Ohio Dodgeball Cup Preview

By Rylan Close

The Ohio Dodgeball cup is upon us once more, and this season looks to be potentially the most exciting one yet. Top-to-bottom this might be the deepest we’ve ever seen the Ohio region. There are simply no “bad” teams in this year’s lineup, and so far this season the inter-region games have been some of the most exciting in the league so far. For the first time ever, it is not irrational to say that every team in the region has a REAL chance to win it all this year. It should be one of the most exciting non-nationals tournaments the league has ever seen. There’s quite a lot to talk about; so without further ado, let’s get into the breakdowns for each team.

AKRON

Akron enters this tournament as the #1 seed not just in the Ohio region, but in the entire league. They’ve been able to keep their blazing hot home streak alive this season and extend it to [whatever it is now] games. While the Zips’ consistency is undeniable, it comes with some question marks. Akron has yet to play against a single other top 5 school this season. They’ll need to be firing on all cylinders to compete in an ODC that is shaping up to be one of the most competitive ever. Akron will need to prove itself here and now that they are a legit contender on the big stage. The team’s depth and talent certainly imply that they can do it; their core of seniors in Carter Crawford, Jeremy Faircloth, and Arik Kavanagh have all been having strong seasons, but now is the time to finally make it happen.

Key Rookies: Aiden Douglas

MIAMI

Miami has quietly been having a REALLY strong season. Tied with Akron for the most wins in the league, and outside of one loss this season to OU, they’ve been torching the Ohio region so far. Ty Keller has stepped up big for this program as a captain, alongside Dominic Dellapina and Phillip Hampton. Teams like Akron and Ohio might enter the tournament with a bit more hype, but Miami is as strong as any team in the league, and they are LONG overdue for an ODC run. They’ve had some very talented teams fall short in the past, but this one has as good a chance as any to finally get over the hump.

Key Rookies: Ray Moore

OHIO

Despite sitting at the #3 seed in the Ohio region, one could argue that the Bobcats are one of the most dangerous teams in the league right now. Coming off an appearance at Grand Valley Gauntlet in which they beat both GVSU and MSU on short notice, Ohio will look to continue their hot streak on the biggest stage so far this season. However, their path to get there is not easy, as they match up first against the UC Bearcats, who beat them 4-3 in overtime in their last meeting. They’ll need everything they can get from players like Emmanuel Miller and Jack Watts (Who just put up a fantastic performance at GVSU) to put an end to Cincy’s possible 4-peat and finally take the trophy home themselves.

Key Rookies: Andrew Krankowski, Trevor Clute, Eli Maistros

KENT

Kent got off to a slow start this season after some roster inconsistency issues, but they finished the fall semester strong with a 4-0 performance at DPBC to secure the #4 seed this time around. Kent still has some growing to do in order to match up to the top teams in the Ohio region, but the talent is slowly developing, as rising stars JJ Oldenburg and Mitch Lathwell look to keep Kent’s future in good hands. The floor with this team has risen significantly since the post-covid days, but now is the time to see if they can raise their ceiling as we move towards the year’s trophied events. 

Key Rookies: Evan Harbison, Brogan Hartup

BGSU

BGSU might be the most “Jekyll and Hyde” team in the league. When they’re at their best, they’re blowing the doors off UC and beating GVSU in overtime. But when they lose steam, they’re struggling to put away teams they should easily beat. The Falcons are as dangerous as any team in this region when they’re clicking. Players like Ronnie Thompson and Evan Maynard are what the team lives and dies by. If we see their best side, they can make a deep run and even capture the trophy for the first time since 2019. But the Ohio region is as deep as we’ve seen it possibly ever, and they’ll need to click the same way they did at their home tournament earlier in the year to make it happen.

Key rookies: Nathan Woolley, Jackson Peterson

UC

The reigning three-peat ODC champions have taken a slight step back this season. As the Bearcats re-focus themselves after a slow start, a new core is starting to grow. Isaiah Montgomery has taken up one of the star roles on this team, and is easily one of the most dangerous catchers in the league. Other players like Sterling Gauche and Jacob Maharg have also stepped into more prominent roles to keep the team on the rails. UC has some strong performances this season, beating their first round opponent Ohio at  South Oak Showdown, and taking GVSU to overtime at Tyler Webb Memorial. Standing in front of them is one of the hardest paths to the title, but this team has won the last three ODCs in a row, and the region runs through them until proven otherwise.

Key Rookies:

OSU

Similar to UC, last year’s Nationals and ODC runner-ups find themselves on a bit of a backslide this season after a Nationals runner-up season last year. Losing almost your entire OT6 to graduations will do that, but hope isn’t completely lost. The Buckeyes have still been able to keep games close against top-level teams, and the new young core has been starting to find footing. Per alumni Kathryn Mays:

“Jackson Bolognia has proven point after point that his leadership on the court makes him essential to the emerging success of the Buckeyes. He is reliable, consistent, animated, and often finds himself making plays in critical situations. Bolognia’s efforts to build a strong foundation of players in the fall is paying off and will no doubt be on full display at the Ohio Dodgeball Cup. He and his fellow captains have developed a close-knit rookie class, learning and improving together with each tournament. Expect big plays from rookies Will Dalton, Braylen Jarvis, and Owen Damon, as they work to bring home the Cup.”

Key Rookies: Will Dalton, Braylen Jarvis, Owen Damon

CSU

Many people may attribute the Vikings’ resurgence this season to the return of MVP candidate Leon Rockamore Jr.. While this certainly helps, one cannot ignore the development of this team’s young core, which has seen significant improvements since the start of last season. Second-year players such as Kishan Lakireddy and Colin Lathwell have emerged as legitimate threats for this team. While veterans like William McCartney and Jostein Sagnes have made efforts to improve not just individual play, but the structure and strategy of the whole team. All this combines to make them arguably the most dangerous #8 seeded team the ODC has ever seen. They still have work to do if they want to be able to make a legitimate run at big events, but don’t be surprised if they play a bit of spoiler this weekend.

Key Rookies: Devon Adams