Wisconsin Hodags Hall of Fame Inductees by Year
2025
Matthew Rebholz
Matt joined the Hodags as a Freshman after playing with Madison Club, where he was immediately recognized for his throwing ability. Once he joined the Hodags, it was clear that he would be a handler because of his “under control” style. He would end up moving to a center O-line handler, where he would stay during the later years of his Hodag playing days and throughout his club career. As a Hodag, he would also make appearances on D-points where zone was being played; his height, wingspan, and knowledge as a handler helped create a near-impenetrable cup. Matt was known by teammates and opponents for his steadiness, ability to move the disc against any defense, and his breakmark backhand huck.
Matt served one year as an officer and two years as a captain of the Hodags, with the team winning a championship both years he was a captain in 2007 and 2008. During his leadership, the Hodags were undoubtedly dominant, only losing 7 total games in his final three years as a Hodag. In 2008, he was the Callahan Nominee (finishing in the top 10) and named to the All-Region team.
His elite club career started the summer before he began college on Madison Club, a team that would finish 9th, tying the highest finish by a Madison club team to that date. A couple years later, he would be captaining Madison Club during a rebuilding period. After college, he moved to Boston, where he would join Ironside (Boston’s elite open team) for 6 seasons and 6 National Semifinals appearances, where he also served as a captain for three years. With Ironside, he would play at two World Championships and win the Farricker Spirit Award in 2011. Even after stepping away from playing elite open ultimate, he continued as a coach of Ironside, winning a National Championship in 2016. His career continued playing beach ultimate, masters coed, and goaltimate with many accolades.
Matt served one year as an officer and two years as a captain of the Hodags, with the team winning a championship both years he was a captain in 2007 and 2008. During his leadership, the Hodags were undoubtedly dominant, only losing 7 total games in his final three years as a Hodag. In 2008, he was the Callahan Nominee (finishing in the top 10) and named to the All-Region team.
His elite club career started the summer before he began college on Madison Club, a team that would finish 9th, tying the highest finish by a Madison club team to that date. A couple years later, he would be captaining Madison Club during a rebuilding period. After college, he moved to Boston, where he would join Ironside (Boston’s elite open team) for 6 seasons and 6 National Semifinals appearances, where he also served as a captain for three years. With Ironside, he would play at two World Championships and win the Farricker Spirit Award in 2011. Even after stepping away from playing elite open ultimate, he continued as a coach of Ironside, winning a National Championship in 2016. His career continued playing beach ultimate, masters coed, and goaltimate with many accolades.
Jeff "Jethro" Yu
Jeff was UW team captain several of his years. He was an amazing athlete. He was one of those guys who could “change direction in midair” while diving. His throws were laser accurate. He was a demanding and hard captain and his intensity was legendary among teammates. He led by example and expected a lot from any team he played on or coached. His athletic prowess would land him a spot after high school on Boston area's best club teams, primarily as a defender. He was a member of Boston teams that lost to the Great New York teams late in tournaments, but it was difficult to verify records and rosters going that far back. However, when Death or Glory was formed, he was a member and would be part of 3 National Championship teams. Notably, he tore his ACL at Nationals in semi-finals in 1996, but would return to play for DoG and help them win another title in 1997. He would also win a Masters Title with New York Squash in 1995 and a bronze medal representing the USA at the 1998 World Ultimate & GUTS Championships.
In addition to his ultimate playing career, Jeff coached Amherst Regional High School in the late 90’s and won the National High School Championship as an assistant coach for Amherst in 1998. Unfortunately, Jeff passed away approximately 5 years ago.
In addition to his ultimate playing career, Jeff coached Amherst Regional High School in the late 90’s and won the National High School Championship as an assistant coach for Amherst in 1998. Unfortunately, Jeff passed away approximately 5 years ago.
2024
Sam Sacket
Sam was a “buy-in” player. He never took a day or even a play off. He always played at full speed. He was a good teammate that led through both his words and his actions. He also was a beacon of the Spirit of the Game from a young age. 40 years later, Sam is still active in the Ultimate Community as a player, leader and ambassador, ultimate community. He simply “lives and breathes ultimate.”
While at UW, he was a leader and all around player, able to play at a high level as a handler, cutter, and defensive stopper. He was part of the first UW team to win Sectionals and Regionals. He was part of the first team to garner a #1 ranking from UPA (n/k/a USA Ultimate) going into Nationals in 1990, where the team would ultimately finish 5th.
During and after college, Sam’s Ultimate career continued in Madison and beyond, where he has served in leadership roles regularly and competed at a high level. Sam’s dedication and contributions to Ultimate go way beyond the field (which he hasn’t left behind) including being one of the MUFA founders, and co-organizing 1993 Worlds in Madison, where he served as Director of Player Relations. He has also coached at many levels from youth to college. Throughout his career, Sam has often been considered the best player on his team and, rather than compete with more established teams for accolades, he has dedicated his talents on and off the field to growing the game.
While at UW, he was a leader and all around player, able to play at a high level as a handler, cutter, and defensive stopper. He was part of the first UW team to win Sectionals and Regionals. He was part of the first team to garner a #1 ranking from UPA (n/k/a USA Ultimate) going into Nationals in 1990, where the team would ultimately finish 5th.
During and after college, Sam’s Ultimate career continued in Madison and beyond, where he has served in leadership roles regularly and competed at a high level. Sam’s dedication and contributions to Ultimate go way beyond the field (which he hasn’t left behind) including being one of the MUFA founders, and co-organizing 1993 Worlds in Madison, where he served as Director of Player Relations. He has also coached at many levels from youth to college. Throughout his career, Sam has often been considered the best player on his team and, rather than compete with more established teams for accolades, he has dedicated his talents on and off the field to growing the game.
Robert "Rhubis" Crowley
As one of his teammates wrote: “Rhubis was tireless as an offensive handler for the Hodags, but could also produce crucial lay out blocks. He was a field general and led by example, while also rallying the team with inspirational speeches in the huddle. He was also a model for how to deal with the different personalities on the team from the serious to the less serious to the sane to the tweaker. He was instrumental during the construction of talent on the early teams with his recruiting style and level of play. He worked very hard, but also knew how to take it easy. He is a major reason I fell in love with playing, and the Hodags.”
Rhubis started playing ultimate for the Madison Club Team in the fall of 1990. The University of Wisconsin Ultimate Team was a burgeoning program that had something of a National coming-out party at the 1993 Stanford Invitational, led by Rhubis as one of the team’s stalwarts – with a squad of only 13 players, they would beat UCSB and hang with UNC-Wilmington, who would win Nationals that spring. In 1994, Rhubis would captain the UW-Ultimate team and the Hodags were officially born, following a debate at the capital where legislators discussed adopting the Hodag as the official state mythical beast. That year, the team grew to 25 players with Rhubis’ knack for recruiting, and he would prove his dedication to the young players by going to Kansas Fools Fest to play with 12 rookies in 45 degree rainy weather, while more experienced players stayed in Madison.
After graduating, he would go onto captain the Madison Club Team in 1996-1997 and was a pivotal player that would help lead Madison Club to their first National’s Appearance and would play mentor to many late 90’s early 00’s Hodags, both because of his incredible play and spirit. As one of the key players, Madison Club would qualify for Nationals four times as he wrapped up his competitive Ultimate career. As a club teammate commented: “Rhubis was the glue of the Club Team’s D-line. Often put on a line with college players with limited experience, he would pull, he would guard one of the opposing team’s best players, and if there was a turn, he was often catching every other pass, yet never seemed tired.”
As a lasting legacy to his older brother Kevin, Rhubis would organize the Kevin Crowley Invitational Tournament in 1996, which was run every Memorial Day Weekend for 7 years. Notably Rhubis’ team “Puking Dogs” (named after his brother who puked from exhaustion at his first Nationals) was crowned champion each year. Later, Rhubis would, with Opie, create the Kevin Crowley Award to further his brother Kevin’s legacy.
Rhubis started playing ultimate for the Madison Club Team in the fall of 1990. The University of Wisconsin Ultimate Team was a burgeoning program that had something of a National coming-out party at the 1993 Stanford Invitational, led by Rhubis as one of the team’s stalwarts – with a squad of only 13 players, they would beat UCSB and hang with UNC-Wilmington, who would win Nationals that spring. In 1994, Rhubis would captain the UW-Ultimate team and the Hodags were officially born, following a debate at the capital where legislators discussed adopting the Hodag as the official state mythical beast. That year, the team grew to 25 players with Rhubis’ knack for recruiting, and he would prove his dedication to the young players by going to Kansas Fools Fest to play with 12 rookies in 45 degree rainy weather, while more experienced players stayed in Madison.
After graduating, he would go onto captain the Madison Club Team in 1996-1997 and was a pivotal player that would help lead Madison Club to their first National’s Appearance and would play mentor to many late 90’s early 00’s Hodags, both because of his incredible play and spirit. As one of the key players, Madison Club would qualify for Nationals four times as he wrapped up his competitive Ultimate career. As a club teammate commented: “Rhubis was the glue of the Club Team’s D-line. Often put on a line with college players with limited experience, he would pull, he would guard one of the opposing team’s best players, and if there was a turn, he was often catching every other pass, yet never seemed tired.”
As a lasting legacy to his older brother Kevin, Rhubis would organize the Kevin Crowley Invitational Tournament in 1996, which was run every Memorial Day Weekend for 7 years. Notably Rhubis’ team “Puking Dogs” (named after his brother who puked from exhaustion at his first Nationals) was crowned champion each year. Later, Rhubis would, with Opie, create the Kevin Crowley Award to further his brother Kevin’s legacy.
Jonathan "Opie" O'Connell
Jonathan “Opie” O’Connell (1998-2001) arrived on the scene in the fall of 1997 as a loudmouth freshman from Newton, MA but made an immediate impact as a handler for a senior led team coming off successful national performances, but his Ultimate career had started before he arrived at UW. While at Newton North High School, where he was a captain for two years, he helped organize and then won the first Massachusetts State High School Championship in 1997. He was also on the bronze medal winning USA Juniors team in 1996.
His first spring with the Hodags, 1998, the team would fail to qualify for Nationals (with Opie sacrificing his body to hypothermia and unable to play in the game to go) and would then lose many experienced leaders. Opie’s tenure as a captain began in the fall of 1998 with a Freshman and Sophomore laden team, and he quickly became the undisputed leader of the Hodags, where he remained at the helm for 3 years. He used his elite High School background to inject new ideas and structure and improve upon an already successful program. Many of the things that Opie started are still in place today and become synonymous with Wisconsin Ultimate and the Hodag tradition. He would usher in the “baby blue” uniform color and Hodag Logo created by Will Henry, now both hallmarks of the Hodags. He organized tryouts, recruited a future Hodag Captain from Newton North and on campus, and created a newsletter to help raise money for the Hodags, created a committee of captains and leaders to select the team, and set up the first Blue/Black scrimmage. In addition, he would usher in an expansion of UW Ultimate, by starting the first “B-team”, which is now in its 23rd season, and served as a jumping off platform for many future Hodags, including multiple captains. The Hodags would fail to qualify for Nationals in 1999, advancing to the game-to-go, but that would be the last time they failed to qualify. Opie’s leadership would guide the program back to National prominence with a 10th place finish in 2000, including an upset in pool play of #1 seed and eventual champion Brown, and to Quarters in 2001. He would earn recognition for his superior leadership, spirit, and play as an o-line handler by finishing 5th in the Callahan voting in 2001.
Opie also played for Madison Club and helped garner spots for Hodags on those teams providing invaluable experience for those players, and was on the first Madison team to qualify for Nationals. He would go on to play for Nationals qualifying Washington DC’s Electric Pig after college and serve as a captain for three years. As a dignified Alumnus, and with the assistance of Robert “Rhubis” Crowley, he started the first annually given award, the Kevin Crowley Spirit Award, that has awarded over $5,000 to past and current Hodags. He also coached high school in the DC area from 2003-2005 and helped organize the Juniors league of the WAFC, which is now in its 20th year. His most recent foray, back into ultimate, was to join Black Cans (DC Area) for Worlds in the Grand Masters division, where he would place 3rd in Limerick, Ireland.
His first spring with the Hodags, 1998, the team would fail to qualify for Nationals (with Opie sacrificing his body to hypothermia and unable to play in the game to go) and would then lose many experienced leaders. Opie’s tenure as a captain began in the fall of 1998 with a Freshman and Sophomore laden team, and he quickly became the undisputed leader of the Hodags, where he remained at the helm for 3 years. He used his elite High School background to inject new ideas and structure and improve upon an already successful program. Many of the things that Opie started are still in place today and become synonymous with Wisconsin Ultimate and the Hodag tradition. He would usher in the “baby blue” uniform color and Hodag Logo created by Will Henry, now both hallmarks of the Hodags. He organized tryouts, recruited a future Hodag Captain from Newton North and on campus, and created a newsletter to help raise money for the Hodags, created a committee of captains and leaders to select the team, and set up the first Blue/Black scrimmage. In addition, he would usher in an expansion of UW Ultimate, by starting the first “B-team”, which is now in its 23rd season, and served as a jumping off platform for many future Hodags, including multiple captains. The Hodags would fail to qualify for Nationals in 1999, advancing to the game-to-go, but that would be the last time they failed to qualify. Opie’s leadership would guide the program back to National prominence with a 10th place finish in 2000, including an upset in pool play of #1 seed and eventual champion Brown, and to Quarters in 2001. He would earn recognition for his superior leadership, spirit, and play as an o-line handler by finishing 5th in the Callahan voting in 2001.
Opie also played for Madison Club and helped garner spots for Hodags on those teams providing invaluable experience for those players, and was on the first Madison team to qualify for Nationals. He would go on to play for Nationals qualifying Washington DC’s Electric Pig after college and serve as a captain for three years. As a dignified Alumnus, and with the assistance of Robert “Rhubis” Crowley, he started the first annually given award, the Kevin Crowley Spirit Award, that has awarded over $5,000 to past and current Hodags. He also coached high school in the DC area from 2003-2005 and helped organize the Juniors league of the WAFC, which is now in its 20th year. His most recent foray, back into ultimate, was to join Black Cans (DC Area) for Worlds in the Grand Masters division, where he would place 3rd in Limerick, Ireland.
Dan Heijmen
Dan Heijmen, joined the Hodags as one of two Freshman in the fall of 2002. Although there were some questions about his disc skills early on and whether he would develop quickly enough to contribute to a veteran-laden team, his eagerness to learn, ability to take criticism, and sneaky athleticism forced Hodag leadership to take notice.
Dan would go on to contribute mostly as a role player on the d-line that year but never wavered in his commitment to improve and excel. He would go on to earn a leadership role with the Hodags as a captain in 2006 and 2007. Dan would probably tell you that it was his co-captains that deserve the credit, but he was, as one teammate put it, the “face of the franchise and spiritual leader” of the Hodags in those years. To add to his leadership qualities, he was an amazing player. Although capable of being a shutdown defender, which he played earlier in his career, he was a primary o-line cutter by his fifth-year on a team that was nearly perfect in winning the National Championship. There was simply no role that he couldn’t fill on the ultimate field. His skill on the field was recognized by being named to 1st Team All-Region in 2006 and 2007 and being selected as the Callahan Award Winner in 2007. His recognition for the Callahan Award showed not only his excellence as a player but also the community’s respect for his spirited approach to the game. During his college career, he would play in Finals three times, winning twice.
His club career started in 2005 with Sub-Zero, where he would help Sub-Zero regain dominance of the Region with four consecutive Regional Championships. He then moved to New York and joined PoNY. After his arrival in 2009, PoNY would qualify for the Club National Championships three straight years.
Dan gave back to the community as coach of high school and YCC teams. He would also go on to win Beach Ultimate Championships in 2015 and 2017 as well as win a Masters Championship in 2018 with Surly.
Dan would go on to contribute mostly as a role player on the d-line that year but never wavered in his commitment to improve and excel. He would go on to earn a leadership role with the Hodags as a captain in 2006 and 2007. Dan would probably tell you that it was his co-captains that deserve the credit, but he was, as one teammate put it, the “face of the franchise and spiritual leader” of the Hodags in those years. To add to his leadership qualities, he was an amazing player. Although capable of being a shutdown defender, which he played earlier in his career, he was a primary o-line cutter by his fifth-year on a team that was nearly perfect in winning the National Championship. There was simply no role that he couldn’t fill on the ultimate field. His skill on the field was recognized by being named to 1st Team All-Region in 2006 and 2007 and being selected as the Callahan Award Winner in 2007. His recognition for the Callahan Award showed not only his excellence as a player but also the community’s respect for his spirited approach to the game. During his college career, he would play in Finals three times, winning twice.
His club career started in 2005 with Sub-Zero, where he would help Sub-Zero regain dominance of the Region with four consecutive Regional Championships. He then moved to New York and joined PoNY. After his arrival in 2009, PoNY would qualify for the Club National Championships three straight years.
Dan gave back to the community as coach of high school and YCC teams. He would also go on to win Beach Ultimate Championships in 2015 and 2017 as well as win a Masters Championship in 2018 with Surly.
2023
Kevin Crowley
Kevin Crowley (1989-1993) started his Hodag career as one of the best players in an era of Ultimate where roles were less defined, but he excelled at all facets of the game. His throws, cutting and defense were all elite level and after his first year he was the team’s best player. He was captain of the Hodags in 1992 and 1993 seasons.
The Hodags would qualify for Nationals each year he was on the team. Unfortunately, Kevin's ultimate career would be cut short as a result of his unexpected death. Still 30 years later, former teammates continue to come together annually for the “Kevin Crowley Ultimate Invitational” to celebrate his life, and he would become the inspiration behind the “Kevin Crowley” award.
The Hodags would qualify for Nationals each year he was on the team. Unfortunately, Kevin's ultimate career would be cut short as a result of his unexpected death. Still 30 years later, former teammates continue to come together annually for the “Kevin Crowley Ultimate Invitational” to celebrate his life, and he would become the inspiration behind the “Kevin Crowley” award.
Brad Wendt
If you played ultimate in Madison in the 1980s and early 90s, chances are likely that Brad was your captain and coach. Many would refer to him as the “Zeus” of Madison Ultimate. His name carrying cache at least well into the new century. Brad’s most significant contributions to the UW Ultimate program would come not as a player, although he certainly was one of the better players on the early teams, but more specifically as a teacher, coach, and organizer. He played many years as one could continue to play while not being a student under the rules of the time. He was also a leader of Madison based club teams for many years. When he was done playing competitive college ultimate, he would continue to guide the University of Wisconsin team as a coach in 1990 to its first College Championship Tournament, and would coach various other Madison area teams both formally and informally in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Brad was the original strategist and teacher of the game in Madison. In an age where there were no Smartphones or Apps to assist, Brad would painstakingly go through audio play-by-play, recorded on a cassette during games, to compile statistics for his teams to use in furtherance of strategies. Teaching all he knew about throwing, offensive and defensive strategies to any one that was willing to learn. However his lessons did not stop on the fields as he also would instill positive and respectful spirit of the game, commitment to a burgeoning sport, and furtherance of the social aspects of being part of a community of ultimate players, that was pivotal to growing the sport in Madison.
His organizational aptitude, and willingness to host dozens of tournaments, would make Madison a hotbed of ultimate. Brad served as the overall competition organizer for the 1993 WFDF World Club Championships, hosted in Madison. He would serve as Sectional Coordinator for 12 years and organize multiple other Ultimate (and other flying disc) tournaments. Madison still rivals much larger cities in terms of Ultimate participation, that has one of the largest ultimate frisbee associations (MUFA) in the country, which included Brad as a founder and longtime President. For these reasons, Brad is considered by some to be the most important historical figure for the sport in Madison and his contributions to Ultimate in Madison are immeasurable.
Brad was the original strategist and teacher of the game in Madison. In an age where there were no Smartphones or Apps to assist, Brad would painstakingly go through audio play-by-play, recorded on a cassette during games, to compile statistics for his teams to use in furtherance of strategies. Teaching all he knew about throwing, offensive and defensive strategies to any one that was willing to learn. However his lessons did not stop on the fields as he also would instill positive and respectful spirit of the game, commitment to a burgeoning sport, and furtherance of the social aspects of being part of a community of ultimate players, that was pivotal to growing the sport in Madison.
His organizational aptitude, and willingness to host dozens of tournaments, would make Madison a hotbed of ultimate. Brad served as the overall competition organizer for the 1993 WFDF World Club Championships, hosted in Madison. He would serve as Sectional Coordinator for 12 years and organize multiple other Ultimate (and other flying disc) tournaments. Madison still rivals much larger cities in terms of Ultimate participation, that has one of the largest ultimate frisbee associations (MUFA) in the country, which included Brad as a founder and longtime President. For these reasons, Brad is considered by some to be the most important historical figure for the sport in Madison and his contributions to Ultimate in Madison are immeasurable.
Ron Kubalanza
From the Chicago area, Ron was dominant on the ultimate field, making the starting line-up in his freshman year. In a more positionless era, he played on both the D line and the O line every year he played and was largely considered the best cutter, best handler, and among the best defenders on the team. Ron was a smart, aggressive, tireless cutter with excellent throws and confidence. What set Ron apart in college was that he was always the fastest person on the field, and he knew how to use it. Over time, he became a master thrower, with complete command of multiple throws. He was an integral and featured player on the 1996 semi-finals team. He would serve as a captain for the Hodags during his tenure, and is known for his unyielding expectations of both himself and his teammates. His teammates knew that even though he rarely spoke in the huddle, when he did, he could say in a few perfect and intense words what the team needed to hear. Ron rallied the Hodags to second half comebacks more than once with one-sentence huddle speeches. (And if you were his teammate, you probably still remember times he called the team out for slacking!) He managed to be a ferocious competitor, supportive teammate, a winner, and genuinely good guy, all at the same time.
After playing for the Hodags, Ron played on numerous club teams. For Madison Club he was the most important player for the first-ever Madison club team to win Club Regionals, throwing the winning goal on double-game point. That club season, the example of his play was one of the catalysts that showed future Hodag leaders what it took to play at the highest levels of ultimate, helping lead to the program’s first championship. He also played as a starter for Chicago, DC, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver club teams, and qualified for Nationals in the open division 14 times. For a few of those seasons, he was considered by some to be the best player in the world. He has National Championships in the open and masters division.
In addition to recently coaching the Hodags, he has coached various teams throughout the years from middle, high school, and college teams to nationals level club teams in the open and women’s division and even the Swiss National Team.
After playing for the Hodags, Ron played on numerous club teams. For Madison Club he was the most important player for the first-ever Madison club team to win Club Regionals, throwing the winning goal on double-game point. That club season, the example of his play was one of the catalysts that showed future Hodag leaders what it took to play at the highest levels of ultimate, helping lead to the program’s first championship. He also played as a starter for Chicago, DC, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver club teams, and qualified for Nationals in the open division 14 times. For a few of those seasons, he was considered by some to be the best player in the world. He has National Championships in the open and masters division.
In addition to recently coaching the Hodags, he has coached various teams throughout the years from middle, high school, and college teams to nationals level club teams in the open and women’s division and even the Swiss National Team.
2022
Hector Valdivia
Read more about Hector Valdivia’s rich Hodag history: