from mlultimate.com
We had a chance for David Kucherlapati, the new GM of the MLU Boston Whitecaps to answer a few questions before the season starts,
What is your ultimate experience?
I’ve been involved with Ultimate for 12 years. I started playing Ultimate competitively in high school and I continue to do so today. I’ve coached and captained teams, and last year I was a referee with the AUDL.
How did you get involved with the MLU?
To make a long story short, my father, who is my business partner, and I had a lot of talks with people in the AUDL during last season. Despite everything that went on last year I knew that Ultimate could make it as a spectator sport. So after doing our due diligence we were put in touch with Jeff Snader in Philadelphia and Jeff told us a bit about his plans for the MLU.
We met with Jeff, Nic Darling and Matt “Skip” Sewell, and we discussed everything from club ultimate, to the AUDL and then the MLU. When we walked away from that meeting we had a sense that the MLU was going about things in just the right way, and that we could be a part of it.
What will your duties of GM be?
As General Manager I’ll be overseeing the day to day operations of the team. Talking to players, coaches, referees about anything and everything under the sun. In addition I’ve been putting together a team of people to help coordinate everything that needs to be done on game day. We’re still looking for good, hard working people to help fill some of the positions.
As owner of the team I sit on the MLU Board and work with the other owners and the league’s front office.
Do you still report to Skip or Jeff?
I work with Jeff on a lot of different things. Everything from talking to players to working out the budget. Jeff has been invaluable in making the league run smoothly. Similarly, Skip and Nic have been doing a lot of behind the scenes work for the league. Team websites, logos, social media, you name it. All in all, there’s a whole lot of work that’s been done and a whole lot more to be done but things are moving along at a very rapid pace.
What teams are you hoping to pull players from?
I’m hoping to pull players from all over New England. Guys from Ironside, The Ghosts, Slow White, Garuda, Nights Watch, just to name a few. Being in Boston we’re very fortunate, we’ve got some of the most talented athletes in the sport right here in the north east.
Any special recruitment process?
We’re looking for people that want to play competitive Ultimate. Plain and simple. I don’t think we have any special recruitment process. If a player comes up and asks me what playing in the MLU will be like I’ll tell them straight out, it’s a commitment for the season of time and energy. But it’s also a great opportunity to be part of something big. There are a lot of perks for players in the MLU, like free gear and travel. But the biggest recruiting point is the competition. These guys want to play with and against the best. The MLU is making sure that happens.
How do you think the Whitecaps will do in their first season?
I’m confident we’ll do well this season. There are some great teams being put together in the Eastern Division this year, notably last year’s AUDL Champions the Spinners are back. Those are going to make for some exciting games, but what I’m really looking forward to is the Boston vs. New York games.
How do you think the fan base will differ from the Rhode Island Rampage? (only other pro team to play in NE)
The Whitecaps fan base will, in the beginning, consist of mainly Ultimate players or people who have ties to the team in some way. There’s already been a lot of support for the team so far, and we’re lucky to have such great fans who want to see the team grow, but also want to help make our sport grow.
Any news on combine? Head coach? Anyone else involved in the program?
All of our combine news is going to be announced the week of January 21st. We’re really excited to get registration going for the combine dates and to see who comes out.
All of the players and coaching staff we hire will eventually be highlighted on our website so stay tuned for some announcements!
Where will games be played?
Our venue is very important and we want to make sure we have the right choice. Where we have our games can play a significant role in the overall MLU experience, so we’ll be considering all options before we book a venue. That being said there are several good locations in and around Boston that we’re currently looking at. When we’re ready to announce the location, you’ll be sure to know!
Check out the Whitecaps;
New England Ultimate 