WASHINGTON — Alan Kolick, who works as a health benefits analyst in his day job, has something in common with Peyton Manning. Both have recently won MVP awards in their respective professional sports leagues.
Kolick plays in Major League Ultimate, one of two young professional Ultimate Frisbee leagues. As a key part of the national champion DC Current, Kolick won the league’s Eastern Conference MVP award.
Kolick’s journey with Ultimate began in suburban Arlington, Va., where he grew up. Around age 10, Kolick says he started playing “a little like ‘Frisbee-football’” with the other neighborhood kids.
Kolick delved deeper into the fast-paced, free-flowing sport as a sophomore in high school after getting bored with club soccer and golf. “I was looking for something a little bit less of a commitment. A couple of my friends were playing Frisbee.”
He grew up playing soccer, baseball, basketball, and more, but now Ultimate stood out.
Kolick says, “I was probably about 5 feet tall, 80 pounds maybe, when I started playing.” That early experience led him to always try to exceed opponents’ assumptions.
Now 27, he’s about 5-10 and 145 pounds. “Still not big by any means, but bigger!”
At the College of William & Mary, Kolick developed his skills. Entering his sophomore year, he stepped up to help fill the void after his club team lost many talented players. “I came in [freshman year] and the seniors that were there had been to nationals twice… My sophomore year my role on the team increased dramatically, I was forced into situations I wasn’t used to.”
As early as his junior year, Kolick was looking to play at a higher level. In college, Kolick played against Truck Stop, an elite Washington area club team. “I had intended on trying out for the team after my junior year, but I had a stress fracture. When I graduated, I tried out for Truck and made it.” Kolick has been with Truck Stop ever since.
Playing at that level helped Alan quickly make a lot of new friends after moving to the area following college in Williamsburg. Strong friendships and chemistry have extended to his other team, the professional DC Current.
Major League Ultimate plays its games on weekends from April through mid-July. Like many other players, Kolick spends part of the “offseason” competing in different leagues. Once MLU’s season ends, Kolick and other DC Current players rejoin their club teams and stay active.
Kolick doesn’t make his living playing Ultimate, but still finds time to give back to the community. With his background as a CPA, Kolick volunteers as a board member and treasurer for the Washington Area Frisbee Club.
Throughout the year the WAFC organizes leagues for various levels of skill and Kolick helps keep it all moving. According to WAFC Secretary Sandy Gani, the organization had over 1,600 players across five leagues this summer.
Kolick takes a break occasionally. “I’ll try to not play in November and December.” Around January tryouts and practices begin for pro teams, keeping Kolick busy until the end of the club season in October. “We all struggle with burnout at times, just because none of us are doing this full time.”
The other MVP? Peyton Manning won his fifth Most Valuable Player award after the 2013 NFL season. Manning is a long-time veteran, and his health has led some to question how long he has left to play.
Kolick isn’t contemplating retirement from Ultimate. But he is moving to advance his career in the white-collar world. Having worked as a CPA and currently as an analyst, Kolick says he’s studying to be an actuary. Most recently he tried experimenting with day trading. “The first month I was killing it…it’s a lot of adrenaline. It’s fun.”
Through it all, one thing has remained constant: his family often comes to his games.