URI ULTIMATE

Fall 1997

- Senior Greg Hoke starts an Ultimate team with his friend Bruce Foley.

- Side Note: Chia and Nathan will claim that Greg restarted the team because there was an Ultimate team at URI about 60 years ago when they were students.

- The team is made up of mostly freshmen.

- Nick Langenfield comes up with the original and probably the greatest team name of all time: Slap Grandma.

- For some stupid reason the idea is later rejected. New team name: Superwaffe.

- Chia and Nathan start coming to practice and teach us some drills, how to stack, zone defense, etc.

- First win against Tufts B.

 

Spring 1998

- At the end of the spring semester, the future of the team is in doubt. We don't know who will run the team and have limited participation.

- However, seven freshmen do seem committed: Joe Tuazon, Evan Pearce, Scott Wiant, Brett Chistensen, Josh Peters, Cory Byrum, and Jeff Petros.

 

Fall 1998

- Joe Tuazon (a.k.a. Superman) steps up as the Captain and leader of the team.

- With the seven returning freshmen now sophomores the looks like it may have a bright future but still has a lot of work to do.

- The players start to recognize their individual skills and positions/roles on the team. However something is missing. A deep man for offense as well as defense.

 

Spring 1999

- A quiet rather tall and fast kid starts playing with the team on the quad. His throws needed some work but he seemed to catch everything that came anywhere near him. With this and the fact that I don't think anyone knew his real name everyone called him 'Sticky'. He was the deep threat the team was looking for.

- At this point the team looks like they could be a strong team in the future but the team lacks depth.

 

Fall 1999

- Joe Tuazon becomes discouraged with all the fan attention and media hype that comes along with being the Captain of the Ultimate team.

- Also, there are rumors in the tabloids about an affair with Joe and Scott which would be a huge conflict of interest and is prohibited in the RI Ultimate bylaws.

- Joe quits as Captain but remains on the team. Evan takes over.

- Key players Sticky and Petros leave for Germany and the Netherlands respectively. Petros for the semester, Sticky for the year.

- However some of the depth the team is looking for is added. A tall funny looking freshman by the name of Adam Tillinghast joins the team. He is quickly dubbed A-Bomb. Sophomore Amanda Dauphine also joins. She has no prior experience but is smart and athletic and picks up the game quickly. Junior Pete joins at this time I think.

- Freshman Mike Mulrooney also joins and adds some speed and versatility to the team.

 

Spring 2000

- Petros returns from Holland but is now a fall down drunk.

- The team qualifies for Regionals for the first time.

 

Fall 2000

- Joe, now ready to face the media attention and the affair with Scott over (or at least the rumors) takes back the role of team Captain.

- Pete leaves for Washington D.C.

- New team name: RIUT: Rhode Island Ultimate Team

- More depth is added. Three speedy freshmen named Andy, Mike, and Evan join the team. Sophomore Melanie Morgan also starts playing. All four work hard and improve quickly.

- The team comes in second place at their tournament (Brisk Winds IV). They lose a heartbreaker to Lehigh University 15-13 in the finals.

- Petros begins writing the lyrics to 'They Call Him A-Bomb' (a rap song about Adam).

- Andy signs on to the deal and agrees to write the music.

 

Here ends the story as told by Jeff Petros

Spring 2001 (Contributed by Scott Wiant)

- A team full of seniors realizes that they need to study to graduate

- Practices never reach the fevered pitch of the spring before where 3 layouts per person per day were commonplace.

- However our talent could not be repressed, and we again made it to Regionals.

- Depth was not our strong point, so every game was close until our first line go tired.

- Highlights included being up 3-2 against Brown A, but losing 13-3.

- Concluded our season with a very good spirited game against long time rivals UMass Dartmouth. It was a loss.

 

The rest of the story is told, albeit poorly, by Adam Crawley. It also does not necessarily reflect the views of the Ultimate team, nor the University of Rhode Island

 

Fall 2002

- Under the leadership of Melanie Morgan, RIUT sees a rebirth with the addition of Ian Feldman and a strong group of freshmen: Mike McBurney, Vin Soboleski, Eirik 'Nolte' Allee, Pat Hanssen, Ricky Wolfsdorf, Dave Dickinson, Adam Torre, Graham Mangini-Harold, Simon, and Meg Bernal.

- Ray Richardson and Mike Bradley impart precious wisdom on the young team.

- The team loses often, but learns much, as they are forced to constantly play savage. Not caring about their record, the team has a fun year and builds the foundation for a new team.

 

Spring 2003

- Ian goes to Alaska for the semester.

- The team continues to improve, but still lacks depth.

- Melanie leaves URI after the spring season. Adam Torre transfers.

- Petros starts coming to practices.

 

Fall 2003

- Petros takes on the role of coach.

- The depth the team was lacking is found with several new additions to the team. Sophomores Pat Greene, Emily Troiano, Meg Reilly, and Meg Reardon join the team. The addition of two more Megs creates immense confusion and frustration for the entire team.

- Chase and his lethal air bounce start making appearances at practice. Second time around undergraduate Jay Leroux comes to URI from Lehigh bringing intense hustle and nasty layouts.

- Several freshmen also join the team: Becca Gold, Adam Crawley, and Charles Shell. Brian, Sean, and Andy also join, but eventually choose to follow other pursuits.

- The team sees significant improvement, winning roughly 50% of their games. With added depth they can now focus on refining their skills and roles.

 

Spring 2004

- Ricky spends the semester in Hawaii.

- Under the guidance of Petros (who is so vastly wealthy that he works only half the year), the team sees significant improvement. He is dubbed Papa Petros; ironically he is a poor father figure.

- The team travels to Savannah, GA for the 'High Tide' tournament during spring break. They play well. Hilarity ensues when Vinny, McBurney, Nolte, Crawley, and Chuckles are left alone in the house with a video camera.

- The team competes in the Sectionals tournament in April. While they do not make it to Regionals, hopes are high for the following season.

- A-Bomb bids the team adieu as he graduates.

 

Fall 2004

- The team is dismayed to learn that Nolte will not be returning to URI. With the loss of he and A-Bomb, the deep game is in serious peril.

- Chuckles leaves Rhode Island to become a famous Hollywood music producer, keep an eye out for his upcoming album, 'From the Gutter to the Sidewalk.

- The sophomore class looks weak as only Crawley and Becca return. Luckily Crawley's roommate Mike Alice joins the team, bolstering the class of 2007.

- Actually, Becca spends the semester in California.

- Meg and Meg help save the deep game when they see Scott Lennox throwing a disc to himself on the quad. He joins the team and shines as a deep threat.

- Several freshmen join the team: Phil Denigris, Graeme O'Connell, Donnelly Roberts, Nick Reed, and Pete Skwirz. They show some promise.

- Karen Hyun of Stanford fame arrives at URI for graduate school and imparts immense knowledge on the team. Having used all her college eligibility, her playing time at tournaments is unfortunately limited.

- Petros leads the juggernaut that is RIUT. Appearances at practice by Scott Wiant and Mike Bradley bolster the 'Old Guy Wisdom' factor.

- The team captures the Lemony Fresh Co-Ed championship in November.

 

Spring 2005

- Much to the team's amazement, Nolte returns to URI.

- RIUT once again travels to Savannah, GA for 'High Tide'. A crushing loss to Hampshire in the playoffs ruins their championship bid, but the rental house has a hot tub. Other highlights include Nick Reed & Petros winning their own tournament, a very special trip to Sonic, and Pete Skwirz coming out of his shell.

- The team captures the title of their home tournament 'Ultimate Mayhem', topping Roger Williams University in a dramatic game.

- URI hosts Sectionals and spends two hard-fought days competing for a bid to Regionals. A loss in a capped game vs. Roger Williams dashes their Regionals hopes. Other highlights include a 30-minute point against UConn, and 3 points scored on Brown A; all by women.

- Ian and Chase graduate. Ricky and Crawley take over as captains. Petros moves to New York, much to everyone's chagrin.

 

Fall 2005

- The team continues to grow, adding several dedicated freshmen: Tom Confort, Dan DiMascio, Taylor Strickland, Chris Goulart, Andrew Valanis, Maarten Hoogeboom, Casey Donahue, and grad student Carly Blair.

- Pete spends the semester living it up in Greece.

- With large numbers RIUT splits into X & Y squads at Brisk Winds. Both teams reach quarterfinals, one team takes it all.

- With a small squad, RIUT goes undefeated at 'Get Ho Ho Ho' in freezing, snowy conditions.

 

Spring 2006

- Pete returns from Greece in fine form.

- Nolte once again must leave URI, will he return again?

- Mike Greer joins the team bringing his prior ultimate knowledge.

- RIUT begins the spring with UNH???s 'Live, Freeze, or Die'. Faced with 25-degree weather, 25 mph wind, and icy fields, the team chooses to live rather than freeze and die.

- High Tide organizers blunder and must cut tournament numbers in half. RIUT must cancel the trip to Georgia. Spring break is boring.

- Scott Wiant makes frequent appearances along with Mike Bradley and lend the coach-less team a little more help.

- The team once again splits in half for their home tournament, both squads reach quarterfinals, and the veteran team loses a close game in the finals.

- The team caps off the year with a trip to Scranton, PA to play in the University of Scranton's tournament. They capture 2nd place, $200 in prize money, and the right to call themselves professional athletes.

- The team undergoes significant losses: Jay, Karen, Ricky, Dan S., Vinny, Pat H, Pat G, Meg Reilly, Scott, Dave, and Emily all graduate or finish their work at URI.

- Crawley takes over the role of captain.

 

Fall 2006

- A huge influx of new players catapults the team's numbers into the mid-thirties. They are, in no particular order, Michelle Kirms, Todd Christensen, Justin Stadnick, Andrew McGowan, Jake Firmender, Sean Majkut, Topher Brown, Nate Tessier, Kellie Waterman, Jena Burgner, Maria Moses, Mike Coppolla, Brad Harriman, Drew Mayer, Dan Costa, Chris Christodoulou, Bethany Crawley, Claire Staines, Ali Theis, and transfer Fred Kapinos.

- Greer spends the semester in Australia.

- The team gets slapped around at Club Sectionals and is inundated by a swarm of biblical proportions.

- The team makes a remarkable rebound by going 6-0 at McGill's 'Unleashed & Untrained' tournament in Montreal. It is the team's 1st international appearance.

- New team name: Threat Level Midnight (A screenplay by Michael Scott). Phil takes on the role of 'Assistant to the Captain'.

- URI hosts a very successful Brisk Winds tournament, splitting into X & Y squads. URI Y loses to eventual champions Boston University in the semi-finals, going 5-2, while URI X loses to BU in the finals, going 6-1.

- URI takes 6th place at Dartmouth College's 'Frozen Disc of Death'.

- Co-Ed ultimate at URI becomes a thing of the past as the team makes the switch to Open and Women's teams. The men retain 'Threat Level Midnight', the women become 'Midnight Tide'. Meg Reardon and Becca Gold take up the leadership for the women.

 

Spring 2007

- Indoor winter practices being, with the team practicing as separate men's and women's squads for the first time. The women's team is bolstered by the addition of Kayla Rivard, Sarah Fitzgerald, Ro Fortier, and Justine Bucci.

- After much struggle, Crawley finds superb housing for 30+ players going to High Tide. The first-ever 'Fantasy Van' is created to allocate rides down south.

- With a delicious rest-stop at Claire???s house in Philly, as well as some accidental detours towards Ohio, the team heads south for High Tide, where the men go 5-2 and the women make their debut with a 2-4 record. Crawley, Burn, Graeme, and Mike Alice take a long walk down the beach with Brad.

- URI hosts the first 'Huckbuddy Invitational' ?? the first tournament at URI to feature Open and Women's divisions. The men take 3rd place, losing a close one to Lehigh in semifinals. The first alumni game is played, with URI besting the old guys.

- Spirits are crushed when Scranton's 'Black Lung Invitational' is canceled. An emergency party is held at Fairway to lift spirits and celebrate birthdays.

- Day 1 of Open sectionals goes well, with URI's Men???s A team losing only one game in pool play. Inclement weather delays day 2 of competition until the next week. URI loses to Yale in the final round, placing 6th, and missing a Regionals bid by one place.

- As the season ends McBurney, Crawley, Mike Alice, Drew, Meg, Becca, and Michelle all graduate.

- Phil and Tom step up to run the men's team, Maria and Casey take the reins of the women's team.

 

Some mens history:

Fall 2007 (As Told By Phil Denigris)

- Fred spends the semester in New Zealand. Graeme spends the year in China.

 

Spring 2008

- Fred returns from New Zealand.

- After spending a semester engulfed in post-graduation depression and struggling to survive in the seedy Rhode Island job market, Crawley returns to URI to shore up his biology credentials before applying to graduate school.

- The men's team spends seven weeks of intense winter condition in preparation for Huck of the Irish and High Tide.

- Huck of the Irish is a total washout??? with Saturday's games cancelled, URI and other teams resort to 'Kan Jam' and other games in the motel parking lot.

- While relaxing on Tybee Island, the team takes the time to make semi-finals of High Tide, defeating favored Minnestoa-Duluth in an intense quarterfinals game.

- The Huckbuddy Invite is a disappointment with an early quarterfinals loss. At Yale Cup, wracked by injuries URI makes a disappointing 1-5 showing with several narrow losses.

- With injuries healed, the Rhode Island men's team comes out firing at Sectionals, going 2-1 in pool play, losing a narrow, lightning-interrupted game versus UConn. They make a comeback on Sunday, tearing through Holy Cross, WPI, and Brown B on Sunday by a combined score of 45-22, securing their first bid to Regionals in eight years.

- Entering New England Regionals ranked 15th out of 16, the men's team is determined to break the top 10. After a loss to eventual champions Dartmouth, URI upsets Amherst in a come-from-behind win. Then, following a loss to Wesleyan in the next round, URI beats out Brandeis to tie for 9th place at Regionals.

 

Spring 2012 - RIUT ties for 5th at Regionals the best ranking since 2008. Captain Steve Panasuik 
Spring 2013- RIUT  places 9th at Regionals a ranking set back in 2008 Captain Sam Stefanik and Travis Winter

Spring 2014- RIUT places 8th at Regionals the second best ranking since placing 5th back in 2012. Captain Travis Winter. RIUT has a coach for the first time - Nick Logler

Spring 2015 - Captain Alex Jenkins, Kevin Wicke and Travis Winter