FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 9, 2009

BOULDER, Colo. – The Ultimate Players Association, the National Governing Body for the sport of Ultimate in the United States, today announced the eight finalists for the UPA Hall of Fame Class of 2009. The Hall of Fame Vetting Committee has reviewed the applications for this year's class, along with the Peer Pool recommendations, and generated the following “Slate of Eight” candidates for consideration by the Hall of Fame Voting Committee:

Contributors Division: Andy Borinstein (New York City)
Open Division: David Barkan (San Anselmo, Calif.), Ken Dobyns (New York City), Robert Evans (Needham, Mass.), Mike Glass (The Dalles, Ore.), Pat King (San Carlos, Calif.), and Chris Van Holmes (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Women’s Division: Lori Van Holmes (Minneapolis, Minn.)

As many as five finalists will be selected for induction into the UPA Hall of Fame by the Voting Committee.

The UPA Hall of Fame Vetting Committee was composed of Suzanne Fields (Haiku, Hawaii), Chair; Catherine Greenwald (Park City, Utah), Women's Coordinator; Robert "Nob” Rauch (Chappaqua, N.Y.), Contributor Coordinator; Finlay Waugh (Louisville, Colo.), Open Coordinator; and Henry Thorne (Pittsburgh, Pa.), UPA Board Liaison. The UPA Hall of Fame Voting Committee is composed of 24 individuals, including Hall of Fame members and the Vetting Committee.

Contributors Division
Andy Borinstein
Andy impacted every level of Ultimate as both a player and organizer. He applied his integrity and skills to everything he did – as a strategist, organizer (high school, college, Open Club, Masters, local, national and international), journalist, sociologist and historian. Borinstein started East Coast College Championships in 1983 as a precursor to the College Division. His dedication to improving Ultimate and its organizations has benefited many generations of the sport’s community.
Playing Career:        
1977-78: Central Park Independents (CPI) High School Ultimate (NYC); 1978-82: University of Pennsylvania Killer Bees/Refubees, Philadelphia Frisbee Club; 1979 and1982: Mid Atlantic All-Star Team, NY Heifers; 1983: Earth Ultimate; 1983-84: NE7; 1983-86: Kaboom!; 1987: Columbia University and The Pariahs; 1988-93: Graffiti; 1994: Slack; 1995: U.S. Masters in 1990, 1994 and 1996 (Squash), and 1998 (Yesss!)

Open Division
David Barkan (Men’s Player)
David was known as a great athletic talent – with amazing disc skills, a unique and infectious spirit – and a born leader. David started multiple teams that excelled. He was the "little guy" that opponents feared and tried to devise ways to stop. David always brought his talent, smile, drive, competitiveness, and sense of fair play and good spirit to a team or tournament. David led his squads to numerous tournament championship rounds. While his teams did not win Nationals, they earned one World title in 1994, and many other major tournament championships. David continues to play today and expand Ultimate through his non-profit organization, Ultimate Peace.
Playing Career:  
1978-79: San Jose Cling-ons; 1979-80: San Jose Jam; 1981-85: Boston Hostages; 1985-87: traveled and lived abroad; 1988-92: East Bay Firestorm; 1992-95: San Francisco Double Happiness; 1994: Worlds, Double Happiness; 1995-present: Matza Balls, limited Masters play with Keg Workers; 2008: started Ultimate Peace (www.ultimatepeace.org)

Ken Dobyns (Men’s Player)
Kenny on why he stood out:  "Hating to lose, having no respect for my body, bleeding, making the people I played with better, focus, intensity, the will to win, making friends and influencing people, out-jumping taller players, catching goals, playing big in big games, playing hard in all
games, having the guts to try crazy throws at important times, having the skill (and receivers) to complete crazy throws at important times, never giving up, never letting up, having a massive ego, inspiring fear and dread in teammates and opponents alike, exasperating my brother, and embarrassing my mom."  
Playing Career:        
Late 1970s: NYC high school teams; 1983-86:KABOOM!; 1987-93: New York, New York; 1994-95: Cojones; 1996-97: WSL All Stars; 1998: Red Tide; 1999: Raleigh Llama, Raleigh, N.C. –Mixed Nationals: Open; 1999: Mixed; UPA Club Championship Titles: Open in 1987and 1989-93, and Mixed in 1999; Worlds: Open in 1988, 1990-91, and 1993, and Mixed in 2000.

Robert Evans (Men’s Player)
Robert began playing Ultimate early in the development of the sport, when its athletic possibilities were just starting to be recognized. Throughout the first 10 years of his playing career, Robert defined himself as one of the best players in the sport. The definition of "domination of the airspace" in the backfield, his on-field nickname was "God." Robert was also known for laying it out (and catching it) at a time when not many players were doing that. He was also known for one of the most fearsome, hard and accurate backhands in the game in the 1970s. Robert played continuously for 37 years, from 1969 through 2006. He was deeply involved with the evolution of the rules of the game, beginning with his early days at Columbia High School. After CHS, Robert was the "true" founder of the Princeton team and an active club player. He was instrumental in the formation of BUDA, Boston's corporate league, in 1983. Robert competed at UPA Nationals in 1980 and at Worlds with Princeton Alumni in 1995 and 1997.
Playing Career:        
1969-72: Columbia High School; 1972-78: Princeton University; 1979: Knights of Nee; 1979-86: Boston Frisbee Club/Boston Aerodisc; 1983-86: The Bears; 1986-88: Various teams; 1983-2006: Teradyne corporate team, a.k.a. The Toads

Michael Glass (Men’s Player)
Known as a handler, he seemed to always get open in tough moments. His sneaky speed, game intelligence, and strong will enabled consistent success at the national and international levels for more than 20 years of competitive Ultimate. He earned four UPA Club Championships (Open in 1983 and 1986, and Masters in 2001) and three World Championships (Open in 1984 and 1996, and Masters in 2001). Contributed to growth of Ultimate in Japan in the late 1980s, and recently participated in Ultimate Peace. Mike experienced the "joy of throwing" throughout his career and "delivered the disc like few could" – one of the "core" Windy City players.
Playing Career:     
1979: high school Ultimate; 1982-93: Windy City; 1994-96: Double Happiness; 1997-2001: various Chicago Masters teams; 2001: Keg Workers

Pat King (Men’s Player)
As the founder and leader of successful UPA Club Championship (six Open titles in 1987, 1990-93, 1998 and one Masters title in 1995) and World Championship teams (four Open titles in 1988, 1990-91 and 1993), Pat King's passion for team excellence and performance was repeatedly demonstrated. His work ethic and athletic skills were central to the success of these championship teams. P.K. has been described by his teammates as the complete leader: guiding through example, giving 100 percent at all practices, leading as a result of his ability, and showing great instinct while knowing when to admonish a teammate and when to use praise and encouragement to build them back stronger than before. Patrick King expected to win every game he played.
Playing Career:        
1977: Trinity High School—Founding member; 1977-81: Dartmouth College founding member and four-year captain; 1978: Columbia University; 1979-82: Heifers founding member  and captain (1982); 1982: The Mass Murderers—NYC Summer League; 1987-93: KABOOM! founder and captain; 1987-93: New York Ultimate (NYNY) founder and captain; 1995: Squash; Fall 1995, 1996-2000: Hong Kong Ultimate, captain of various teams in international competitions; 2000: MVP of Asian Championships; 1998: OOMPH! captain, first-ever Hong Kong Club League

Christopher Van Holmes (Men’s Player)
With a long and successful playing career (UPA Club Open Championships in 1983 and 1986, and three Masters Championships in 1996 and 2000-01 and an Open World Championship in 1997 and one Masters World title in 2002), Chris was a leader and mainstay of every team he represented. From the late 1970s to 2004, CVH brought a strong and infectious combination of competitive fire and positive energy to the Ultimate field. Known as a great all-around player, he had the ability to get open whenever needed. He displayed consistent throwing skills, an unparalleled field sense, and tactical awareness. CVH was also a strong and clean defender who found a way to get game-changing and game-saving blocks. According to a former teammate, “CVH has as much positive spirit as anyone I know.” CVH was also a prodigious contributor to Ultimate by serving as UPA Sectional & Regional Coordinator, a longstanding UPA Rules Committee member (1995-2006), coach (high school, college and women’s), observer instructor and author of Ultimate Essentials.   
Playing Career:            
1978-81: Cornell Buds; 1982-90: Windy City; 1991-97: Sockeye; 1996: Windy City Masters; 1997: Sockeye; 1998- 2003: Keg Workers of America Local 333; 2003-04: Grey Expectations; 2005: Surly; 2005-present: coach of Southwest High School 

Women’s Division
Lori Van Holmes (Women’s Player)
Lori’s play could only be described as tenacious. Through 25-plus years of Ultimate, she was known as the “tall, blond woman who crushed on O and D.” As a leader, she made a difference both on and off the field on every team for which she played. She led by her play, always covered the toughest player, and made the critical throws and catches. Lori was tireless and elevated the play of her teammates. As captain and sub-caller, she also played a big role in strategy development and running practices. In Seattle women’s Ultimate, Lori showed that a life of raising children and playing Ultimate was possible by "doing it all" (family, career and community) and excelling. Lori led her teams to many tournament championship rounds. While her teams did not win Nationals, they earned three World titles (1995, 1997 and 1999) and many other major tournament titles. Lori also gave back to Ultimate as a coach and Regional Coordinator.
Playing Career:
1980-82: St. Cloud State—Open; 1982-84: Flying Terrapins—Open; 1984-89: Nemesis; 1985-87: Repo Women; 1989-91: Barbie in a Bucket; 1990: Lady Godiva; 1992-99: Women On The Verge (WOTV); 2001: Posse; 2002-03: Shazam—Mixed; 2004: Bait; Worlds: 1995—WOTV, England; 1997—WOTV, Vancouver; 1999—WOTV, St. Andrews (unable to attend due to professional commitments)