Sectionals Recap

Boomland knew that sectionals was going to be an uphill battle this year and that their play would need to be stepped up to the next level if they had any chance at making it to Regionals.

With those thoughts in the back of their minds, the men of Boomland faced their first opponent of the day, UIC. Boomland looked passed their #2 pool seed and came out firing from the get-go. Boomland drew first blood as UIC put a loose cup on. With an easy fake from Cozza and a toss Talon the cup was broken. This situation would continue to be seen throughout the day. After breaking the cup a few more times, UIC went to man and Boomland had a little trouble getting through it. With the help of ridiculous defense from Wego, Shaby, and Big Joe; Boomland took the game 13-11 for probably the biggest upset in sporting history.

Coming off the intense upset against UIC, Valpo waited on the next field to be defeated. Boomland once again came out of the gates very strong. However, toward the end of the game emotions seemed to fizzle as Boomland let Valpo get back into the game. With the support of the A-team on the sideline and a cool rain hitting their brows, Boomland once again stood on the field victorious 13-9 and now undefeated in pool play.

Jacked up on pure adrenaline, Boomland looked over to the opposite sideline to see their next opponent: the A-team. Boomland looked upon these giants of the Ultimate community not with fear, but with respect for they were brothers. Not brothers from the same mother, but brothers in the sense of shared blood and sweat. As the lines for each team were called and both teams stood opposite each other on the field it seemed as though the world stopped and focused its gaze upon this one single field on the Naperville Polo grounds for this would be a game to end all games. After tricking the A-team into thinking they were receiving, Boomland received the pull and effortlessly marched up the field for the first score for the game. However, this score would only be one of three for Boomland as the A-team’s A-teamness was too much for younger and better looking Boomland team. The highlight of the game came in the second half as Jon O burned Lefty deep on Beta X for a money shot in the end zone for the score. Although there was a mutual agreement to not hurt anyone on either team, the A-team decided to break that covenant: Pavan air snaked Hundo in the face and Austin decided to test to see how brittle River’s old bones actually were. At the end of the game Boomland lost 4-13, but it was much closer than that on the field.

I wish the A-team game would have been Boomland’s last game of the day because Boomland lost the concentration they had worked so hard on maintaining through the first two games of the day. To make their lives easier, Boomland needed to win their last game against Purdue to get into the Championship Bracket on Sunday. Purdue had a very athletic team and Boomland had trouble containing their longs. Boomland’s hearts and heads just seemed to not be into the game as Boomland sadly lost 13-7. This loss would mean we would be placed in the 6^th place bracket and have to win four games in row on Sunday.

Saturday passed and Sunday came just as winter melts into spring. Sunday was an opportunity for rebirth and a bid to Regionals. Boomland’s first game was against Earlham. With Jesus on their side Earlham took control of the first half and got at least four breaks. Boomland did not give up though and through the exquisite play of Cozza, Talon, Wego, Rivers, Prez and others Boomland was back in the game. However, the breaks given up in the first half were too much to com back from and Earlham prevailed 15-13. (Sidenote: Earlham was one of the nicest teams ever, really great guys)

After the rumors of a Sunday ending on a “one and done” type deal Boomland began preparations to play Loyola. As with the game before, we had trouble getting into the game early on and breaks in the first half would eventually come back to haunt Boomland in a 13-15 loss to Loyola.

The last game of the day for Boomland was against Northern. These guys played a very similar game to what we played and it looked to be a great game. But going along with the theme of the day of having breaks come back to bit us in the butt, Boomland regretfully lost its last game of the season. We fought hard in the second half and brought it back within two points on several occasions, but just could not seal the deal. Boomland ended its season in placing 13^th in Sectionals.