Co-Captain Everett Woo ’25 joined All-Gender Ultimate Frisbee (Ultimate) in his Freshman year on a whim, but quickly established himself as both a crucial player and team leader. As a handler (the Ultimate equivalent of a quarterback) and Co-Captain, Woo leads through his vocal attitude on the field. From his technical command of the game to his commitment to team culture, Woo has become a central figure in the Ultimate community at Andover.
Woo considered himself a soccer and hockey player when he arrived at Andover and had never played Ultimate. The sport requirement at Andover led him to branch out and try it.
“I came into Andover with a Fall and Winter sport, soccer and hockey, which I had played my entire life. Since Andover requires sports, this was the perfect opportunity to try something new in the Spring. I took a look at Ultimate [and] hadn’t really heard about it, and then I said, ‘You know what? I’m gonna go for it. I’m gonna try out, see how things go.’ I made the team, and then what kept me there, is not this sport itself, which is really fun, don’t get me wrong, but the people have been really amazing and super nice. It’s been one of the kindest communities I’ve been a part of,” said Woo.
Will Sueling ’26, a new player on the team, described Woo as a great captain and leader. Woo organized important scrimmages throughout the offseason, which helped to introduce new players like Sueling to the team and get him up to speed on Ultimate rules.
“He’s obviously good at Ultimate, and he brings a positive spirit to matches and is always uplifting. He did a lot of scrimmages in the winter [preseason]… so I feel I got to know everybody and learn the rules pretty quickly through that. [His biggest demand from the team] is to be interested and come here to play. It’s not to be super intense, but it’s to be here and to want to play and all that. He’s big on participation,” said Sueling.
Woo explained the unique nature of Ultimate encourages the best type of people to join. The self-officiation and “Spirit of the Game” that sets Ultimate apart from other sports relies on responsible players with integrity, fostering a special welcoming and kind community.
“One thing about Ultimate that’s different from other sports is that there are no referees. The players themselves have to make calls. That attracts a very specific type of person who’s willing to take responsibility for their own fouls and whatnot. There’s this thing called ‘Spirit of the Game’ in Ultimate which emphasizes trust, responsibility, and communication with your own team and the other team,” said Woo.
Bill Ke ’27 noted that Woo’s skill as an Ultimate player ultimately comes from his love of the game. This enthusiasm, in turn, inspires the rest of the Ultimate team, who have had their lives positively impacted by their captain.
“He’s driven by a genuine love for the game, and that allows him to reach new heights skill-wise, making him a really good leader of the Ultimate team. He’s someone we not only look up to on the field, but also off the field, as he organizes scrimmages, eats lunch with us after the scrimmages, and is generally a positive figure in our lives, both skill-wise and as a person,” said Ke.
This summer, Woo will play club Ultimate for BUDA, a Boston-based team that competes at the national level. After Andover, he plans to continue playing club Ultimate in college.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to be captain. The team makes it easy. Everyone wants to be here. Everyone cares. That’s what makes it special,” said Woo.
