USA open

Profile

Team USA is represented by the Santa Barbara Condors, America’s strongest and longest-running Ultimate team. The Condors were founded in 1975 and in 1977 the Condors won the first East-West Championship title in the United States. Their success has continued unabated and most recently the Condors won the 2000 and 2001 UPA National Championships and the 2002 World Club Championships. Last season they finished second at the UPA Championships, losing to the Vancouver club team Furious George. Furious will be representing Team Canada this year and a possible rematch will certainly prove exciting.

USA is expected to perform well against tough competition and should be among the favorites to win the tournament. The Condors have never represented the United States in international competition and are looking forward to competing in the team’s first World Championship. A tournament win here provides many on the team the only title they do not already posses. "Right now we have one goal in mind, which is to win Worlds," says a team representative.

USA on Offense

The Condors are a unique team in that they do not have captains or coaches call substitutions. Players are expected to know their role on the team and to stay in the game as needed. A tired player will call himself out of the game. USA will run a traditional American vertical stack offense as well as a few variations on a more traditionally European horizontal stack offense. The Condors practice frequently in windy situations and are usually superior to their opponents in adverse conditions. 

Look for these players when the Condors have the disc:

Adam Glimme #2, nicknamed "Cannon." Glimme is one of the more underrated offensive players in the game. He gets open frequently and rarely makes a turnover. When he scores a goal the fans should shout "boom!"

Kevin Buchanan #12 is a young, fast left-handed player who makes big plays on offense.

James Studarus #00 is a tall veteran handler with excellent throws as a lefty or righty and is always around the disc.

Ryan Yarbrough #9 is tall and athletic with great ups and closing speed. Yarbrough is the team’s newest captain but has been a primary player with the team for years.

USA on Defense

Both USA captains are specialists in man-to-man defense. The Condors team excels in handblocks and footblocks and is known for quality man defense and a four-man cup zone defense when necessary. They will play faithful man D and do not poach or switch on cuts very often. Look for Hollywood to get one footblock or handblock a game.

Look for these players when the opponent has the disc:

Mike Namkung #26 has one of the quickest jumps in the game and is capable of amazing defensive blocks. He will get the team a lot of turnovers.

Greg Husak #83, nicknamed "Hollywood" has been a force offensively and defensively for years and comes up big late in games.

Brian Bogle #20, nicknamed "Butter" and Rhett Nichols #6 are fast and athletic defenders with vertical range.

Team Colors:
Red, White and Blue

Roster:
24 players

Captains:
Mike Namkung and Ryan Yarbrough

Website:
http://www.santabarbaraultimate.com/condors