The 2025 DCSAA Ultimate Frisbee Championship, held under bright, high-pressure skies at Catholic Universty, culminated in a tense battle between the defending champions, the Jackson-Reed Tigers, and the fierce challengers from School Without Walls. From the start, the game was a defensive clinic. Banneker relied on disciplined handler movement and veteran captain Kai Thomas to slowly chip away at the zone, while the Tigers answered with incredible speed, utilizing sharp, quick cuts from their star receiver, Lena Chen. The first half was a constant grind, with neither team able to pull ahead by more than a single point. The intensity was palpable as the teams swapped scores, heading into the final minutes of the match tied 14-14, meaning the next point scored would win the championship—the ultimate “Universe Point.”
With everything on the line, Jackson-Reed started on offense. The disc moved methodically side-to-side, the stall count creeping higher as the Wildcats’ defense pressed tighter. Under a nine-second count, Thomas launched a desperate, soaring hammer throw deep into the end zone. Tigers defender Chen leaped and managed to get a finger on the disc, deflecting the trajectory just slightly. The small deflection, however, was just enough to drop the disc right into the waiting, outstretched hands of Banneker rookie Maya Rodriguez, who secured the grab just inside the perimeter. The Jackson-Reed Tigers erupted, securing the 15-14 victory on a thrilling, last-second play that cemented their status as the 2025 DCSAA champions.