The Squids opened their 2025–26 season on a beautiful Friday night under the lights of Warren Field with the always-anticipated Showcase game against the SDSU Federales. While the matchup is unofficial on the schedule, it’s official in everything that matters: the intensity, pride, and a chance to show the campus community what Squid ultimate is all about. This year’s Showcase carried extra weight. Not only did it put returning Squids from both ICE and LITE on the same field, but it also gave everyone the chance to shake off some rust and prove how much they’d been working during the summer.

With the stands filled and the sideline buzzing with fans, the Squids rolled out three distinct lines of seven to square up against the Feds. Each line brought a different flavor of Squid ultimate—handlers setting the tone with chilly resets, deep threats stretching the field, and defenders ramping up the pressure every point. From the outset, it was clear that the team meant business. The flow was fast, chemistry clicked earlier than expected, and the Squids matched SDSU’s energy with big plays on both offense and defense. The game started with a bang – encapsulated by a perfectly thrown moondisc from Tendy to our beloved Fan Fan. This only continued with deep cuts and hucks from handlers to their cutters. The air was filled with oohs and aahs as returners like Saucy and Wenegade Waidah showed off their skills, offensively and defensively.  The Squids’ high-octane offense was no match for the slower defenders of SDSU. However, the game was back and forth, with each side scoring on their respective offensive points. But by half, the Squids did what they did best, ending it with a break point and going up at half 7 to 6. Every huck, every layout, and every cheer from the sideline set the tone that this wasn’t just a scrimmage—it was the Squids making a statement about the season ahead. The second half was more of the same, the Squids scoring on offensive points, but this was where they turned it up on the defensive side of the disc. Ds from ReMi and TiDo were highlights of this half, as they showcased the improvement of the returners and their knowledge of the beautiful game. Hucks from Cumin and Wabac TM summarized the relentless nature of the Squids throughout the game with the disc, leading to multiple points from power positions. When the final point landed in Squid hands, the scoreboard confirmed what the fans already knew: the Squids had pulled off a convincing win over their San Diego rivals 13-10. 

But the result was only part of the story. The Showcase shined because of the way every line contributed, blending ICE and LITE into one team that looked cohesive, confident, and ready to grow together. The support from the sideline, the roar from the crowd, and the joy of playing back under the lights all reminded the Squids why this tradition matters. To the delight of the spectators, the Squids and Federales played another impromptu game to 5, giving the prospective players some more frisbee to cheer about. Although the Federales were eager to strike back with a victory of their own, it immediately became apparent that the Squids were rolling on both sides of the disc. Borzoi entered the lineup and fielded a deep huck from Net before getting an assist of his own. With the double wins, for the Air Squids, this night was proof of potential. Of what a full season of work, growth, and belief can look like.

As the season officially begins, the message is clear: the Squids are here, they’re hungry, and they’re ready to put in the grind it takes to make waves in the Southwest.