerkoetter (Stanford) with 23 blocks, all in the women’s division. Men’s division leaders were Sarek Mallareddy (Carleton) with 20 goals, Tobias Brooks (Colorado) with 24 assists and Logan Piercy (Penn State) with nine blocks.

Fueling the Future

The Ultimate Foundation’s ran alongside the tournament, encouraging alumni, family and fans to make donations in the name of their school. Contributions were made in the name of 45 different colleges with over $5,500 being raised across the duration of the campaign. Funds raised by The Ultimate Foundation help by directly supporting 91´«Ă˝ programs to foster access, grow youth ultimate and invest in local communities.

The event, which took place at Waukegan’s Greg Petry Sports Park from May 16-18, was co-hosted by 91´«Ă˝ and and was broadcast live via . Thirty-two games were streamed across the three day tournament, representing approximately 52 hours of live college ultimate coverage. 

In addition to the online streaming audience, many alumni, friends and family members attended to watch in person, which alongside the visiting teams brought in more than 1,200 visitors to the area. This is estimated to have generated $550,000–$650,000 in direct local economic impact through lodging, dining, transportation and other visitor spending.

This year’s event marked only the third time the D-III Championships have been hosted in the greater Chicago area, having previously taken place in Rockford, Ill. in 2015 and 2018. Illinois Ultimate, a 91´«Ă˝ Tier 1 affiliate, worked closely with the City of Waukegan and local Convention & Visitors Bureau to bring this event to a new site.

“Visit Lake County was proud to welcome 91´«Ă˝ and the Division III College Championships to Waukegan for the first time,” stated Teresa Lewis, Director of Sales for Visit Lake County. “Events like this bring significant economic impact to our communities while showcasing Lake County’s outstanding sports facilities, hospitality partners and visitor experiences. We were thrilled to host student-athletes, coaches, families and fans from across the country and look forward to continuing our partnership with 91´«Ă˝ to bring high-quality sporting events to the region.”

A Spirited Event

Spirit scores were close across both divisions, and good overall, with an average of 6.69 in the men’s division and 6.71 in the women’s. Team spirit scores are an essential part of the self-refereed aspect of ultimate and are assigned by opponents after each game. Scores ranging from zero to four are given in three categories: rules knowledge and use, fouls and body contact, and communication and conduct. A two is considered a good score in any category. Across both divisions, more than 88% of the scores given were two or higher. Team spirit scores are the combination of the scores received for all three categories, making six the baseline score, indicative of an average game.

The team Spirit Award winner for the men’s division was Claremont with a final average score of nine, and the women’s division award went to Macalester with an average of eight.

“The D-III College Championships are a great event with fantastic energy on and off the field,” shared Illinois Ultimate Director of Operations Jacob Nuxoll. “The athletes competing for a national title, alumni and fans who showed up to offer encouragement and support and of course the volunteers and staff who worked together to make this event happen, all showcased the mutual respect, dedication and collaboration that are part of what makes our sports community great.”

In addition to the Team Spirit Awards, the winners of the Donovan Award were also announced during the Championships. The annual Donovan Award is and recognizes one men’s division and one women’s division player from D-III college ultimate. Award winners demonstrate skill and athleticism, uphold the principles of Spirit of the Game for themselves and their teammates and are also leaders off the field. Winners are selected by their peers based on their play and leadership throughout their college career. This year’s Donovan winners are Peter Mans (Middlebury) and Maggie Brown (Wesleyan). The other finalists are listed below.

Stat Leaders for the D-III event include Kaley Johnson (Kenyon) with 25 goals and Claire Lee (Macalester) with 38 assists. In the men’s division Anders Moody (Hillsdale) led with 23 goals and Theodore Barton (Bowdoin) with 36 assists.

Coordinator of the Year is a designation given to individual sectional, regional and state coordinators across all competition divisions who have contributed at a high level. The designation recognizes volunteers in these key roles who have gone above and beyond the expectations for their role, consistently contributed season after season or who have made significant efforts toward competition program goals.

The Coordinator of the Year for each competition division is selected based on input from the Competition Working Group, including staff competition managers and volunteer national and regional directors. The honorees for 2025 are:

91´«Ă˝ Division

Regional Coordinator of the Year
Amir Kaghazwala – Northwest Mixed Regional Coordinator
Chris Novielli – Northeast Men’s Regional Coordinator
Alyssa Weatherford – Northwest Women’s Regional Coordinator

Sectional Coordinator of the Year
Anna Blasiak – South New England Women’s Sectional Coordinator
Dom Sutherland – Central Appalachia Mixed Sectional Coordinator
Jaclyn Wataoka – NorCal Men’s Sectional Coordinator

College Division

Coordinator of the Year
Shannon Temple – Southwest Women’s Regional Director

Honorable Mentions
Kevin Baker – Atlantic Coast Men’s Regional Director
Tommy Gebhardt – South Central Men’s Deputy Regional Director 
Alyssa Weatherford – Northwest Women’s Regional Director 

Masters Division

Coordinator of the Year
Lewis Seton – Northeast Masters Regional Coordinator

Youth Division

Central Region Coordinator of the Year
Dan Plamondon – Michigan State Youth Coordinator

Northeast Region Coordinator of the Year
Jon Egan – New Jersey State Youth Coordinator

South Region Coordinator of the Year
Will Graham – Tennessee State Youth Coordinator

West Region Coordinator of the Year
Jacob Barr – California State Youth Coordinator

Get Involved

91´«Ă˝ provides ongoing support and playing opportunities for athletes across a wide range of age and gender divisions. Every year more than 150 volunteer coordinators support this work, however many coordinator positions remain unfilled. Those looking to get involved and support the growth of ultimate can see open opportunities on the 91´«Ă˝ website and are encouraged to apply.

Tensions were high as Carleton and British Columbia took the field Monday, in a rematch of last year’s tightly contested women’s division final. Last year’s winner UBC started off strong, going up three breaks, but Carleton went on an answering run just before half to take them all back. With the score 8-7 in favor of Carleton at half, they stayed on top the remainder of the game, winning the rematch with a final score of 15-13, the perfect end to an undefeated season.

Similar to the start of the women’s final, last year’s winner Carleton went up early in the men’s division championship game, taking a 2-0 lead. However, Massachusetts got a break of their own and the game went to half back on serve. Despite Carleton’s defensive pressure, the Massachusetts offense appeared unfazed, executing holds with calm precision. The depth of their roster (with 17 players in regular rotation) enabled their defense to outlast Carleton, putting up a series of second-half breaks that won the game 15-11 and gave Zoodisc their first national title in 40 years.

Other highlights of the day included a morning , which featured two mixed teams of athletes from across both college divisions, broadcast live by Ultiworld. Spirit Winners for the tournament were also awarded, with Vermont (B) Bruckus taking home the award in their first Championships appearance, and Cal Poly SLOCORE winning spirit in the men’s division.

Final stat leaders for the tournament are Mina Brown (Tufts) with 25 goals, Chloe Hakimi (Carleton) with 42 assists and Freya Spiekerkoetter (Stanford) who achieved 23 blocks. In the men’s division Sarek Mallareddy (Carleton) led with 20 goals, Tobias Brooks (Colorado) had 24 assists, and Logan Piercy (Penn State) led with 9 blocks.

If you missed any of the excitement, you can catch full game replays and tournament highlights through 91´«Ă˝â€™s streaming partner .

In the men’s division fifth seed Massachusetts took down number one seed Oregon 15-10, in a semifinal upset that earned Massachusetts a place in the final. Carleton (3) and Colorado (2) won their respective quarterfinals to meet in an exciting semifinals rematch of last year’s championship game. Despite a late comeback attempt with back to back breaks from Colorado — which tied the game at 14 — Carleton pulled off a final hold to win the game and advance.

Other highlights of the day included the women’s division tenth seed Oregon challenging top seed Carleton in a close matchup that ended in a final score of 15-13. Carleton advanced to face Tufts (6) in another tight game which Carleton won on double game point to secure their place in the final. On the other side of the bracket British Columbia (2) started the day with a 15-8 win over Colorado (8), advancing to the finals on the back of a 15-11 defeat of Stanford (4).

Another highlight of the day was the presentation of the 2026 Callahan Award to winners Mika Kurahashi (British Columbia) and Zeke Thoreson (Colorado) during halftime in the final rounds of the semifinals.

Stat leaders for the tournament are currently Mina Brown (Tufts) with 25 goals, Chloe Hakimi (Carleton) with 36 assists and Freya Spiekerkoetter (Stanford) with 23 blocks. In the men’s division Ethan Lieman (Massachusetts) leads with 18 goals, Tobias Brooks (Colorado) took the lead in assists with 24 and Logan Piercy (Penn State) leads with 9 blocks.

The finals will be held Monday, May 25 following the Color of Ultimate showcase game, which can be watched in person or online through 91´«Ă˝â€™s streaming partner starting at 10:30 a.m. ET.

As Carleton and British Columbia once again go head to head for the women’s division title, and Massachusetts faces off against Carleton in the men’s, Carleton is once again in a position to potentially pull off a sweep. Follow along live on ESPNU for the exciting conclusion of this year’s Championships.

Women’s Division Final – 1pm ET
Men’s Division Final – 3:30pm ET

A decisive presence on the field during UBC’s title win over Carleton last year, Kurahashi continues to be a top team contributor putting up 7 goals and 9 assists in the tournament so far. With one game standing between them and a return to the final, Kurahashi remains a vital part of UBC’s offense. Known for her cutting prowess, field sense and uncanny ability to get open on nearly any matchup, she also shows up for the big plays — as evidenced by her heads-up save during a key moment in last year’s final, and possession-saving layout in today’s quarterfinal matchup against Colorado.

In addition to helping lead UBC to their first national title in over a decade, Kurahashi has competed for Canada’s National Team, with three U-24 Team appearances, as well as silver medal finishes as a member of Canada’s 2024 World Ultimate Championships and 2025 World Games teams. She competed with the club team Vancouver Red Flag from 2022-24 and Seattle’s BFG in 2025.

While her contributions on the field are undeniable, Kurahashi’s team also recognizes the leadership she contributes outside her athletic performance:

“Mika has been the heart of the UBC Thunderbirds since joining the team in 2021. She consistently demonstrates exceptional talent, work ethic, and leadership on and off the field. A dominant force on the field, off the field she’s been a cultural anchor for the Thunderbirds, bringing composure and diligence to everything she does. No one is more deserving of the 2026 Callahan Award than Mika.”
– Jamie Jung, British Columbia Captain

Thoreson is perhaps best known as a shutdown defender, able to close throwing windows that most players assume to be open. But as Colorado attempts to win their way back into the final tonight he leads his team in goals for the Championships — having scored 9 in the tournament so far, along with 2 assists and 3 blocks. His impressive anticipation and timing continue to force opposing lines to plan around him while his exceptional closing speed, ability to play the deep space and seemingly impossible layout bids make his on field presence simply impossible to ignore.

A top defensive player who successfully transitioned to play a key role on Mamabird’s offensive line, Thoreson also played on the undefeated 2025 U-24 National Team, bringing home gold in the open division. Thoreson has played with club team Denver Johnny Bravo since 2023 and also plays for the semi-pro team Colorado Summit.

In keeping with the expectations for Callahan Award winners, Thoreson’s off field leadership and dedication to ultimate is clear in this shoutout from his team:

“Zeke embodies the culture of Mamabird: one built over years through humility, grit and care for others. As a captain, he elevates those around him, reinforcing the accountability and effort that define our team — and he has competed at the highest levels of the sport. Zeke’s impact is undeniable, but it’s how he competes with respect and relentless effort that sets him apart.“
– Ryan Shigley, Colorado Captain

While the top teams held their positions, other matchups resulted in upsets. In the men’s division, Maryland (18) entered bracket play for the first time in tournament history after winning a tight game 15-14 over Michigan (14). Following that exciting universe point win, they ultimately fell to Cal Poly (6) in the prequarters despite claiming an early lead. Cal Poly will advance to face Massachusetts (5). The women’s division also saw some shake ups with one of the most exciting being the Oregon (10) take down of North Carolina (7) to advance to tomorrow’s quarterfinals. Oregon claimed the victory in a surprise 15-14 win where their final score was also their first lead of the game. Oregon will face top seed Carleton in the next round.

Stat leaders for the day include Callahan Finalist Miles Grovic (Maryland) who jumped to the lead in the men’s division with a total of 21 assists. Reid Duncan (Pittsburgh) and Emmett Steele (Cal Poly) lead the men’s division in goals with 14 each. Another Callahan Finalist, Quincy Booth (Georgia) continues to lead the entire tournament with an impressive 33 assists, while Mina Brown (Tufts) leads in goals at 20.

Day three will include all quarterfinal and semifinals games with exciting matchups anticipated between Massachusetts (5) and Cal Poly (6) in the men’s division and Tufts (6) vs Pennsylvania (9) and UC Santa Cruz (3) vs Stanford (4) in the women’s. A rematch of last year’s final remains a possibility for both divisions as the top teams move closer to the final rounds.

All quarterfinal and semifinal games will be streamed live starting at 9:30am Eastern, through 91´«Ă˝â€™s streaming partner .

At the end of day one, Callahan Finalist Quincy Booth (Georgia) leads the women’s division in assists at 11, with Abigail Smith (Pennsylvania) leading goals at eight. In the men’s division, stats leaders are Owen Erdman (Brown), Axel Olson (Carleton) and Will Selfridge (Utah) with nine assists each, and Reid Duncan (Pittsburgh) with nine goals.

The biggest moments of the day in the men’s division included a first round upset by Maryland (18), who’s back in the big dance for the first time since 2018, as they defeated Brown (11) to open the day. The men’s division also saw a high-powered Pool D matchup as Massachusetts (5) defeated North Carolina (4) in a 2023 Finals rematch. Pittsburgh (9) stacked two wins to lead Pool D and Colorado (2) is the point differential leader with a strong +17 through the first day of games. 

In an exciting game on the women’s side, Western Washington (11) scored two Callahans against Michigan (18), the second one to finish the game in a double game point comeback victory. Top teams Carleton (1) and British Columbia (2) were both dominant in their opening games, easily taking down the second-best team in their pools — Colorado (8) and North Carolina (7), respectively. Georgia (17) pulled off the biggest women’s division upset so far with a 15-13 win over UCLA (12) to cap the day.

Pool play continues Saturday, followed by a round of prequarters to determine the field for Sunday’s bracket. Matchups to watch include the men’s division game where 1-1 North Carolina (4) takes on 2-0 Pittsburgh (9) and top seed Oregon (1) meets Georgia Tech (13). In the women’s division key matchups include UC Santa Cruz (3) vs. Oregon (10), Washington (5) vs. Pennsylvania (9) and Stanford (4) vs. Vermont (16). 

Live event coverage for Saturday will be available through 91´«Ă˝â€™s streaming partner .

This annual award has recognized the most valuable players in college ultimate in both the men’s and women’s division since 1996. Award nominees display not only superior skill and athleticism — making difficult plays look easy — they also demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship, leadership and dedication to the sport of ultimate. The ten finalists for the 2026 award have been selected by their peers from a field of more than 120 athletes who were nominated by their teams.

The Finalists

The Callahan will be awarded live during the D-I College Championships in Rockford, Ill. this weekend.

About The Finalists

Men’s Division

Adam Grossberg – Georgia Tech

From the team: Over the past four years, Adam has had an outsized impact on our program, fostering a culture of hard work, community, and laughter. His commitment to bettering himself and the team has paid dividends, as he has led Tribe to its first College Championships qualification since 2012. Adam has competed at the highest youth, college, club and semi-pro levels throughout his ultimate career, including appearances on the U-20 and U-24 USA Open National Teams.

National Team Appearances

• 2025 U-24 National Team – Open Division
• 2022 WJUC National Team – Boys

Anton Orme – Cal Poly

From the team: Anton Orme played ultimate throughout high school and at YCC with Oakland OAK. In 2021, he made the trip down south to Cal Poly and began his college career. Anton was named to the 2025 and 2024 Ultiworld All-American first team, 2024 Player of the Year runner up, and 2023 All-American second team. In the club scene, Anton played three years for Revolver from 2022-2024. 

National Team Appearances

• 2025 U-24 National Team – Mixed Division

Miles Grovic – Maryland

From the team: Miles Grovic is a standout ultimate frisbee player for the University of Maryland’s men’s team, where he has developed into one of the most dynamic and impactful players in the college division. Throughout his college career, Grovic has earned recognition for both his athleticism and his versatility. His presence on the field is marked not only by big plays, but also by consistent effort and leadership, setting the tone for his teammates. In addition to his college success, Grovic has gained experience at the club and semi-pro levels, including time with teams like the DC Breeze.

National Team Appearances

• 2025 U-24 National Team – Open Division

Xavier Fuzat – Texas

From the team: Xavier Fuzat’s college career has been defined by resilience. He bookended his first year with two torn ACLs, using rehab time to coach youth (TUSC) and rediscover his love for ultimate. He returned to lead TUFF in goals and assists at Nationals in subsequent seasons. Xavier has served as TUFF’s captain since 2024, focusing on competitiveness and program development. His club career includes three seasons with Doublewide and he plays UFA in his hometown (Houston Havoc) where he is also the team’s Training Programming Director.

Zeke Thoreson – Colorado

From the team: Zeke embodies the culture of Mamabird: one built over years through humility, grit and care for others. As a captain, he elevates those around him, reinforcing the accountability and effort that define our team. He has competed at the highest levels of the sport (college, club, and UFA) and represented the United States on the U-24 Open National Team. A two-time Ultiworld Defensive Player of the Year, Zeke’s impact is undeniable, but it’s how he competes with respect and relentless effort that sets him apart.

National Team Appearances

• 2025 U-24 National Team – Open Division

Women’s Division 

Caroline Stone – Vermont

From the team: Caroline Stone’s leadership began in 2022, when she captained her high school open team to its first Texas State Championship. That following summer, she won her first gold medal with the U-20 Women’s National Team and her second one three years later with the U-24 Mixed National Team. Her dominance continued with Ruckus, where she was named Ultiworld Rookie of the Year Runner-Up her freshman year. Caroline has led Ruckus to their only three national semifinal appearances, back-to-back-to-back. This past year, while recovering from an ACL tear, she has remained fully committed to our team. She is a selfless teammate and an inspiring captain.

National Team Appearances

• 2025 U-24 National Team – Mixed Division
• 2022 U-20 National Team – Girls

Faye Burdick – Colorado

From the team: Faye’s ultimate journey started in Seattle, where she won a high school national title as a freshman at Roosevelt before transferring to Lincoln, where she helped build and captain the girls’ ultimate team to a second-place finish at nationals, then won a YCC Mixed U-20 National Championship with Seven Hills in 2022. In 2024, Ultiworld named her Breakout Player of the Year. At the club level, she has competed with Molly Brown, testing herself against the highest level of play. She represented the U.S. at the U-24 World Championships in Spain, where the women’s team took gold. Across every level – youth, high school, college, club and international – Faye stands out not only for her athleticism, but for her leadership, work ethic and ability to elevate those around her.

National Team Appearances

• 2025 U-24 National Team – Women’s Division

Goodness Nwakudu – UC Santa Cruz

From the team: Goodness, or Goody as we call her, started playing ultimate in middle school and played in high school at Oakland Tech where she captained for two years. Sol has gone to nationals every year she has been on the team. This season Sol has won Stanford Invite, gotten second at Prez Day, just recently won regionals and plans to go far at nationals. Goody is very involved in our team culture leading cheers, connecting with rookies and creating the best environment for us to succeed. Goody adds so much to our team and stays involved in leadership. Her sophomore year she was fundraising chair, then captain junior year and now social chair.

Mika Kurahashi – British Columbia

From the team: Mika has been the heart of the UBC Thunderbirds since joining the team in 2021. She is a dominant force on the field, consistently making big plays and being a key contributor to the Thunderbirds’ recent D-I College Championship in 2025. Her performance on the field has also led to her being named the 2025 Ultiworld D-I Women’s Player of the Year, which has added to previous All-American honours, making her one of the top players in the women’s division. Mika’s incredible skill has also led her to being part of Canada’s 2025 World Games and U-24 Mixed rosters, both of which resulted in second-place finishes.

National Team Appearances:

• 2025 U-24 National Team: Canada – Mixed Division
• 2025 Team Canada World Games Team
• 2024 Team Canada World Ultimate Championships – Mixed Division
• 2023 U-24 National Team: Canada – Women’s Division
• 2019 U-24 National Team: Canada – Mixed Division

Quincy Booth – Georgia

From the team: A tall, versatile handler with an uncanny ability to see plays develop before they happen, Quincy has built one of the most decorated careers in college ultimate. She has finished top three in assists at College Championships every year she’s competed, earning the #1 spot in both 2023 and 2025, and currently sits second all-time (with the top spot within reach). She also ranks among the top ten all-time in defensive blocks at Nationals, a reflection of her impact across the field. As a high school freshman, she became the youngest player ever to compete at 91´«Ă˝ Nationals with Atlanta Ozone, later representing Team USA at the U-20 level and contributing to Atlanta Soul across four seasons.

National Team Appearances

• 2020 U-20 National Team – Girls (Event Cancelled)

The upcoming World Junior Ultimate Championships (WJUC) will take place July 11–18 in Logroño, Spain and 91´«Ă˝ is sending teams in all three divisions — open, mixed and women’s. Nineteen of the 72 athletes who will represent the United States across all three teams will be competing next weekend in Rockford. 

For those looking to see these players on the field, Carleton CUT features the most U-20 athletes at the event — with two open and one mixed team player on their roster — while Carleton Syzygy, Georgia Tech Tribe and Oregon Ego each have two Team USA members rostered. 

Team USA has competed in 16 editions of WJUC — a biennial event — dating back to 1988. The open team has medaled at each event, earning ten gold medals, two silvers and four bronze. Since the women’s division was introduced in 2000, the U.S. National Team has captured six gold medals, four silvers and a bronze. The mixed division was added to the event in 2022 and 91´«Ă˝ first sent a team to in 2024, where they took home the gold.

Spectators wishing to watch these athletes vie for a national title, then compete on the world stage this summer, can find a full list of the U-20 National Team players competing at the Championships — and which schools they play for — below. Team USA’s open division Assistant Coach Stanley Birdsong will also be in attendance, as a coach for Carleton CUT.

Men’s Division Athletes

Women’s Division Athletes