2016 USA Ultimate College Championships Headed to Raleigh, N.C.; D-III Championships to Winston-Salem
Posted: May 7, 2015 10:51 AM
Colorado Springs, Colo. (May 7, 2015) – USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States, announced today the dates and locations for both its 2016 College Championship events. The 2016 Division I College Championships will be held in Raleigh, N.C., May 27-30. The 2016 Division III College Championships will take place May 21-22, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Division I College Championships will be held Friday through Monday at the WRAL Soccer Center and be hosted by the Triangle Flying Disc Association (TFDA) and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) in association with USA Ultimate. All games will take place at the WRAL Soccer Center, with the semifinal and final rounds making use of the on-site stadium.
"We're thrilled to host USA Ultimate's College Championships in the Triangle," said Jason H. Parker, president of the Triangle Flying Disc Association (TFDA). "The selection of the Triangle for College Nationals is further proof of a thriving youth, college and club ultimate community in the region and in the great state of North Carolina. Our community and our volunteers are excited to host the nation's best college teams, and we're looking forward to showcasing the best of what the Triangle has to offer."
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to host the 2016 USA Ultimate College Championships in Raleigh," said Jason Philbeck, assistant director for the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA), a division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. "With the huge popularity and success of the sport in Raleigh and the Triangle region of North Carolina, we feel that USA Ultimate picked the perfect setting to showcase the best collegiate teams from around the country. The community and local host partners will work closely together to provide an unforgettable championship experience. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Raleigh next year."
In 2013, the WRAL Soccer Center played host to the U.S. Open Ultimate Championships. That event was also hosted by TFDA and GRSA.
The 2016 Division III College Championships will be held at BB&T Soccer Park in Winston-Salem, N.C., located about 100 miles west of Raleigh. Triad Area Ultimate and Visit Winston-Salem will be the local organizing committee for the sixth-annual event.
"Triad Area Ultimate is excited to host the 2016 D-III College Championships in conjunction with Visit Winston-Salem and USA Ultimate," said Emily Kamischke of Triad Area Ultimate. "We are proud to be able to bring such a high level of ultimate to the Triad and North Carolina and hope everyone in the region will come out and watch the excitement with us!"
"Winston-Salem is delighted to be awarded the 2016 Division III College Championships. As we continue to grow the list of ultimate events in Winston-Salem, this is another great example of collaboration between USA Ultimate, Triad Area Ultimate, Visit Winston-Salem and the Twin City Youth Soccer Association," said Richard Geiger, President, Visit Winston-Salem. "Our community has a passion for sports and looks forward to showcasing our hospitality and destination offerings as we welcome ultimate competitors, their fans and the USA Ultimate staff to a pristine facility at BB&T Soccer Park in May 2016."
"BB&T Soccer Park and Twin City Youth Soccer Association are excited to be hosting the USA Ultimate Division III Championships in 2016," added Scott Wollaston, Twin City Youth Soccer Association Executive Director. "Our soccer park will be transformed into a fantastic location for ultimate, and our community looks forward to making sure all the participants have a great experience!"
Triad Area Ultimate and Visit Winston-Salem are also hosting this weekend’s USA Ultimate Southern High School Regional Championships where 16 boys’ teams and 12 girls’ teams will compete for regional titles.
Each year, USA Ultimate’s College Championships crown national champions in the men’s and women’s divisions. More than 700 teams comprised of more than 14,000 athletes compete in the college regular season and USA Ultimate Championship Series, with eyes on qualifying for the Division I or Division III College Championships.
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