USA Ultimate

The five finalists for the 2011 Callahan Award in the men’s division were announced during halftime of the women’s semifinal between Oregon Fugue and Michigan Flywheel at the USAU College Championships. George Stubbs of Harvard won the 2011 Callahan Award, which recognizes college ultimate’s most valuable player. The four other finalists were Cole Sullivan of Florida, Cody Bjorklund of Oregon, Russell Wynne of the University of California-Santa Cruz, and Nicky Spiva of Colorado College.

The Finalists

PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew Davis [freeheelimages.com/usau]

All five finalists for this year’s Callahan Award are extremely deserving candidates. Both Oregon and Florida graduated a number of high profile players last year and it was therefore expected that this would be a rebuilding year for those programs, but Cody Bjorklund and Cole Sullivan led their respective teams to impressive regular season showings. Russell Wynne, who won both a World and National championship in the club division this summer with the Bay Area’s Revolver, helped bring UCSC back to national prominence by winning the competitive Southwest Region. Nicky Spiva helped build the men’s ultimate program at Colorado College, bringing it from relative obscurity to national prominence by winning Centex and only losing three games during the regular season.

All four of these finalists possess the superb combination of skill, athleticism, and leadership that the Callahan Award seeks to recognize.
 

The 2011 Callahan Award Winner: George Stubbs

PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew Davis [freeheelimages.com/usau]

The 2011 Callahan Award winner George Stubbs continually distinguished himself throughout the season with his stellar on-field performances and exemplary leadership. Stubbs led Harvard to a 20-11 regular season record, with wins over some of the nation’s top teams. With many of Redline’s top handlers out for much of the season, Harvard looked to George to provide most of its offensive firepower, a role that he filled with ease by consistently making difficult throws look effortless. Additionally, Stubbs is one of the top athletes in the college game and his speed allows him to be both a shutdown defender and a lethal cutter. George Stubbs has clearly been the top player at the College Championships, consistently throwing on-point hucks as well as making huge plays downfield.

Perhaps most importantly, Stubbs has been an outstanding leader for his team.  He leads by example and plays in a way that makes his teammates better. When accepting the Callahan Award, Stubbs himself said that the most important thing he has learned in his time on Redline is how to be a team player.

George is the first player from Harvard to win the Callahan Award and is a credit to both his team and the sport of ultimate. George Stubbs exemplifies the spirit of the Callahan Award by combining "superior athleticism with outstanding sportsmanship, leadership and dedication to the sport of ultimate." Congratulations to George Stubbs and the other finalists for the 2011 Callahan Award.