News Recap: 2011 College Open Regionals (Great Lakes)

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Recap: 2011 College Open Regionals (Great Lakes)

Kevin Stowe

Posted: May 4, 2011 12:58 PM

Open Division

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Great Lakes
Regionals Recap

There were a number of near upsets in Great Lakes pool play: Illinois scraped by against Loyala-Chicago, 9-8, Ball State edged out Indiana, 12-11, and Michigan won against Wheaton, 12-10. But on Sunday, all four of the top seeds reached the semifinals, with Michigan State playing Ball State and Michigan against Illinois.

Michigan State/Ball State Semifinal

Both teams came out hot, but Michigan State got a handful of big blocks from captain Jesse Elwood and fifth-year Weston Laabs and took half, 8-5. After halftime, Ball State looked much sharper, relying heavily on standout handler Keenan Plew, who Michigan State just couldn’t keep up with for most of this game. Between Plew getting the disc every other throw and athletic play from cutters Joseph Kalule and Brian Weddle, Ball State rattled off two breaks bringing it to 8-7. Both teams traded points to 10-9, but Michigan State’s defense got back into the game when Michael Dagher-Margosian footblocked Plew on the goal line. Michigan State ended up holding off Ball State to win 15-10.

Michigan/Illinois Semifinal

I wasn’t able to watch both games, as the middle area was forbidden to spectators, so I watched MSU – Ball State and tried to check out the other game from afar. It wasn’t easy to see from where I was, but it certainly was loud. Illinois seemed to be the much more fired up team, as they rolled off breaks. I saw a handful of shaky Michigan turnovers, including an open swing throw that popped up and other unforced errors. For a brief while Michigan started making some noise and making some plays, but I saw an Illinois player jump over three Michigan defenders to make a spectacular grab for a score, and Illinois looked like they were back in the driver’s seat. Wish I could’ve watched this one. Illinois ended up winning 15-9.

Michigan State/Illinois Final

A rematch of last year’s final, this time both teams faced the pressure of elimination if they lost. Michigan State came out on defense, and Elwood got a block that led to a quick Michigan State break. Illinois scored on offense, and from there, the game got sloppy. Illinois started putting up hucks that got caught in the wind, and Michigan State countered by putting up similar incompletions.

A few of the next points lasted for six, seven, even eight turns, but Illinois managed to put them in, going up 3-1. Michigan State scored on offense, but they looked nervous and out of their game. They forced more hucks that Illinois defenders got the better of, and they also dropped catchable throws and made unforced errors. Michigan State’s defense continued to force turns, but their offense repeatedly failed to capitalize.

A great match up to watch was Aaron Zeigler of Michigan State and Dane Jorgenson of Illinois. They were the two largest, meatiest people on each team, and they both battled fiercely for a slew of windy hucks. Illinois all-star handler Ryan “Kennedy” Smith threw a couple of accurate bombs late in the half that hit his cutters in stride, and Illinois broke repeatedly to take half at 8-4.

After half, the woes continued for Michigan State, who gave up two quick breaks. At about this time, both teams sharpened up. Illinois’ offense ran smoothly through Smith and handler Zach Frantz, but they struggled when neither of these skilled handlers was playing. Michigan State began relying more on its short game, with handlers Alex Edinger and Elwood working the disc to in-cuts and breaks that led to much easier scoring opportunities.

Michigan State received and scored, to make the score 10-5, Illinois, but after an Illinois hold, the score traded to 12-6. MSU’s defense stayed sharp, sparked by big, athletic deep play from cutter Zach Albright, and they managed to break Illinois’ offense to get the score to 12-8.

After a timeout, Illinois collected itself. Smith continued to throw Peyton Manning forehands, including an endzone to endzone bomb in a stiff crosswind that fell right in his receiver’s lap. Michigan State fought to 14-11, but that was as close as they would get. On the last point, Smith worked the disc up the field and, marked by Elwood on the endzone line, put up a stall-eight high-release backhand that floated over his receiver but into another teammate’s hands.

Illinois won, 15-11, earning a 4th straight College Championships berth.