Photo by Derek Frazer – UltiPhotos.com
MARCH 18, 2025
By Kyle Turnbaugh
The DC Breeze announced today that they have signed 33 players for the 2025 campaign. The team will retain roughly two-thirds of the 2024 roster, facing a couple key departures but adding some explosive talent from the 2023 season, as well as a strong contingent of exciting young rookies.
"I think the big story for DC is how much better our whole squad has gotten. The rise of each individual through hard work is what makes us great," head coach Lauren Boyle said.
After qualifying for Championship Weekend for the first time in franchise history, the organization is hungrier than ever for a championship.
"This group is relentless. We got a taste of success last season but ended up with a bitter taste in our mouth after the way things shook out in Salt Lake City. We're taking nothing for granted in 2025 and coming hard for that trophy," general manager Sean Banks said.
With multiple teams in the East getting stronger this offseason, the 2025 campaign is sure to bring fireworks. Learn more about the team that will be looking to defend their crown as East Division champions and bring a UFA championship to The District below:
#0 Xavier Schafer – Schafer returns to the Breeze for a third year, having not played significantly. Only appearing in three games over two seasons. Schafer will look to this season as a new opportunity to make an impact on the field. A graduate of Le Moyne college, a small D-III frisbee program, Schafer had to prove himself to reach the professional level, and Breeze fans will be thrilled by his tenacity and energy.
#1 Alexandre Fall – Perhaps the fastest player in the UFA, Fall returns for his sixth season as a member of the Breeze. Last season, Fall’s playing time was significantly limited, only appearing in three games, but when he's at full capacity, Fall’s impact is clear. In 2022 and 2023, he ranked second and third respectively for defensive points played and scored 24 goals over those two seasons, proving himself as a true threat on the D-line.
#2 Isaac Lee – In his third season with the Breeze, Lee’s role grew tremendously. Lee played 125 points last season, after playing just 61 over his first two seasons in the league. Returning for a fourth season, Lee will look to continue to grow into his role alongside other veteran defensive handlers. Lee has also been selected to the Team USA Open roster for the 2025 World U-24 Ultimate Championships alongside teammate Miles Grovic.
#3 Aidan Downey – 2024 Callahan Award winner Aidan Downey joins the Breeze after two seasons in Atlanta. A Georgia player through and through, he played his collegiate ultimate for University of Georgia’s Jojah, Club for Atlanta Chain Lightning and professionally with the Atlanta Hustle. Downey makes the move north after somewhat limited playing time with the Hustle, only appearing in seven games. Despite the small sample size at the UFA level, Downey’s ability is clear; in his seven games, he racked up 13 assists and 10 goals with an impressive +/- of 25. If Downey’s production can be extended over a whole season, he can be a lethal weapon for the Breeze.
#4 Charlie McCutcheon – A Minnesota Wind Chill product who made his way to DC (via a brief stop in Carolina), McCutcheon appeared in all 14 games for the Breeze last season, playing over 200 defensive points. What McCutcheon lacks in size, he makes up for in speed, stamina, and tenacity, allowing him to beat stronger players to the disc. McCutcheon recorded nine goals, four assists, and six blocks over 210 points in 2024.
#5 AJ Merriman – A defensive hybrid with the eye and the arm for the deep throw, Merriman has been crucial for the Breeze's defensive unit since he entered the league in 2019. Merriman has achieved double-digit blocks in every season, with a high of 20 blocks during the 2021 season, when he was chosen as Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, and First Team All-UFA. Merriman also achieved Second Team All-Defense in 2023 and was a key part of leadership in his first season as a team captain in 2024.
#6 Zack Burpee – After touring the UFA’s East Division by playing for Boston in 2022, New York in 2023 and DC in 2024, Burpee seems to finally have settled down and will remain in DC for 2025. Burpee is an offensive cutter who played his college ultimate at Tufts University, a traditionally strong program, and has experience playing club with New York PoNY. Burpee’s most productive season was in Boston where he threw 20 assists and caught eight goals. Burpee was productive in limited playing time for DC but will be looking to earn a more-involved role in 2025.
#7 Tyler Monroe – Although Monroe stepped away from the Breeze from 2017 to 2022, he began with the Breeze in 2016 in the franchise's early years. Since his return in 2022, he has been a staple of the Breeze O-line, averaging 29 assists and 19 goals since 2022. Last season, Monroe led the Breeze in assists with 34 and was fourth in goals with 20.
#8 Thomas Edmonds – After three standout seasons with the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds, Edmonds opted to join DC in 2023, and his fine form has continued. Edmonds, a savvy handler and threatening cutter, moved from O-Line with the Thunderbirds to primarily a D-line handler role with the Breeze. Over the last two seasons with the Breeze, Edmonds has had 20+ assists and a 97%+ completion percentage. Edmonds was also recently selected to represent Team Canada at the 2025 World Games.
#9 Ben Greenberg – Already familiar with DC and much of the Breeze roster, Greenberg signs a rookie contract with the Breeze, having played with many Breeze players at the club level with Washington D.C. Truck Stop. Greenberg was also coached by Breeze captain AJ Merriman during his time with club team Redwolves. Greenberg’s strong connection with the Breeze roster should allow him to slot right in and find his role quickly.
#11 Luke Rehfuss – A defensive stalwart for the Breeze, Rehfuss returns for a fifth season in DC. As a former track and field athlete, he takes full advantage of his speed and jumping ability to make key blocks and diving catches to secure breaks for the Breeze. Rehfuss appeared in 11 games last season, securing seven goals and four blocks.
#12 Rowan McDonnell – A three-time All-UFA selection and 2018 MVP, McDonnell has cemented himself as a legend in the UFA and the most iconic Breeze player of all time over his eight seasons in DC. McDonnell holds franchise records in goals, assists, blocks, completions, and points played. McDonnell's greatness continued last season, as he notched 23 assists, 10 goals, and five blocks in 11 games. Despite all the individual accomplishments, McDonnell is still hungry to bring a championship home with the Breeze.
#13 Cole Jurek – 2024 All-UFA Second Team selection and voted Breeze MVP, Jurek returns for his third season in DC, hoping to replicate his 31-goal season. After beginning his career in Minnesota, the super utility player opted to join DC in 2023. Jurek's role increased significantly from 2023 to last season, playing 280 points, an increase from 156 points in 2023. He played a substantial role on both offense and defense last season, logging 19 assists, 31 goals, and nine blocks over 13 games.
#15 Jarrod Banks – Long-time Breeze fans will likely remember the name Jarrod Banks for his impressive rookie season in 2019. For the first time since that rookie season, Banks will be returning to the Breeze in 2025. Banks has been away from the pro scene but still playing club with Viriginia Vault. Breeze fans will hope Banks can be the same offensive weapon he was in 2019 when he scored 28 goals and tacked on 21 assists.
#18 Kevin Healey – A physical presence who can play both sides of the disc, Healey has been an important rotational player for the Breeze over the last four seasons. A player who always seems to have a chance to rip the disc down when it’s in the air, Healey had a career-high 19 goals in 2023. Although he followed that with a slightly less productive 2024, Healey’s ability to make a difference on the field is clear.
#19 Brandon Lamberty – Wisconsin native and former Temple University star Brandon Lamberty has spent the last three seasons with the Breeze after beginning his UFA career with the Philadelphia Phoenix. Lamberty has played a part for DC over the last three seasons, serving as ever-important handler depth on the D-Line. The most eye-catching aspect of Lamberty’s game is his pulls; over the last two years, he has improved his hang time by almost two seconds.
#20 Graham Turner – New to the UFA but familiar with the DC ultimate frisbee scene, Turner signs with the Breeze after playing with mixed club team DC Rally. Turner stands at 6’3” and takes full advantage of his height as a fearsome deep cutter at the club level, as well as during his college career at Skidmore.
#21 Rhys Bergeron – 2024 Team Captain Bergeron will be returning to the Breeze for a sixth season. A defensive leader, Bergeron started playing for the Breeze in 2018, while a senior at Virginia Tech and has been stacking up blocks since then. Last season, he totaled nine blocks, tied for third on the team, but over his career he has logged an impressive 48 total blocks, hitting double digits in three out of five seasons and logging 13 games with 2+ blocks.
#23 Theo Shapinsky – DC native, star at the University of Michigan, and national champion with mixed club team Hybrid out of Ann Arbor, Shapinsky possesses equally-impressive cutting and throwing ability, which will make Coach Boyle spoiled for choice on where to play the rookie. The quality that stands out the most about Shapinsky is that he is unafraid to leave his feet, a great quality for any prospective UFA player.
#24 Jacques Nissen – Nissen returns for his sixth season with the Breeze after leading Brown University to a National Championship in 2024. The college standout appeared in 10 games for the Breeze during the 2024 season and logged 17 assists and 12 goals, mostly playing on the offensive side of the disc. Nissen provides much-needed hybridity for the Breeze offense, racking up over 1500 yards passing and 1200 yards receiving and will be serving as a team captain for the first time in his career. Breeze fans should look forward to having Nissen contribute for a full UFA season, which hasn't happened since the 2021 campaign.
#26 Coby Loveranes – A UFA rookie, Loveranes played his college ultimate at Virginia Tech and played club with Arlington, VA-based Oak Grove Boys. Loveranes will hope to make an impact from the go with the Breeze and learn from some of the best veterans in the league.
#28 Marcus Lee – After a selection to Team USA’s U-20 team for the 2024 World Junior Ultimate Championships alongside fellow Breeze rookie Micah Wagner, Marcus Lee signs his first professional contract with the Breeze. Lee graduated from local high school frisbee powerhouse Jackson-Reed and will look to help bring a UFA championship to his hometown team.
#29 Christian Johnson – A UFA veteran who has been in and out of the league, Johnson returns to the UFA for his first season since 2023 and for his first season with the Breeze. A collegiate national champion in 2014 with the ultimate frisbee powerhouse that is UNC Darkside, Johnson began his UFA career in 2015 with the San Jose Spiders, as part of their championship run before signing with the San Francisco Flamethrowers and winning another championship. Johnson has been productive when he has played a significant number of points. After a year in Chicago with limited playing time, Johnson will look to begin contributing to the Breeze in his first campaign in DC.
#30 David Bloodgood – Fresh off a selection to a 2024 Second Team All-Defense squad, Bloodgood returns to the Breeze for a seventh season. Having played over 1000 defensive points in his time with the Breeze, Bloodgood will continue to be a quarterback on the D-Line in DC. Bloodgood led the team in blocks last season with 14 and will look to use his talent and experience as a leader on the D-line.
#31 Christian Boxley – 2023 Second Team All-UFA selection Boxley returns to the Breeze after sitting out the 2024 season. Boxley’s return provides the Breeze with another much-needed offensive weapon. Over his three seasons with the Breeze (2018, 2023 and 2024), Boxley has scored goal counts of 24, 42, and 33, while producing over 4500 receiving yards. A standout target like Boxley provides DC’s handler corps with an always-reliable downfield option.
#32 Andrew Roy – Five-year pro and DC-area native, Roy returns for his third year with the Breeze. Roy made the All-Rookie team during the 2021 season with Minnesota but swapped Wind Chill black and blue for DC red and white in 2023. Since then, Roy has been a fixture for the Breeze offense, scoring 12 goals and throwing 16 assists over 14 games for the Breeze in 2024.
#34 Micah Wagner – A U-20 World Champion with Team USA in 2024 and a Youth Club Championship runner-up with local team Foggy Bottom Boys in 2023, Wagner is an excellent young prospect. Wagner currently plays collegiate frisbee at Tulane University and will look to bring his skills from the international, collegiate and club scene to the pro stage.
#37 Miles Grovic – Grovic returns for his third season with the Breeze after being voted DC Breeze Breakout Player of the Year for 2024. After only appearing in one game in his first season with the Breeze, Grovic featured heavily as a key defensive player during the 2024 season, with nine blocks and 17 goals across 140 defensive points.
#45 Jeff Wodatch – A savvy veteran O-Line cutter who perhaps has never gotten the plaudits he deserves, Wodatch has spent his entire eight-year UFA career in DC and is returning for a ninth. Wodatch has embodied consistency; as the roster and league changed around him, he remained. Wodatch has played 92 games for the Breeze over his career and scored 197 goals and thrown 166 assists over his career.
#54 Gus Norrbom – Having played two seasons with the Breeze in 2021 and 2024, Norrbom returns in 2025 for consecutive seasons in DC. An offensive handler who has provided 15+ assists over both of his seasons, all while showing off some versatility and adding 20 goals on top of that, Norrbom provides important rotation and a change of pace.
#57 Jasper Tom – For the last four seasons in DC, Tom has been a name synonymous with relentless defense. After a brief 2019 season with Pittsburgh, Tom has been a fixture for the Breeze D-line since 2021. Selected to the UFA All-Defense Second Team, Tom played 141 points last season, while recording six blocks, six goals, and 12 assists, all on defense.
#73 Frederick Farah – Returning for a fourth season in DC, Farah is a national club champion with Washington D.C. Truck Stop and a University of Maryland alumnus. Although his involvement with the Breeze has been limited, Farah’s talents and physical abilities are clear, making him an important depth piece as a defensive cutter.
#92 Jace Dean – Coming off an impressive rookie season in which he featured in 175 points, playing in all 14 games, Dean hopes to continue building his defensive acumen. An alumnus of Carleton College, where ultimate frisbee might be the biggest sport on campus, Dean came up big time after time in late-season games against division rivals with two goals against the New York Empire and a huge endzone block against the Boston Glory.
