So much happened this off-season, it was easy to forget that one of disc golf’s most recognizable names was out of a contract heading into the 2022 season – the captain of Team Discraft himself, Paul Ulibarri. Timed with the official release of the Captain’s Raptor, that’s no longer the case …
On Friday, Discraft announced via social media that Ulibarri wouldn’t only be with them five more years, but that he’d continue to be the captain of Team Discraft during that time, as well.
Ulibarri came over from Prodigy in 2019 on a three-year deal. Surprisingly, he was immediately named Discraft’s captain – this, with Paul McBeth switching over from Innova at the same time.
That was over three years ago …
This is now.
And though McBeth has lived up to the hype and the jaw-dropping contract that awaited him, the fit with Ulibarri as Team Discraft’s captain couldn’t have been more natural. Uli might not be in contention every week, but with respect to the guy’s leadership, the proof is in the pudding.
Overused idiom aside, Team Discraft is disc golf’s version of the 2016 Golden State Warriors.
Check out just a few of the names that appear on Team Discraft’s Elite roster:
- Paige Pierce
- Paul McBeth
- Ezra Aderhold
- Missy Gannon
- Adam Hammes
And remember, that’s not taking into account Ben Callaway, Chandler Fry, Corey Ellis, Andrew Presnell, Michael Johansen or Brodie Smith – all members of the Tour Team. If you don’t think Ulibarri had anything to do with the building (and maintenance) of this group, sorry …
But yeah, you’re way off on this one.
No wonder he launched the Ulibarri Leadership Institute in September of 2021. At least in disc golf, he might actually have this whole “leadership” thing down to a science. Discraft knows what they’re doing. They’re making big moves. Ulibarri has played a key role in all of it.
Whatever Jim Kenner’s paying him, Uli’s worth it – probably more.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
