Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Elizabeth Mosquera Wins 2019 PUL MVP

Congratulations to Elizabeth Mosquera (Medellin Revolution) for winning the 2019 Premier Ultimate League Most Valuable Player (or "M.V.PULayer").

Mosquera led the league as +27 in +/- and 16 D's. Mosquera was 2nd in most points played (124). According to PUL stats, Mosquera caught 100 passes - including 16 goals - and only dropped 1. She also helped her team Revo win the inaugural Premier Ultimate League championship.  





Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Deschutes Brewery Named Title Sponsor of AUDL 2020 Season

Brewery not named Surly to be title sponsor of AUDL 2020 season.

Deschutes (pronounced Da-Shootz) Brewery was announced as the presenting partner and official beer of the American Ultimate Disc League in 2020. AUDL 2020 jerseys will have the Deschutes insignia on them as well. Ultiworld reported the 1-year deal was low to mid six figures brokered by Maestroe Sports & Entertainment.

Deschutes, the 10th largest craft brewery in the United States, is headquartered in Bend, Oregon - a state where AUDL plans to start a team. They also have a presence on the East Coast with a tasting room in Roanoke, Virginia. The etymology of the brewery's name is the Deschutes River, in central Oregon, which is a major tributary of the Columbia River.

Minnesota Wind Chill are currently owned by Surly Brewing, the 34th largest U.S. craft brewing company. Surly is also a long-time supporter of masters ultimate teams in the Twin Cities which are named after, sponsored, and suds supplied by the brewery.

Current advertising shows Deschutes Brewery appealing to ultimate players:


Only one team - Detroit Mechanix - out of the 21 AUDL teams in 2019 season play at a high school, which will definitely impact Detroit's ability to serve Deschutes selections; Detroit played at Grand Rapids Christian High School in past seasons.

Of note, Cleats and Cufflinks podcast [episode 44; April 2016] indicated that a Major League Ultimate would not accept a "vice" brand (e.g. beer, alcohol, tobacco) as a jersey sponsor because of inappropriateness message to youth. They could sponsor the league, just not the jersey.  MLU folded after their 2016 season.


Sunday, August 11, 2019

New York Empire Win AUDL 2019 Championship

New York Empire won the American Ultimate Disc League 2019 championship today over Dallas Roughnecks. The Empire went (12-0) in the regular season, won the East Division Championship, their semifinal at AUDL Championship Weekend 8 and the championship game to post an undefeated season at (15-0).
This is New York Empire's first AUDL title.


Friday, August 09, 2019

AUDL Championship Weekend 8 (2019)

The final 3 games of the American Ultimate Disc League 2019 season will take place this weekend at the AUDL Championship Weekend. AUDL's 8th season began in early April.

The final four teams out of 21 AUDL teams advanced to the AUDL Championship Weekend. New York Empire (12-0; 1-0) returns for the 2nd consecutive trip, Dallas Roughnecks (8-4; 1-0) return for their 4th time in a row, Indianapolis AlleyCats (8-4; 1-0) return for the first time since 2012, and San Diego Growlers (10-2; 1-0) advance for the first time in franchise history.

Three division champions advance to AUDL Championship Weekend along with perennial South Division champion Dallas Roughnecks, who won over the top seed in the South Division Championship game - the only upset by seeding in the AUDL playoffs.


The Championship Weekend returns to California. This time, though, it's not at the 18,000-seat Avaya Stadium (like in 2015); the championship games will be played at the football stadium of Foothill Community College, with ~5500 capacity -- the home field of the San Jose Spiders.


Thursday, August 08, 2019

History of AUDL Championship Locations

The American Ultimate Disc League championship is this upcoming weekend in California. It's the 8th annual championship in AUDL history.

Below is a history of each AUDL championship's location.
2012: Detroit, MI @ Pontiac Silverdome

2013: Chicago, IL @ Lane Tech High School Stadium

2014: Toronto, ON @ Varsity Stadium One

2015: San Jose, CA @ Avaya Stadium

2016: Madison, WI @ Breese Stevens Field

2017: Montreal, QC @ Claude Robillard Sports Complex

2018: Madison, WI @ Breese Stevens Field

2019: Los Altos Hills, CA @ Foothill College Stadium

Hosting of AUDL Championship by Division
 AUDL Division  Qty
 Midwest  4
 East  2
 West  2
 South  0


Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Detroit Mechanix Post Winless Season, Again

Just like in 2014, 2015 and 2018, the 2019 Detroit Mechanix did it again. Zero wins in 12 regular season games for the 8-year team. This is Detroit's 4th winless season in the American Ultimate Disc League.
The Detroit Mechanix end their 8th consecutive losing season with a average of scoring 14.5 goals and giving up just over 23 (23.08) goals per loss. Unsurprisingly, Detroit finished in last place of the Midwest Division again.

The Mechanix winless streak is now at 36 games and 829 days. Detroit has not won an AUDL game since April 29, 2017 - an early 2017 season win over Chicago Wildfire.


Tuesday, August 06, 2019

DC Ultimate Player Rowan McDonnell Amazes With Athletic Score

During Washington D.C.'s Truck Stop semifinal of USA Ultimate's U.S. Open Championships on Saturday August 3, DC's Rowan McDonnell displayed incredible wherewithal to jump, hop and toe the end zone sideline while tracking and eventually catching a hanging disc.


[video via USA Ultimate/ESPN3]

ESPN SportsCenter agrees:


Similar athleticism was seen by Jesse Shofner in 2018.

My attempt to update Rowan to Th-rowan has not caught on, but maybe now "Toe-In" McDonnell? Rowan commented on his athletic catch: "I don't know. just another way to catch the frisbee.'

Truck Stop would lose the semifinal to New York PoNY by the score of 10-14, and finish in 3rd place at the 2019 U.S. Open that was hosted in Blaine, Minnesota.