The Mines Men's Ultimate team opened their spring season with a strong showing at New Year's Fest 40 in Arizona, finishing the weekend 3–3 against a slate of competitive college programs and gaining valuable reps ahead of the official spring series.

Day One: Slow Start, Strong Finish

Mines opened pool play on Saturday with two tight losses against high-level programs. The Orediggers fell 10–11 to the University of Iowa in a back-and-forth match that came down to the final possession, then dropped their second game 8–13 against Purdue University.

Despite the early setbacks, Mines closed day one with a statement win, edging the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse 11–10 in a rematch of last spring's quarterfinal exit. After trailing 7–9, Mines held and broke twice, securing the universe-point victory and flipping the momentum going into Sunday.

Day Two: Bounce-Back and Breaks on Universe

Sunday opened with another challenging matchup, this time against the University of Kansas, where Mines came up short 8–12. But the team responded with a dominant 15–4 win over Grinnell College, the largest scoring margin of the weekend.

The final game against Marquette University echoed Saturday's intensity: tight, physical, and decided on universe point. Mines once again delivered under pressure, earning a final-possession break to win 12–11 and close out the tournament on a high note.

Key Performances

Sophomore Charlie Keigwin emerged as the breakout two-way contributor of the weekend, stepping into a heavy offensive role after an injury to handler Randy Lahm and continuing to make plays defensively.

The depth of the rookie class was also on full display. First-year players Caleb Gonzalez, Tristan Peterson, and Theo Rice-Evans all logged significant defensive minutes and proved they can contribute in high-stakes situations.

Veteran leadership also anchored the performance, with junior Spencer Weldon and senior Carter Gonzales leading on-field adjustments, discipline, and pace against top-tier competition.

"The 3–3 record doesn't tell the whole story," the team shared after the tournament. "We played really good teams, put up competitive scores, and saw major growth across the board. This is exactly the kind of tournament we needed heading into the spring season."

Six freshmen earned playing time at New Year's Fest—an early sign of the depth Mines will carry into the USA Ultimate college series.

Looking Ahead

With a balanced mix of experienced returners and rising rookies, Mines leaves Arizona with confidence, momentum, and clarity on the next steps before the spring competitive schedule begins.

"This was a transition tournament for us," the team said. "We learned how to battle through close games, and we came out with universe-point wins when it mattered. That's the kind of toughness we'll need in the postseason."