Category: All-Americans

1. Barry Butler III – Michigan State

This year’s rookie class brought in some incredible talent nationally, but when you look across the season one name stood out above the rest – Barry Butler III. Barry had begun to make a name for himself from the first point he played in. He’s already developed into one of Michigan State’s top arms and has strong catching abilities. He learns the game quickly and already has more court awareness than most seasoned vets. It’s hard to watch him play and remember that he’s only a rookie, this kid seems like he can do it all. Beyond his skill set, his work ethic is unparalleled and he is always striving for improvement. Barry has the potential to be a future NCDA MVP.

Since 2017, the NCDA has honored the female competitors who have dedicated time and effort to their craft. The individuals on our list have excelled throughout the past year and made major contributions to their respective teams. Many of the NCDA’s female athletes also support their organizations through leadership roles, and this list is a way to recognize those outstanding individuals.

MVP – Kathryn Mays (Ohio State)

The NCDA honorably recognizes Kathryn Mays as our 2020 Women’s MVP. Kathryn sets the bar quite high for women’s participation in this league and should be seen not only as a role model for upcoming women in the NCDA, but for all women athletes around the country. Her dedication to her sport and her team is unparalleled by many players in the league. Her passion for the game was not the only factor in her MVP selection of course; Kathryn’s court knowledge and ability granted her high consideration for the MVP role. Making the starting roster on a top 10 team in the league is already no easy task, and while Kathryn not only starts for Ohio State, she can be seen as one of the main reasons for their success. Kathryn is a quiet player who may often be underestimated until she steps up late in the match to show off her survival skills, catching ability, and strategic throws. Her leadership and dedication will be landing her the role of President for The Ohio State Dodgeball Syndicate next year as she continues their team’s journey of success. Kathryn will continue to shine next year, and prove to everyone that women in this league can compete, and win, against many men on the same court.

1) Alex Jonauskas – Grand Valley State

Jonauskas comes in one spot shy of making the 1st Team after another strong season. This GVSU star has been a force for years in Allendale, Michigan. Jonauskas developed over the years into a strong leader, and well-rounded player for the GVSU Lakers. His survivability and knack for making clutch plays as the last man standing helped him gain recognition. In his final year as a college dodgeballer, Jonauskas stepped up as a leader and playmaker and helped Grand Valley to an undefeated season prior to the season being stopped due to COVID-19. Congrats to Jonauskas on making the list!

The National Collegiate Dodgeball Association continues to grow and improve.  As the number of teams and players in the league increases, so does the competition to make the All-American Team.  With COVID-19 cutting short the 16th season of College Dodgeball, it is time to announce the players who have earned a spot on this year’s list.  Congrats to all the fantastic players who made the cut!

Player of the Year: Ben Smart – Grand Valley State

Earning his 2nd consecutive 1st Team All American honor, Ben Smart lands at #1 on this list, taking home the title of 2020 College Dodgeball Player of the Year. This Grand Valley State University star had an impressive season, showing off his skills any time he had the chance. Smart burst onto the scene two years ago in the 2018 National Title Game, and since then the legend of Ben Smart has only grown. He is one of the top catchers in the game, showing an ability to get low and make tough catches on well-placed throws. His arm strength has improved dramatically over the past few seasons, and he now has one of the toughest throws in the entire country to block/dodge. Smart was a play-maker all year long, at times showing he can secure outs at will when he is on his game. Smart will be back on the team again next season so look for more dominance from him in 2020-21.

Below is the 1st Team All-Decade list, voted on by a panel of 12 individuals who played collegiate dodgeball between 2010 and 2019.

1) Kevin Bailey – Grand Valley State University

The final spot on the College Dodgeball All-Decade Team goes to Kevin Bailey of Grand Valley State University. Bailey joined GVSU in the middle of the biggest rebuilding period in program history. His rookie class, filled with talented and competitive players, came at the perfect time for GVSU. They pushed each other to become better players, and consequently several of them received All-American honors along with their national championship wins. Bailey took over as captain his junior year and focused on building his team through competition, both internally and externally. He genuinely believed that the team was only as good as the worst player so he actively worked to raise the talent level of everyone on the team. He also knew that real game experience was crucial to success and therefore nearly doubled the number of games GVSU played compared to previous years. A true all-around player, Bailey was a problem for his opponents on the court. The speed, movement, and accuracy on his throw was absolutely overwhelming. His superior blocking skills made him nearly impossible to hit with a ball in his hands, and in the rare instances where he would be without a ball, he was still extremely proficient at catching and dodging to save himself from being eliminated. What truly separated Bailey from the rest of the league, however, was his incredible awareness of the game. He was always in perfect position, he had the patience to wait for his opponents to make mistakes, and then he would quickly and efficiently capitalize. Bailey’s resume remains on a likely untouchable level. He is the only player in history to receive more than one Player of the Year award; he received the award 3 years in a row from 2014-2016. He won 4-consecutive NCDA National Championships (2013-2016), and was selected as an All-American each of those 4 seasons. The unanimously voted #1 player of the decade, Bailey is a current member of the semi-professional team Grand Rapids Dynasty.

Learning to play dodgeball in the NCDA is one of the toughest learning curves for many competitors. Whether it’s learning strategy or even how to pinch, the game can make many feel like a complete novice early on. However, there are those who learn the ropes quickly and emerge as players with immediate impact on their respective teams. The All-Rookie list is a way to recognize those individuals. Congrats to our first team selections!

Since 2017, the NCDA has honored the female competitors who have dedicated time and effort to their craft. The individuals on our list have excelled throughout the past year and made major contributions to their respective teams. Many of the NCDA’s female athletes also support their organizations through leadership roles, and this list is a way to recognize those outstanding individuals.

The National Collegiate Dodgeball Association had another fantastic season full of exciting moments. Today, we will further highlight the success of our athletes who showed outstanding achievements on the court during the 2018-19 season. This is your list for those who made the 2nd Team All-American list.

The National Collegiate Dodgeball Association continues to expand at a rapid pace.  As the number of teams and players in the league increases, so does the competition to make the All-American Team.  As we have reached the end of the 15th season of College Dodgeball, it is time to announce the players who have earned a spot on this year’s list.  Congrats to all the fantastic players who made the cut!