USA Ultimate

Masters Division Central Regionals Recap

Sunday October 2nd, 2011

As with all midwest tournaments, central regionals is often defined by the weather.  Would it be windy and stormy or beautiful and calm. The best teams usually prefer wind because it maximizes their throwing advantage.  This weekend was beautiful, though with a steady 5-10 mph wind.  Advantage strong throwing teams and fans on the sidelines.

Also of note, masters ultimate at the regional level often feels somewhat sloppy since this is often the first time that these teams have played together as a single unit. On the one hand teams are fighting for bids to the show while trying simultaneously to figure out how to play together.  'Practice meets performance' can create some weird turnovers you wouldn't expect to see at this level but thats masters ultimate. You just have to expect some of that.

The masters pool had 7 teams with three bids. Last years defending champs Surly, along with national semifinalist Real Huck were the top two seeds followed closely by a reloaded Old Style out of Wisconsin.  Fourth seed was Chico's bail bonds.  Fifth was the Surly Cynics who have continued to improve since forming their own brand of surly ultimate around 2007. The final two spots were filled by the Fine Young Callahans of Cincinnati and Rust from Ohio/Michigan.

On paper it seemed that this tournament would lack drama because the top three teams seemed fairly locked in but the combination of all the above created some close games and scary moments for most of the field.

The biggest of these was the 2/3 game between Real Huck and Old Style. Real Huck was missing several players to a wedding on saturday and had given up a lot of points to Surly in the earlier 1/2 game (final 13-4).  They are a veteran team even by masters standards and they knew how to bring it when it matters as evidenced by their run into semis last year in Sarasota. 

Unfortunately, so did a young and hungry Madison team. Tied 9-9 both teams had at least three chances to take the upper hand in a game that was ultimately capped at twelve.  Multiple "oh shoots" were heard after Real Huck over shot receivers or Old Style dropped a catchable huck. I believe both teams called timeouts in the point but in the end Real Huck squeezed the hell point score and then broke on D to seal the win 12-10 at the end.

Old Style would need to beat Surly handily to avoid the backdoor pools and though they gave Surly a strong effort (13-7) on Sunday morning, it was not to be as waves of Surly defenders and tight offensive movement against the Old Style trap zone overwhelmed the home town team.

Finals pitted top two seeds Surly and Real Huck who got back their wedding bound teammates in time for Sunday's tilt. The result would help determine nationals seeding though both teams had qualified for nationals at that point. The teams are quite friendly as the cores of both teams have been playing against (or with) each other for a decade or more. Needless to say, bragging rights and pride were on the line. Sometimes these are the most fun games to play.

Surly however was not going to be denied in this matchup.  They started the game with two quick breaks after Real Huck miscues and finished the first half 8-3. A rather stunned Real Huck just couldn't force enough turns from the Surly O line and failed to convert the few they did get. Final score 15-6.

And while the finals participants were able to enjoy some fine Surly brew compliments of their sponsoring brewery, the final game of the day was lined up - Old Style vs. Surly Cynics with a ticket to sarasota on the line.

Surly Cynics had already secured their best finish yet and were in their first ever game-to-go. They'd played well against their Surly brethren and gave Real Huck a scare during pool play so one would assume that if they could get scrappy and keep it close early they had a chance despite an earlier loss to Old Style.  Old Style on the other hand had been in this game for the last couple years and let it slip away each time with last minute collapses to Real Huck. Its hard to win games to go no matter who is in them.

The Cynics are anchored by a core of younger players from the open team Ding Wop out of Duluth and they seem to thrive on making unconventional plays. When they are on it can be devastating to an unsuspecting defense. But when they're off, especially against a team that sees them coming, things can go downhill quickly and at 4-0 Old Style the Cynics were forced to take a timeout and stop the bleeding with a more conventional offensive score. 

From there Old Style seemed to be playing downhill and though they weren't flawless, their talent shone through with meat grinding under plays that wore an already tired Cynic squad out. Old Style convincingly punches their ticket with a 15-4 win. Props to them for making the most of their opportunity and for gelling when it mattered. Sometimes the third times the charm and they will no doubt be ready when the lights go up on natties.

Finally, Chico's Bail Bonds deserve some special props for their play on the weekend.  They were able to bring only six players to the tournament on Saturday but played strong despite their numbers and persevered in a situation where most would have long since quit or not come at all.  Well done chico, thanks for bringing it!

See you in Sarasota!