IC Ultimate

2006 Callahan Winners

BY: Gwen Ambler
June 2006

The Callahan award was first established in 1996. For the past ten years the award has been voted on by the entire UPA college membership and honors athletes who combine stellar ultimate performances, outstanding leadership, and commitment to the sport.

From the beginning of the 2006 season Alex Snyder was one of the front runners for the Callahan award. As many predicted, she took home the prize after the Saturday night party at the championships. As part of the top five, three other remarkable women stood with Snyder on the podium that night: Pooja Shah, Lauren Casey, and Lakshmi Narayan. Unfortunately, Michelle Ng was not present.

	1. Alex Snyder (Colorado Kali) lead her team through a remarkable season, losing only two games all year and making it to the semifinals of the College Championships. Known for her precision breakmark throws, Snyder was a dominant force in her team's offense and usually attracted her opponent's best defender. Her height also makes her a threat in the air and she was a mainstay in the deep space for Kali's defense.
	2. Pooja Shah (UCLA BLU) was the top receiver and best defender on a team that skyrocketed to the top of the women's division during the last three years. Shah's focus and determination allowed her to consistently make big plays when UCLA had its toughest games. As a result, she shines in pressure situations and is the model for a true competitor.
	3. Michelle Ng (UC-Berkeley Pie Queens) captained her team with passion and dedication. As a reliable receiver, Ng made an impact for her team on the field, but perhaps her biggest contributions were behind the scenes. Ng took the term "ultimate community" to heart and made sincere connections with her teammates and competition at every opportunity.
	4. Lauren Casey (Stanford Superfly) was the cornerstone of her team's offense, leading Superfly to two back-to-back championships. Casey's throws consistently created opportunities for her teammate's athleticism to shine, while her composure with the disc added structure and discipline to the team's offense. Casey's affable nature makes her a natural leader and respected opponent.
	5. Lakshmi Narayan (Dartmouth Princess Layout) was the heart and soul of her team this year. When a number of veteran players graduated in 2005, Narayan was left to mold a young squad. Her contributions are best exemplified by the way she assisted or scored every goal in pre-quarters, leading Dartmouth to the quarterfinals of the championships for the first time in school history.

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Unless otherwise stated, all written content on this site is provided by Gwen Ambler
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