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2011 Olympia Mixed Traveling Team |
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Cooper, Andrew, Mandy, Aaron, Hot Rod Todd, Jon, Will, Corey Jean, Armand, Kathy, Asher, Jeff, Lisa Shannon, Beth, Erica, Santana, Hannah Molly |
The weather was beautiful the entire weekend, and nearly perfect for throwing a disc with 99 other teams for the 22nd annual Potlatch tournament. So let’s get into the games.
The game started out with O’School down 4-0 and 6-1. But just when it seemed that all was lost, up stepped our young legs. Jeff H. scored four times and Mandrew twice. Before the Knights knew it the game was tied at 13. Over the next few points the teams battled it out until they finally reached 16s and a hard cap. On the last point of the game the teams went back and forth, and each team had multiple missed opportunities to end the game, before the Knights scored to win.
Although we lost a heartbreaker in the first game, we were now warmed up and ready to go, which was unfortunate Light Bright. Our play was quick and precise, with our ladies leading us to victory. Jean and Shannon played especially well scoring three times and twice respectively in our 15-8 victory.
For the third game we played a strong team from Portland made up of players from Breaker’s Mark and Pliestocene Supernova. We started the game strong with a nice huck from Jon to Asher for a score, and although we played a good game with big contributions from Molly, Aaron, and Hannah, and a great defensive diving play from Lisa, we came up on the losing end of a 15-10 score.
This game matched our veteran patience against the Kids’ young legs. The Kids had at least two elite players from Portland’s co-ed team Dogfight. The Kids tried to go over the top of us with hucks, but our defense held. On offense we played well and received big contributions from with our ladies such as Kathy and Beth. Despite a tough battle, we were able to pull out a 15-12 victory.
We did have a scare in this game when Mandy in making a nice defensive play on a huck ran over the re-cap fairy making him look like a Puerto Rican pancake (youngsters have no respect for their elders). Despite the concerned look on the faces of the sideline, I was able to recover quickly.
We came out for the second game firing on all cylinders and steam-rolled the Robot in the first half by taking an 8-1 lead. We cruised to a final score of 15-5.
For the final game of the second day, we played familiar foes Stella, the Pirate King’s Daughter. Coming out of our second game, we were very relaxed and took a 5-2 lead on Stella. Although we were relaxed, Stella was not going to roll over for us. Early in the game one of Stella’s veterans raced down field on a pull and launched himself three feet off the ground for a diving Callahan. Amazing play!
With this great play to fuel their confidence, Stella used their zone defense to slow down our offense. Like a true pirate royalty, Stella’s zone bent left, and it bent right, but it did not break. Using the zone, Stella shot out offense’s tires, frustrated us, and outscored us 6-1 to take the half. The half time score was a rude awakening for us. During the first half Stella had soundly beat us in every facet of the game including energy and strategy. You can only imagine what our half time huddle was like.
We didn’t know how the game would turn out, but we did know that we weren’t going to give up to the pirate marauders without a fight. As Todd later pointed out, starting the second half on defense was a blessing because we did not have to deal with their zone. With fire flowing through our veins, we played one of our most intense halves of the year. None of our defenders gave one inch on defense and before Stella knew it the score was tied, and then a few minutes later, we were in the lead for good.
Now it was Stella who was stunned by the game’s events. With our first half’s mistakes behind us, and led by Beth and Andrew, we were patient enough to hit thirty or more passes in our zone offense for scores in the second half. A nice i/o from Asher to Todd ended a game in which we outscored Stella 8-1 in the second half. Although Todd ended the game, his true magic was just beginning as he wrote an epic cheer for Stella that had come to him in a dream. Great job Todd!
For the final day of the tourney we were seated E8, and our first game was against a talented team from Canada. Early, the two teams traded points, but for the first game of the day we were sharp. Behind our patient zone offense and strong game by Cooper, we won by a surprisingly easy 15-7 score.
Can you say talented clowns? Although these kids were excellent athletes, but they chose not to play the game seriously on offense. They played multiple hammer, scoober, etc., points. Despite that, we had a big contribution from Will who was playing with a swollen toe. Will threw for five scores to power us into the semi-finals of the E pool.
The best part of this game was that Todd wrote a cool patriotic cheer. It was so appropriate for the day.
Before our E-pool semifinal game began, the Kids played a tape recording of the national anthem as the teams gathered near the Kids’ sideline with hands over hearts. After the national anthem the team shook hands and prepared to play in what really became the E pool finals.
As for the game, it did not start well for us. We quickly went down 5-0. It seemed like the Kids were catching every good and bad throw they made. It also didn’t help that we made a few unforced errors. After this bad start, Corey called a time out to settle the team down and get us focused.
The time out worked because despite the formidable opponent, we scratched and clawed our way back into the game. Erica threw and caught scores, as did Molly and Mandrew, while Hannah caught three scores. With an immense effort, we were able to tie the score at 10, but sadly we could not keep our momentum going and the Kids finished the game as strong as they began it. We lost 14-11. Sidenote: the Kids crushed the team they played in the E pool finals. It was never close.
After our cheer for the Kids, they had us play an interesting game that ended up back firing on the person promoting the game for the Kids. Andrew took a great video of this game.
Congratulations to our Captains’ Award winners Mandrew and Jean. Great tournament you two!
Will and Hannah hosted a dinner/going-away party for Kathy and Lisa. Tears and good memories flowed. We will miss the both of you and Liam too.
Thank you to Erica and Molly for coming home for one more tournament; we miss you ladies.
We lost the tent wars 2-1. Mandy’s tent was destroyed in the middle of the night with him in it by two drunken fools (sorry Mandy), and Aaron’s tent was taken out on a diving catch in the end zone. Hannah partially returned the favor as she took out someone tent during an end zone catch.
Love was in the air at Potlatch this year. Paul Dante’s team helped a teammate propose to his girlfriend. The couple had met at Potlatch three years ago. Also, a couple on 101 Damn Asians exchanged wedding vows on the field.
"Put your entire team in the spotlight. Thanks to them, you're able to experience a level of success that you wouldn't have been able to achieve on your own. Remember that when it's your turn to help one of them out."