I am a national champion whore

This season was a bit different than every other season that I ever played. First of all, it really just lasted 3 days at nationals. I did not try to get in great shape, my weekly workout routing consisted of at least 5.5 miles of biking (to and from work). A couple of 20-30 minutes runs a week. One day of less than stellar pickup frisbee. No track workouts. No speed, plyos, etc. Basically, I would consider myself if good general health. Not in good frisbee shape. But that did not stop me from ending up in Sarasota.

Technically, I guess my season started sometime in late August when I was put on the Flycoons roster. I told them I was not going (no vacation days to use at work until 09) to nationals. Then a couple of weeks later they told me I had to pay my UPA dues by Sectionals. Although I *knew* I was not going, I still paid them. Then I spoke with them after their 2nd place finish at regionals and they wanted me to end up in Sarasota. I laughed, why? A better finish at regionals this year. Better performances at nearly all tourneys. I did not seem like a necessary piece. In fact, it was fairly obvious that they were better off. A little bit of e-mailing on the Monday after regionals. And then riding my bike to work on Tuesday, I decided that I was going.

It has been a bit of a rough transition to western North Carolina. The usual moving stuff. Adjusting to a new place. A house that needs some love. And just normal day to day stuff that all of a sudden a couple of days of frisbee in the sun on the beach seemed like the right thing to do.

So my Thursday started like any normal nationals Thursday. Waking up early. Of course, I was still in Brevard and not in Sarasota. This is how bad of a whore I was, I did not show up to the first day of nationals. As you can tell, I was not the most committed person on the roster. But I went into work early so I could bag out a little early and catch a plane. 2 plane rides, 1 major delay on the plane, renting a car with 2 exhausted kids under 4 and I was finally in Sarasota by 12:30 am on Friday.

Thursday was of course spent watching the score reporter from work. Basically, would I be going down there to play frisbee and try to win. Or would I be going down there to drink and socialize. When I left, the Flycoons had won the first 2 games, basically giving them a very good shot at the power pools. After I did not hear from anyone for a bit, it was obvious they had lost the last game. Luckily, we were not screwed by point diff, but we would be heading up in the power pool 0-1 having to face Shazam and then ACS.

I was picked up at McDonalds so my fam could have our car and hang out on the beach all day and get ready for Halloween. I stepped onto the dew soaked fields and it felt like home. It felt liked I had been playing all year.

The first step was to introduce myself to our team. Although I played with the Flycoons last year, they had been aggressive in the offseason and picked up several people that I did not know. When it was time to play, it was against the defending national champs Shazam Returns. We could stay with these guys for about a half last year and then they would blow by us. They were deeper, more prepared and more focused than us last year. So I was at least interested to see how we would play these guys.

It was tight early. We traded breaks early to about 3s. And then I finally got to go in. I was not sure how much I would be playing, but I knew it would be on d. Which, especially early, would be great. That would be a great way to get back to playing frisbee. My first point I felt like it was going to go one of two ways, either really well or just awful. If it was the latter, I had already told myself to take off my cleats, grab a beer, and begin cheering. If it was the former, well, start trying to take other people's p.t.

We were pulling upwind in the usual cross/upwind that Sarasota offers. I was guarding the dump when a throw upfield was turned over, I spent a couple seconds cherry picking waiting for Will to pick up the disc. Once he did, I took off and the huck went up. Catch just short of the goal and then an easy goal thrown. Ahhhhhh, just like old times.

I forget what the score was, but we eventually took half 8-5ish. And roled from there. I started to play more as we won the game 15-9. This was perfect for me. I was playing d. And going deep, I think getting 2 or 3 deep balls. When we did get the disc on a turn, our o did not take long to convert. So not much throwing in the wind by me. Perfect. I foot blocked a woman for the first time. Check. No turns. A d or 2. A lot of running in the cup of the zone. And made a bad call that the observer upheld. (Pull rolled out of bounds, one of their teammates stopped it by the line and they ran to it. I thought that was illegal. I was of course wrong. And the observer and Shazam both let me know. I apologized and promised not to get in anymore rules arguments the rest of the weekend.)

So we were now 1-1 in our power pool as were the other 3 teams. Basically, we could still anywhere from 1st to 4th (not comforting). But if we won, no matter what we were in the top 2 (that is good). So while some tried to figure out the scenarios, I tried to focus on the fact that if we won, we were in the quarters. Plus, we were playing a team that just won a double game point game. And they were from the cental region. I felt confident.

This game started out 2-2 and then went to 12-2. The game was pretty much over b/c well they seemed to not fully invest this game. Several of their main stays were not on the field and therefore, we just had to get to 15 without embarassing ourselves too much. I tried to play as much as I could in order to get back in the flow of things. We won, 15-3. And won our pool so we would play in the quarters against a team in the pre-quarters. One turn for the day, a less than perfect scoober to Emily on the upwind goalline. Of course, I was reminded about that all day b/c I was the only willing to try anything upside-down...

I did not stick around for too long as it was Halloween and wanted to try and get my kids to trick or treat. Unfortunately, naps got in the way. We would trick or treat at the flycoons castle, but that was about it. We were all still tired from the previous day travels. After a dip in the hot tub, I went to bed.

Saturday morning quarters. Against Slow White. They looked different from last year. Younger and less experienced. It was windy, so I considered that a good thing.

And really, this game was the same as the first 2. Our O a little shaky at start, but always holding serve. The d taking a couple of points to really get going. It was either 3s or 4s. But the half ended 8-4. We were sparked by a huge d by Kat near our goalline (then it was not until after the game I found out she used to play on Slow White. It pays to know your teammates). From there we marched on, I think the final was 15-6. It was a cool feeling to be going to the semis. Although it was not a cool feeling to feel like my throws were a bit lacking. As opposed to Friday, I was around the disc more on Saturday. Whether this was a conscious decision to play me with less handlers or not, it involved less handlers. And well, 2 turns in this game. Both on high stalls which I misread what the dump was doing and then tried to get creative to avoid the stall (a hammer that got lost in the wind and a huck that was too short). Both times it was obvious that I had not played much with the handlers I was in with. Hopefully, that was not going to be exposed.

On the bright side, our O was playing very well. IN the 3 games I played as a flycoon, they had only been broken once. Finished out games strong and made good decisions. Our d was able to generate turns with both zone and man. And also we were able to convert fairly clean. All good things going into semis. My experience with coed is fairly limited, but I felt that really we could win. And really, it appeared there was no reason not too. The team seemed to be playing well. Everyone seemed to enjoy their role (I mean, I had not played all year, and there did not seem to be any major complaints. Or at least not obvious ones). But I guess, when you are always winning, things are easy. I am not sure we were every behind in any of these games.

We get to play ACS in the semis, which is good b/c we crushed them yesterday. Of course, they would be playing all their stars more so we had the usual this is a good team they will be better speech.

And well, they were. 4-4. I think we played 3 out of the 4 points in zone and that did not work. Eventually, switching out of it into person. We got them. I don't remember anything particularly awesome about anyone's play, just a lot of pressure. I do remember being in one point where it seemed like they made a lot of passes and did not go anywhere before we forced a turn. And then scored. So it was pretty cool. I don't think I got a d or scored or assisted. I do remember a high stall invert to Scott that everyone seemed to like, so I will mention that. So yeah, we take half 8-4.

The 2nd half, we appeared to be more tired. Our legs were spent a little on O and D. And #25 on their team definitely stepped up his game deep. And more some reason we challenged him a bit going deep. Not the smartest of decisions. They brought it back to 12-10. Our d could not convert. And our O had played a couple of longs points (although they were only broken once or twice in the 2nd half).

So I play my first, and only, O point of the tourney. And we have to receive going upwind. We turn it early, but they turn it right back. I was a cutter and found myself trapped on the wrong side of the field. Meaning their were cutters that I could not get around to start my cut. After a timeout by Markie, I felt like I could get more involved. I get a comeback cut and we are eventually off to races, particularly me, Markie, and Daph. Working the disc around. Mark over throws an invert to me, but it is perfect to Emily. 13-10. And they seem spent. Our next d point, we had some chances, but Pbbbbt. We score on O, much easier this time. 14-11. Last d point, I am in guarding Seiler. And they just look nervous and not confident. More example, I pretty much was letting Seiler have the disc on the first cut, but they did not throw it until he was even with the disc. They play around with the disc and march backward from the brick (ugh that's right we pulled it out of bounds on gamepoint, with them going upwind. Luckily, it did not hurt us). Something happened, quick turn, quick score. Game over. 15-11.

So yeah, we are in the finals against Shazam. Right in the middle of the day (you know when everyone will complain that the open was early and the coed was at lunch. I used to complain about it too, but once you play in the game, you don't care).

Team meeting at 9 and then lights out.

Get there early watch Jam over Ironside. Warm-up and play the finals.

Sloppy the whole first half, as you can appreciate if you watched. The wind was bad, but not awful. I have played in worse Sarasota winds. But I guess the nerves. We try zone and person early with little success. My first D point, we have a chance to convert, but I miss Emily deep on a really shitty forehand deep. (turnover #4 on the weekend) At 4s or 5s, we get the only break of the first half (I think there was only one break, at least that is all I remember). It was not pretty. I believe 17 turns. I had a drop (turn #5). A punt (turn #6). And I feel like another one... At least one injury sub, maybe 2. I was happy with my d, but obviously less than impressed with my o. We start to struggle with the disc near their endzone, not good. After a turn, I just punt it. For no better reason but to give us room. The call timeout right after the punt though. Luckily, they were as dead as us. In the end, our only break of the first half comes on a high stall up the line pass that was macced then greatested and then laid out to catch the goal. So ugly point, but a pretty fun way to score it. Kind of sums of the point quite nicely.

So we take half 8-7 and we will be receiving. Our focus on halftime, trying to play offense better... We are a team that needs the handlers early and often. I felt we were too stagnant behind the disc. It started in the ACS 2nd half and kind of continued into this game. If we were going to win, the handlers had to wake up and get the disc. Instead of throwing upfield and walking to get the disc at count 5, we had to throw the disc and get into position then. The windier it is, the earlier you have to get into position. We were not doing that.

And the 2nd half was a little better. We moved the disc faster and more effectively (I think). I will not try to argue that this half was pristine, but it was much better for us at least. We were able to mix up our zone and person pretty effectively, I think. At least enough to throw them off guard a bit. In the end, I think our depth wore on them. We were really a deep team both men and women. Fast forward, they turn it over on a dump. One throw. Goal. Game. 15-11 we win!

It feels great. I will say it does feel a bit weird since I did not really work terribly hard this year. BUT, everyone on the team went out of their way to include me and that felt great. I really felt like a full member of the team. And really motivated me the whole weekend. I could never shake that feeling that I was stealing p.t. from someone. But I usually feel that anyway and no individual that way. In fact, many people told me that I was playing well. That feels good. And definitely made it feel more rewarding. There was no bitterness and well, they had every reason to be. We were all there to win. I guess I was a bigger part of that then I expected. I am so glad I went and well, it makes me want to get in frisbee shape again so I can play better.

So, why did we win?

Our O was awesome. No 3 point runs. Only broken 4 (maybe 5) times through 5 games. Not bad, especially for co-ed... It definitely allows your whole team to fire up if your offense is scoring. If you can't get the d on the field, you can't win. Part of that reason is most teams use a smaller rotation on o (we were about 11 or 12), so that means the bulk of your players play on defense. If you offense is struggling, a lot of players are on the sideline not playing for awhile. So when they do score, all of them want to play, but they can't. SO you have to play your "best" players. Except they are not as good, because they are cold... And then resentment sets in. And that is when you have p.t. issues. Our offense helped us avoid this.

The ability to create turns with both zone and person. We could change up the d pretty well on teams (really only ACS on Saturday was our zone ineffective). Being able to have multiple defenses that create turns is good on so many levels. I felt the other teams could never predict what we were doing. Besides always forcing home. And that is good.

Depth. We could use at least 16 men without losing much. ANd that was impressive. The flycoon heads did a great job of getting more quality on the team. And everyone was in for it. I loved it. Many handlers. Many cutter defenders. Basically, there was a good chance the person guarding you was somewhat fresh. And motivated to get d so they could get more pt. That is a good feeling to have in your teammates. The trust that if you can't get it done, there are 3 or 4 guys that can do just as well if not better.


So yeah, it was a fun year. And by year, I mean 3 days... Seriously, it was a great time, as Sarasota always is. I am glad that they did not take me off the roster and kept bugging me when I said I was not going. Frisbee is fun. And if you are keeping score, you might as well score more points than the other team....