The biggest challenge initially was setting up the tournament so that it could essentially run on auto-pilot. Helping run sectionals was already a tall task and the stress and distraction of running it overflowed onto the field and it was apparent that my mind was somewhere other than the game of ultimate. It simply was not fair for my team to be in that state of mind, so in the weeks leading up to the tournament, preparations were made so that once the first pull went up on Saturday morning, logistical matters would be at a minimum.
First off though, a big thanks to all those who helped make this tournament possible. My teammates Spencer, Scott, Keegan, Martha, and Chad, and all those who encouraged me and offered their support. It is much appreciated and I am very grateful for your help.
Now onto the Ultimate....
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At Stake...
was bragging rights. At stake was the title of "top dawg" in the Southwest Region. 7 Figures was the clear #1, with Barrio, Metro, and MotU rounding out the top 4. The SW had two bids this year... one less then last year, and with bracket 16.2.2 in use, it meant that making the finals simply wasn't good enough. You'd have to WIN the tournament or win out the backdoor bracket to punch your ticket to the show.... so you can imagine, it got harder this year, not to mention that the teams got better in the Southwest Region.
Game 1 vs. Lunch Money
We came out firing against our Sectional counterparts. The first point being the longest point in the game, we simply out played them from the very beginning, with defense being the most defining strength. Simply put, we forced tough throws and allows very little up-field looks which resulted in high stall counts and easy d's. We rolled off a 6-0 run to start the game, taking half 8-2 enroute to an easy 15-5 win. Great start to the tournament, keeping in mind that we wanted to keep our big guns fresh for the difficult games that lay ahead.
Game 2 vs. Love Tractor
This team came out with more fire then the past and we essentially traded with them before going on a huge defensive run that put us up from 3-3 to 9-3. From there... it was just a simple trade-fest and a 15-8 win over a very spirited but overmatched Colorado team. The term coach Frankie threw around was that we needed to "ramp-up" to the Semis and Finals, and from the way we were playing, it was looking good and we were starting to get our offense into the right gear.
Game 3 vs. Killjoy
This was a game where we felt we needed to prove the most to the Region. For weeks leading up to the tournament, all I heard as the TD was that Killjoy should be seeded higher since they beat Metro, or "we beat Killjoy, so we should be ahead of Metro... etc." While in all actuality, they had valid arguments, in my head, I was thinking what BS. We lost to Killjoy by 4 at Labor Day with a injury riddled squad, and the first game of the day. I knew that we had something to prove and we owed it to Killjoy to show them what we were really made of. We pretty much scored 2 goals to their 1 in the first half, going up 7-4 before they closed the gap to 8-6 at half. We continued the pressure and wound up running away with a 14-10 win and despite finishing the season series against Killjoy at 1-1, we had won the one that counted and could silence the doubt and shut up our critics. It was a great win, and meant that we had locked up the 1 seed in the pool and a spot into Saturday finals against B1: Barrio.
Semifinals vs. Barrio
The season series was 1-1. We blew a 9-6 lead at GRUB to lose 10-12, and got over the "hump" with a good win at ECC 13-8. This was the "rubber game," the "best-out-of-three" kind of game that proves to the world who's the superior team. It was only fitting that this winner-take all game was for a berth in the finals. Barrio had won Regionals for several years running, and had beaten us last year in the finals 9-14, but no one cared. We were to elated to be going to the show... we could have cared less about winning the Region in 2009. Things were different this year... as simply making the finals did not guarantee a bid. We knew we had to win out from here to make things easier.
Game time was 3:30pm on Saturday. The sun was sitting kindof low in the sky, but there was a buzz to the game like none I have ever experienced. The other semifinal game was on the far field (in the sun), while our semifinal had a row of trees on one sideline that cast a shade on one side, and of course drew a large crowd. Teams from New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, who had finished their games were out in droves, drinking, fooling around, all while watching this game. It was a great atmosphere. Metro started on D and almost instantly you could tell the energy level was beyond anything we had played at this year. The sideline was on TOP of the o-line and before we knew it, they had miscommunicated and turned a sloppy dump pass for negative yards to no one. It almost felt like being in a loud NFL crowd and inducing a false start. Trogdor quickly jumped on the disc and threw to a wide open Peaches for the first break of the game. 
We traded points from there and went up 5-4 before going on a defensive tear and breaking the game open with a 4-0 run to put us up 9-4. From there on, Barrio was only able to get back one break before we put them away 14-10. It was a great feeling going back to the finals, but the celebration was brief, and after the game, the focus was back on because 7 Figures had just punched their ticket to the final with a 15-7 win over BCBC. What this meant was an all LA Final, with a bid to Nationals on the line.
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We all knew going into the Barrio game that we would be playing 7-Figures if we beat them, barring some miraculous charge from BCBC, no offense to them. It was easy to overlook the Barrio game and look ahead to a matchup with 7 Figs, but I am proud how our team focused on the game at hand and took care of business.
We had dinner at Holly's place, watched Stanford beat USC, and went to bed 4-0 on the day. The next morning was intense. Not in a... omg we're late type of way, but, the anxiety and focus was much more noticeable on 10/10/10 then any other tournament Sunday that I have experienced. People doing yoga, ipods on... focused looks while drinking morning joe. Everyone had the game on their minds. Even though it was a 1:45pm start, it was on my mind from the moment I woke up. A couple of us ended up at I-Hop for breakfast, and I feel like that was the best thing for me. I was with 4 other close teammates and we shared stories, joked around, and as opposed to the intensity and focus in the morning, things were loose, relaxed, and jovial. It was good for us to go into the finals relaxed, after all... ultimate is about fun right?
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Finals
(#1) 7 -Figures vs. (#3) LA Metro
The last time we played, 7-Figures established that they were the team to beat in the Region. The obvious and deserved #1 seed destroyed us 15-6 in the FINALS of Sectionals. It was ridiculous and a pain that didn't go away for weeks. It ate at me and pushed me to be better... and I know it bothered everyone since all the practices were at an intensity none of us had practiced at all year. It was great and we knew we did what we could to be ready.
First pull at a little before 1:50pm, and the game was underway. We started on D and immediately generated a turn but was unable to generate points. Figs went up 1 before we responded with a huge sky from Barrs "gimme that" Lang. At 2-2, the momentum swung. I am told that momentum usually swings in the middle to later parts of the game but whoever was present at this game knew that right then and there, at two all, we got a jolt of momentum from Trogdor! Simply said, our defense was stifiling and we got them swinging the disc in their end zone and stuck on the front cone. We clamped down hard and a forced dump was met with a quick la
yout from Trogdor for the callahan break. The energy was up, and before we knew it, we had seized control of the game going up 9-5. But 7-Figures is a team that we all respect. They have solid players who have much experience, and we were in an all too familiar situation being up 9-5. In an earlier scrimmage, we had been up 9-6, only to be bageled the second half enroute to a 15-9 trouncing. It showed us the potential 7-Figures had if they could get a little bit of a run going, which they did. They went on a 4-2 run to bring it to 11-10, but the difference being that our offensive line of Taz, Gordy, Hammie, Kief, Keegan, Bambi, and Misch responded and the defensive lines kept on rolling to put us up 14-10, game point. We failed to punch it in and at 14-13... we were in need of a dire score. The line of Yugo, Scott, Barrs, Kief, Bambi, Taz, and Misch went on and before we knew it.... we got it done and clinched the win 15-13. Cue the rush, the champagne, tears, hugs... complete elation.
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The first LA team to win Regionals... wow... it was sweet. Well deserving and in the huddle afterwards, nothing but smiles, joy, and sweet relief. It was a feel good story for us. Being discouraged and dismantled by a very good team in 7 Figures at Sectionals, only to put it all together, adjust, and run the table at Regionals. A perfect 5-0, and the title as the #1 Mixed team in the Southwest Region. It broke everyone's heart to see Barrio beat 7-Figures in the backdoor game, and I know that many Metroids lost their voices cheering our LA friends on. There was an incredible atmosphere present on the sidelines at Freedom Park in Camarillo, CA. Many teams stayed late to watch the finals, with many chanting, heckling, yelling... the sideline was alive at Regionals... and it all amounted to one of the best weekends of my life.
The tournament was successful, people were happy, but above all, we were going to Florida. I took Monday and Tuesday to soak in the moment, but I know that today, the track awaits, the stairs await, and I will hate Ben Bergen after the workout is through.
LA Metro is going back to the show... it doesn't get any sweeter than this. =)
-Hammie
LA Metro #10
1 comment:
See you in Sarasota. Bring your A game cause we'll be bringing ours.
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