Redefining Excellence in Sports
USA Ultimate and its players have proudly embraced and celebrated Spirit, honoring individuals who have positively contributed to the sport as well as teams who exemplify fair play in competition. Each year, peer-nominated players are recognized in the club and masters division while Team Spirit awards are given at all USA Ultimate championship events. Beyond awards and formal recognition, the ultimate community also displays Spirit in a variety of unique and creative ways, often times filling a void left by other sports. The culture of Spirit is woven into the entire spectrum of ultimate, from grassroots, recreational players up to elite-level competition.
2024 Club Division Spirit Awards
2024 Kathy Pufahl Spirit Award
Kaela Helton
San Diego Flipside
Named for Kathy Pufahl, the women’s division spirit award honors the athlete who best exemplifies both the ethos of Spirit of the Game, along with a personal commitment to giving back to the sport. Each team at the National Championships casts a vote for one of the nominees, selected by their individual teams, taking into account who has exhibited personal responsibility, integrity and selfless contribution to ultimate, combined with a high standard of playing ability. From San Diego Flipside, Kaela Helton.
2024 Peter Farricker Spirit Award
Byron Liu
San Francisco Revolver
Named for Peter “Wheels” Farricker, the men’s division spirit award is given to the player at the National Championships adjudged to have exhibited personal responsibility, integrity, and fairness combined with a high standard of playing ability. Each Nationals-qualifying men’s team nominates one player from their own team for the award as the person who best represents Spirit of the Game. From San Francisco Revolver, Byron Liu.
2024 Spirit & Equity Award (Women)
Liz Carbajal
Austin Disco Club
The mixed division’s Spirit and Equity Award is given to two mixed division players each year. The winners are determined by Nationals-qualifying mixed teams and honor athletes who have exhibited personal integrity, responsibility and fairness, along with a commitment to enhancing equity in play and in their communities. From Austin Disco Club, it’s Liz Carbajal.
2024 Spirit & Equity Award (Men)
Caleb Denecour
Minneapolis Drag’n Thrust
The mixed division’s Spirit and Equity Award is given to two mixed division players each year. The winners are determined by Nationals-qualifying mixed teams and honor athletes who have exhibited personal integrity, responsibility and fairness, along with a commitment to enhancing equity in play and in their communities. From Austin Disco Club, it’s Caleb Denecour.
2025 Masters Division Spirit Awards
2025 Marty Bakko Award
Terry Gaither
Naptown
Established in 2010, the Marty Bakko Spirit Award is presented to a player in the men’s masters division at the USA Ultimate Masters Championships who best exemplifies SOTG. The award was created in honor of the late Marty Bakko (Minneapolis Surly). The masters division spirit award honors players that embody the best attributes of ultimate. Like Marty Bakko, these individuals: have an infectious sense of humor; possess a long-term passion for the sport of ultimate; display a commitment to fair play, integrity and respect for their opponent; are shrewd, tactical innovators on the field; show an intense, competitive Spirit; and are leaders who inspire others to act. From Naptown, your 2025 Marty Bakko Award Winner is Terry Gaither.
2025 Women’s Masters Spirit Award
Anri Brod
Winded City
Each qualifying masters women’s team nominates one player from its roster as the person who best represents the Spirit of the Game. This award is given to the players determined by Nationals-qualifying teams to have exhibited personal integrity, responsibility and fairness, along with a commitment to enhancing equity in play and in their communities. From Winded City, your 2025 Women’s Masters Spirit Award Winner is Anri Brod.
2025 Masters Spirit and Equity Award (Mixed)
Elena Schwam
Slower
Each qualifying masters mixed team nominates two players from its roster as the people who best represent the Spirit of the Game. This award is given to the players determined by Nationals-qualifying teams to have exhibited personal integrity, responsibility and fairness, along with a commitment to enhancing equity in play and in their communities. From Slower, your 2025 Masters Spirit and Equity Award Winner is Elena Schwam.
2025 Masters Spirit and Equity Award (Mixed)
Matt Jaffe
Apres Club
Each qualifying masters mixed team nominates two players from its roster as the people who best represent the Spirit of the Game. This award is given to the players determined by Nationals-qualifying teams to have exhibited personal integrity, responsibility and fairness, along with a commitment to enhancing equity in play and in their communities. From Apres Club, your 2025 Masters Spirit and Equity Award Winner is Matt Jaffe.
The Culture of Spirit
Quotes from the Community
Spirit Award Winners
Peter Farricker Award
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Moses Rifkin | Boston Death or Glory |
| 2003 | Andy Crews | Santa Barbara Condors |
| 2004 | Damien Scott | San Francisco Jam |
| 2005 | Jeffrey Eastham-Anderson | San Francisco Jam |
| 2006 | Allan Cowan | Vancouver Furious George |
| 2007 | Chase Sparling-Beckley | Seattle Sockeye |
| 2008 | Josh McCarthy | Boston Ironside |
| 2009 | Robbie Cahill | San Francisco Revolver |
| 2010 | Bart Watson | San Francisco Revolver |
| 2011 | Matt Rebholz | Boston Ironside |
| 2012 | Martin Cochran | San Francisco Revolver |
| 2013 | Beau Kittredge | San Francisco Revolver |
| 2014 | Danny Clark | Boston Ironside |
| 2015 | Ashlin Joye | San Francisco Revolver |
| 2016 | Owen Westbrook | Denver Johnny Bravo |
| 2017 | Jay Froude | Austin Doublewide |
| 2018 | Grant Lindsley | San Francisco Revolver |
| 2019 | Trent Dillon | Seattle Sockeye |
| 2020 | Von Alanguilan | Chicago Machine |
| 2021 | Walden Nelson | Chicago Machine |
| 2022 | David Cranston | DC Truckstop |
| 2023 | Timmy Perston | Portland Rhino |
| 2024 | Byron Liu | San Francisco Revolver |
Kathy Pufahl Award
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Vida Towne | Seattle Riot |
| 2005 | Kati Halmos | Seattle Riot |
| 2006 | Kris Gill | Washington, DC Bnogo |
| 2007 | DeAnna Ball | Columbus MOJO |
| 2008 | Allison Boyd | Denver Rare Air |
| 2009 | Jody Dozono | San Francisco Fury |
| 2010 | Michelle Ng | Austin Showdown |
| 2011 | Gwen Ambler | Seattle Riot |
| 2012 | Lauren Casey | San Francisco Fury |
| 2013 | Nancy Sun | San Francisco Fury |
| 2014 | Leila Tunnell | Boston Brute Squad |
| 2015 | Alex Snyder | San Francisco Fury |
| 2016 | Anna Nazarov | San Francisco Fury |
| 2017 | Amber Sinicrope | Boston Brute Squad |
| 2018 | Chip Chang | Minneapolis Pop |
| 2019 | Anraya Palmer | Atlanta Ozone |
| 2020 | Tulsa Douglas | Boston Brute Squad |
| 2021 | Carolyn Finney | San Francisco Fury |
| 2022 | Sarah Griffith | San Francisco Fury |
| 2023 | Maggie Ruden | San Francisco Fury |
| 2024 | Kaela Helton | San Diego Flipside |
Spirit & Equity Award
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Allysha Dixon | Philadelphia AMP |
| David Protter | Denver Love Tractor | |
| 2017 | Kate Kingery | Seattle BFG |
| Paul Utesch | Dallas Public Enemy | |
| 2018 | Lili Gu | Seattle BFG |
| Andrew Hagen | Seattle BFG | |
| 2019 | Ann Sitler | Asheville Superlame |
| Henry Phan | Seattle Mixtape | |
| 2020 | Shanye Crawford | Atlanta Bucket |
| Thomas Brewster | Dayton Thunderpants the Magic Dragon | |
| 2021 | Mya Hernandez | Ann Arbor Hybrid |
| Joe Anderson | Fort Collins shame. | |
| 2022 | Alissa Soo | Seattle BFG |
| Caleb Denecour | Minneapolis Drag’n Thrust | |
| 2023 | Robyn Fennig | Madison NOISE |
| Josue Alorro | New York XIST | |
| 2024 | Liz Carbajal | Austin Disco Club |
| Caleb Denecour | Minneapolis Drag’n Thrust |
Mary Bakko Award
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Blayne Ferguson | Ottawa GLUM |
| 2011 | Russ Adams | Minneapolis Surly |
| 2012 | David Remucal | Boulder/Denver Johnny Encore |
| 2013 | Alfonso Acosta | Austin Tejas |
| 2014 | Lincoln Wilson | Charleston Slow Country Boil |
| 2015 | Chris McManus | Santa Barbara Beyondors |
| 2016 | Tim Jacobson | Minneapolis Surly Cynic |
| 2017 | Mati Chessin | Chicago Pacemaker |
| 2018 | Jonah Shaver | Minneapolis Surly Cynic |
| 2019 | Ben Banyas | Baltimore Rest Stop |
| 2020 | Moses Rifkin | Seattle Voltron |
| 2021 | Theran Riedel | Raleigh Boneyard |
| 2022 | Joel Conn | Santa Barbara Beyondors |
| 2023 | Jason Arends | Seattle Gravy Train |
| 2024 | Andrew Riggs | Bay Area BART |
| 2025 | Terry Gaither | Indianapolis Naptown |
Women’s Masters Spirit Award
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Stephanie Landry | Chicago The Old and the Breathless |
| 2019 | Monica Kappes | Madison Aged Cheddar |
| 2020 | Gail Reich | Cincinnati Hot Flash |
| 2021 | Jackie Lai | Indianapolis Hot Flash |
| 2022 | Mary Uthuppuru | Indianapolis Hot Flash |
| 2023 | Cate Roscoe | Seattle MINT |
| 2024 | Jamie Smets | Indianapolis Big Tendinitis |
| 2025 | Anri Bord | Chicago Winded City |
Masters Spirit & Equity Award
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Emily Brixey | Denver Rocko’s Mountain Life |
| Luke Jesperson | Seattle SOS | |
| 2019 | Hana Kawaii | Seattle SALT |
| Christopher Schulze | Baltimore Entmoot | |
| 2020 | Elena Schwam | Somerville Slower |
| Matt Jaffe | Denver Après Club |