Leading into Nationals, we look to spotlight as many teams as we can in hopes of shining a bright light on standouts from participating teams. These glow-ups include up to 2 of each team’s standout rookies as well as a handful of core contributing players that have gotten their respective team to where they are going into the National Collegiate Dodgeball Association’s annual finale. Lastly, we get a glance into each participating team’s mindset and expectations going into Nationals.
Tigers’ Rookie Spotlight
Grant Hines #12: Grant, a junior, made his presence felt immediately after joining the Towson Dodgeball team. Grant was already CPR certified before joining the team and was able to join Garrett Abbott and Nate Urlock as one of our Safety Officers. Grant didn’t solidify his role in the starting lineup until the beginning of the spring semester but once he got there, he didn’t look back. Grant has quickly shown that he is one of the more reliable arms on Towson and is prepared to strike whenever his number is called.
Quinn McHugh#8: Quinn, a freshman, quickly stepped up as our top rookie in the fall recruiting class, earning a lot of playing time in the East Coast tournaments. Unfortunately, Quinn suffered a knee injury over winter break and hasn’t played yet in the spring. That hasn’t stopped Quinn from being one of the biggest and most supportive team members on the Towson roster. Quinn shows up to all our practices to help ref and be a voice in game strategy. As Quinn gets healthy he will be an integral part of the Towson Dodgeball team in the future, both on and off the court.
Key Contributors for the Tigers
Chris Joyce, #14:
Chris has embodied Towson dodgeball during his 4 years at Towson. He shows up for every game, every practice, and every team event leading by example for new players and even veteran players. He plays the most fundamental dodgeball you’ll ever see, he’s responsible for keeping Towson in points that we would otherwise quickly fall out of. Joyce has never gotten the national recognition that he deserves and it’s time for the rest of the league to learn the name Chris Joyce.
Kyle Strong, #37:
Kyle has quietly been the most reliable Towson dodgeballer in the last 4 years. While Kyle is not always the most flashy player on the court, if we went back and tracked it, Kyle would probably have the most kills over the last 4 years. Kyle just has a knack for when to throw and has pinpoint accuracy, like he literally never misses. Whenever you need a catch, or a sneaky kill, Kyle Strong always delivers.
Jake Friedman, #5:
Behind Chris Joyce and Kyle Strong, Jake has been the most consistent player on the court for Towson. He’s the loudest voice in the huddle and on the court and knows where every throw is going. Jake is a master in transition and knows right when to pull with an opponent running backwards.
Hunter Friedman, #11:
Hunter is the best 1-on-1 player in the nation. We truly believe that there’s not another dodgeballer on the planet that could beat Hunter in a 1v1 situation. Hunter is never afraid to throw and has the mentality that he’s the best on the court. When on the opposing side, you have to know where #11 is, otherwise you’ll get out.
Griffin Bass, #33:
Griffin is a very well-rounded player, makes catches, gets kills, commands the floor, and always has a good sense of who and what is on the court. Griffin isn’t the most overpowering, but he plays a fundamentally sound game and knows where his throws are going, he’s often more dangerous without a ball in his hands.
Mindset for Nationals – Jake & Griffin
Jake Friedman: “I am excited to see what this team does at nationals. A lot of people have been throwing shade at us, but they don’t see behind the scenes. We are a team full of guys who play to our strengths and compliment each other really well. We play as a unit, there is not one ego on this team.”
Griffin Bass: “This team means a lot to me, I want this group specifically to be remembered in Towson dodgeball history. And that’s a testament to the team, because I know that every single guy on this roster worked their butts all year. We can’t wait to see some new teams at nationals, but even more excited to see some old teams that this group has unfinished business with.”