Washington and Florida Commit to the NCUS

Cultimate has received its first commitments to the National Collegiate Ultimate Series from the University of Florida Men's team and the University of Washington Women's team; each agreeing to attend the three Premier Championship Events in 2008. Having only attended two Premier Events each in 2007 (Florida to Trouble In Vegas and Centex and Washington to Trouble In Vegas and The Stanford Invite), the NCUS Grand Prize provided the extra incentive for these teams to commit to all 3 events in 2008.

Both teams are contenders for the National Title in their respective Division heading into the Spring Season. 2006 National Champion Florida, having made it to the Semi-Finals in Columbus a season ago before falling to Colorado, returns Kurt Gibson, who is among the pre-season Callahan favorites. Additionally, Florida will have 8 players from its Title run in 2006, and 14 players from the team that handed National Champion Wisconsin its only loss on the way to winning Trouble In Vegas in 2007. Brodie Smith (2007 Atlantic Coast All-Region) and Cole Sullivan (2007 Atlantic Coast Freshman of the Year) will give Gibson plenty of opportunities to showcase the best flick in the country. In 2006, Florida managed wins at Trouble In Vegas and The Stanford Invite, and made the Finals at Centex, results that, if repeated, would have them atop the National Collegiate Ultimate Series Final Standings in 2008.

Washington, meanwhile, is a team being mentioned on everyone's short list of contenders in the Women's Division, in spite of missing the UPA Championships in 2007, and not even a lock to advance from the difficult Northwest Region. Washington has not been back to the UPA Championships since Miranda Roth led the team to the Finals in 2005.

Roth, now the coach in Seattle, will look to lead a team back to Nationals that features several players who were instrumental in Seattle Riot's return to the UPA Club Championships Final in Sarasota. Shannon O'Malley and Claire Suver, with another year of experience under their belt, could be as good as any duo in the country. Nora Carr and Lindsey Wilson, fresh off collecting a Mixed Division Championship in 2007 with Shazam Returns, also join the team.

With two teams that should be as good as any in their Division, either Florida or Washington could be the team to take home the National Collegiate Ultimate Series Grand Prize, perhaps just a stepping stone on their way to collecting a National Championship later in the Season.