USA Ultimate

THE "JOHNNY APPLESEEDS"

Inducted: 2014 - Special Merit

While the sport of ultimate was developed at Columbia High School in 1968 and spread by 1970 to a couple neighboring high schools, it likely would have disappeared were it not for the efforts of a cadre of evangelistic early players to spread the game beyond central New Jersey high schools. We honor this critical core of individuals who were responsible for ultimate’s germination, ensuring that it took off in those critical years up through 1974, later dubbed the "Johnny Appleseeds" by Joel Silver. While there were many players who played a role in getting ultimate established, this group deserves special recognition for their highly impactful role in ensuring ultimate’s self-sustaining growth and penetration, taking it beyond the Maplewood parking lot.