2012 Hall of Fame Slate of 8 Selected - Your Feedback Requested
Posted: November 26, 2012 03:31 PM
The Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce the Slate of 8 candidates selected for consideration for the 2012 Hall of Fame. This year, six Open and two Women candidates will be considered for up to five spots in the Hall of Fame. The eight candidates, along with a brief bio, includes:
OPEN DIVISION
WOMEN'S DIVISION
Kevin Cande
Kevin was a defensive and offensive workhorse who rose to notoriety while leading his DC-based team, Static, to multiple national appearances in the mid 80’s. He subsequently moved slightly north and became an integral part of the NY, NY dynasty from 1988 to 1992. During that time, Kevin won 2 National Championships, earning a reputation around the country as a rock-solid defensive stud and offensive shredder. He was known as a true sportsman and model ambassador of Spirit of the Game. Regardless of how high the stakes. Kevin was the rare player who was both feared as a player and completely respected by his opponents.
Joey Giampino
Joey Giampino was one of the greatest receivers ever to play the game of Ultimate. His grace, power, determination and timing were breathtaking. Joey was an unstoppable force, who at 6’1’’ out-jumped and out-dove the taller opponents he faced. He helped lead Windy City to two national championships (1983 &1986) and one world title (1984). Joey’s fiery showmanship was legendary; fellow competitors and spectators gathered on the sidelines in anticipation of spectacular display of athleticism. And he usually delivered. Joey finished his career in the early 90’s in Boston, playing for Big Ego Ultimate. Sadly, Joey passed away in 2011, leaving a rich legacy and countless memories of greatness.
Chris van Holmes
A tenacious defender, versatile thrower and aggressive cutter; CVH has dominated on the Ultimate field for 5 decades. Playing his first Nationals finals with Cornell in 1978, Chris recently competed in the USAU 2012 Grandmasters Championships this past summer. In his prime, CVH played for Windy City in the 80’s and Seattle Sockeye in the 90’s, winning the National Championship in 1983 and 1986 with Chicago and a world championship in 1997 with Seattle. He earned 3 more rings with the Kegworkers in the Masters division, 2 at Club championships and one at Worlds. CVH was a go-to handler who loved to cover the opponent’s toughest athletes. CVH’s longevity, titles, and multiple contributions as a youth coach, rules developer, observer, and organizer uniquely distinguish him.
Keay Nakae
A lightning quick all-around player, Keay was one of the few true stars who could be distinguished from the highly athletic and talented Santa Barbara Condor troops. Feared first as a top notch defender and later as an unstoppable handler, Keay was a master practitioner of his defensive craft. As he put it: "I wanted to shift the inherent disadvantage of playing one-on-one defense from just reaction to informed anticipation." And he did. Often referred to as the top defender of the mid-‘80s, Keay led the Condors to many victories with clutch blocks and unshakable transition offense. From the Hot Sox in the ‘70s to the Condors in the ‘80s (with a National Championship in 1981) to the Iguanas in the early ‘90s, he was respected and loved by his opponents, despite the fact that he shut most of them down. Keay was always a champion of Spirit of the Game. His believed that for Spirit of the Game to be relevant, it would be the responsibility of the high profile teams and players to exemplify the best of behaviors, so throughout his career he made sure that he did nothing less than that.
Dennis "Cribber" Warsen
Many consider Cribber the best player ever on the best team ever. A lanky lefty 6’ 6" speedster, he led powerhouse NY,NY to an unprecedented 6 National and 6 World Championships. Known as a hard-nosed defender who laid out his long body for blocks with the agility of a gymnast, he struck fear in the hearts of opponents by going deep and scoring at will after a defensive block. Early in his career, he intimidated opponents by pulling down hanging throws that were sitting at 10.5 feet. Later, he added outrageous throws to his arsenal, including 40 yard scoobers, 50 yard hammers, and looping forehand hucks from anywhere on the field. He ended his career in California playing with Double Happiness and Jam, leading those teams to finals appearances at Club championships and Worlds.
Finlay Waugh
A 6'5" sprinter with hops and fire in his eyes, Finlay was known around the country in the early eighties for his stifling, physical, relentless defense. He prided himself on being able to shut down the best teams’ toughest players, yet a block was never enough. His signature move was to catch what would be diving blocks for other players, but Fin wanted to add emphasis. His team, The Rude Boys, named it "the craw;" it usually led to roars of sideline approval and a quick goal. Beginning his career at Stanford University, where he founded the team in 1978, Finlay played briefly after graduation in 1979 for the San Jose Clingons and Jam. He then joined the Berkeley Flying Circus in 1981 and made a name for himself on the West Coast as a defensive star and prolific goal scorer. Moving to Boston in mid-1982, Finlay joined the Rude Boys and instantly became a leader of conditioning and team psyche. Nicknamed the "Franchise," he played a major role in the Rude Boys winning the National Championship in 1982 and the first World Ultimate Championships in 1983.
Molly Goodwin
Molly Goodwin was a Division 1 soccer player recruited to play ultimate for U.C Berkeley. Following that first College national title in ultimate in 1993, Molly was recruited by the Maine-iacs and earned 2 national titles in one year. Molly went on to win a total of 11 Ultimate Frisbee National & World Championships; the ONLY ultimate player to achieve that many titles. When Molly moved to Boston in 1995 to play with Godiva, she contributed to the team’s most prolific period of 7 USA Club Championships with a 61-1 record at Club Nationals. Added to the hardware are three WFDF titles with Maine-iacs in '93 & '94 and with Lady Godiva in '98. Molly is considered the most complete ultimate player in the history of the women’s game.
Nancy Leahy Glass
When you consider the history of Nemesis, Chicago's longstanding women's division national caliber team, THE player associated with this team for over 23 years is Nancy Leahy Glass. Nancy was an original team member, captain and the heart and soul of the team. She is the only women's player to appear in 16 consecutive Club Championships, including 4 semi appearances in ‘87, ‘95-97 and a finals appearance with Nemaheads ( Nemesis/Fishead combo team ) in 1986. She enjoyed coaching Northwestern Women's Ultimate and has been an active member of the coaching staff for the Ultimate Peace Organization. These accomplishments were achieved while raising 3 kids alongside Hall of Fame husband and Windy City Player, Mike Glass. Nancy's play was emblematic of her approach to the game; while fiercely competitive, she played fair; played tough and played with grit.
Congratulations to these Hall of Fame finalists. It's a high honor to be selected for this list. From this list, up to 5 individuals will be selected for induction into the Hall of Fame by the Voting Committee. All those in the Ultimate community who are familiar with these candidates are encouraged to provide any review and comment that they would like to have considered by the voters. This feedback, both laudatory and critical, is an important part of the committee's consideration and we encourage the candid participation of all those who have had personal experience with the candidates. All feedback will be kept strictly confidential and will be available only to the committee members as part of their deliberations.
Please complete a Google Docs survey (responses will be anonymous unless otherwise designated). This survey will close Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
Thank You,
Hall of Fame Vetting Subcommittee
- Suzanne Fields (Chair and Women's Coordinator)
- Robert "Nob" Rauch (Contributor Coordinator)
- David Barkan (Open Coordinator)
- Henry Thorne (USA Ultimate Board Liason)