REPUBLIC OF KOREA ULTIMATE
🗿HALL OF FAME 명예의 전당
2011
Jason Woods
Jason Woods, more commonly known as 'Woody' was instrumental in the early years of DUFL (Daegu Ultimate Frisbee League) expansion. Soon after Busan joined Daegu's original 5 league teams, Daejeon were up next for expansion, no thanks to Woody. The Daejeon Groupies were a club team formed pre-DUFL days, and going with the Rooster Candy themed jerseys and sticking with DUFL's original 'natural disaster' themed team names, Woody founded the Daejeon Pandemic.
In addition to his contributions to the expansion of DUFL, eventually into ROK-U, Woody assisted with design elements of the league including disc and logo design.
Oh by the way, he wasn't too bad a player either! Woody, pre-Daejeon Pandemic, took the Daegu Thunder to the ROK-U Championship, falling short the first time. Once Daejeon Pandemic formed, the championship "pigs" started to roll in.
2012
Greg Smith
Guapo: The Man, The Myth, The Legend.
Statistically, Guapo is one of the top, if not the best Handler in ROK-U history.
Instrumental in the Daejeon Pandemic winning several championships, including the infamous Gyeongju rainstorm finals, in which puddles made players laying out disappear.
Guapo, with the first league disc design made after a league player, established and built several league regular season and playoff records, some still standing today, may or may not have this same Hall of Fame photo, in his birthday suit.
2013
Spencer Wilkerson
Spencer "Scumbag" Wilkerson was one of the original founders of Gwangju's first ever Ultimate team. The team name pays hommage to the events of May 27, 1980 in the City of Gwangju was settled upon between Scumbag and Big Ned upon establishing a team in Gwangju.
Gathering a team in the early days of the Uprising was no easy task - with the nearest league town being a 2 hour bus ride away. Spencer created a team who bought in, played with Spirit, and ended up winning several championships.
Spencer was part of the famous "let's play on Sunday instead" during Gyeongju's rainy finals day. He was convinced by the Pandemic that Sunday would be just as bad as Saturday. As Daejeon rode their bikes along the river on a Sunday, windless day, Scumbag simmered inside, bringing his team back in the years to follow with championships being won.
With a smooth right handed forehand, Spencer brought patience, various individual records, and accolades in addition to his team's success, to ROKU.
2014
Marty Nedjelski
Where to begin with Marty. Fondly known as "Big Ned" to the thousands of league players who have passed through the league he founded during his tenure and after - Big Ned brought Ultimate to South Korea in a formalized, organized way that had never been seen before or since.
Marty founded the league in August 2009, in Daegu, South Korea, building it up to over 20 teams across most major (and some minor) metropolitan areas across the lower half of the peninsula; coast to coast, east to west.
Big Ned as a player played in various roles as his Ultimate game evolved over the years. Starting a speedy, tall, slight cutter, moving into a still-tall, maybe-slightly-less-speedy handler with good decision making abilities and patience.
Proof of his utility and durability, Big Ned was one of the first to join the 100-100 Club, played every single game except 1 on his wedding day - holding the ironman records for several years after his Korean Ultimate "retirement" (aka moving back to Canada).
Big Ned still supports the league 20+ seasons later, from abroad in Canada. South Korean Ultimate has forever been established and continually grows, all in thanks to Big Ned's contributions.