Celebrating Our Provincial PAYUC Athletes
Outstanding Achievements of NL Athletes at the 2025 Pan American Youth Ultimate Championships! Competing Internationally was an amazing opportunity and dream come true for three exceptional athletes and UNL members from Newfoundland and Labrador – Declan Barfitt, Morgan Hull, and Owen McGrath. The remarkable skill and dedication of these athletes enabled them to compete at the international level, showcasing their talent to represent Team Canada East at the 2025 Pan American Youth Ultimate Championships (PAYUC) in Costa Rica (July 17-20, 2025). Their accomplishments shined bright on the global stage. The result – they brought home some hardware from the Championships!
Among these achievements, Declan, as a key player on the U17 Team Canada East, helped to proudly secured the gold medal in the division. For him, the experience not only enriched his skills but also instilled invaluable lessons, as he reflected that the “event has helped me as an athlete in Ultimate by giving me exposure to different styles of play and playing with other athletes from different parts of the country at both the training camp and at the PAYUC, he said.”
His performance further exemplified skill and teamwork, contributing significantly to the team’s success but for him the most important lesson learned that he would carry forward is from our coaches “who told us to believe in ourselves and our ability to compete on an international level; that we could win!”
This spirit of believe and determination was also evident in Morgan and Owen’s journey competing as part of U20 Team Canada East to earn a well-deserved bronze medal. Their hard work and commitment to the sport were evident throughout the competition.
Morgan captured the emotional depth of her achievement on a profound personal experience by saying that “the most unforgettable moment that captured my experience at PAYUC was our universe win in our bronze medal game.” In highlighting the essence of teamwork and camaraderie, after a long week of competition, “I remember looking at my teammates and feeling overwhelmed by how deeply connected we’d become,” she said.
In addition to their impressive performances, both the U17 and U20 teams were honored with first place in the Spirit of the Game (SOTG) award, reflecting the athletes’ sportsmanship and respect for the game.
This recognition after their bronze medal win resonated with Morgan, who added that “winning gold in spirit became even more meaningful after that, because it reflected not just how we played, but who we were as a team. In the last moments of the tournament, I felt immense gratitude for the opportunity to represent Canada, meet incredible athletes from around the world, and be a part of something that celebrates respect, connection, and spirit. This experience reminded me why I fell in love with ultimate, and it’s an experience I’ll carry with me for the rest of my ultimate career.”
Prior to the championships, Declan, Morgan, and Owen attended a training camp in Ottawa (June 7-8, 2025) as part of Ultimate Canada’s National Youth Development Program, where they were selected to represent Newfoundland and Labrador. This pivotal experience combined with rigorous preparation set the stage for success, as Owen noted, “I trained almost every day leading up to the tournament, whether that was practice, throwing training, hitting the gym, or dryland training. Fortunately, it really paid off in the end as we came home with bronze.”
These achievements not only highlight the individual talents of Declan, Morgan, and Owen but also signify the growing strength of Ultimate in our province. All three of them came up through the Storm program, with both Morgan and Owen advancing to the Senior level – representing Newfoundland and Labrador on adult club traveling teams Tempest and Regiment, as well as competing at the university level with the MUN Seahawk ultimate teams. Their participation on the international stage is crucial, as it not only showcases their talent and dedication but also inspires future generations and elevates the profile of the sport within our province.
Reflecting on the incredible journey and those who have helped to get him there, Owen McGrath shared that “it was such an honour to represent Canada and Newfoundland on the International stage, and I’m so thankful for everyone who made it possible, especially his coaches on Storm and the Memorial Seahawks who deserve a lot of credit. “They’ve been the reason I stuck with Ultimate, and they define who I am on the field today,” he said.
Join us in celebrating these outstanding athletes and their contributions to the sport! For a full recap of the Championships visit PAYUC 2025.