On Feb. 14th, Michigan State University will host the annual Michigan Dodgeball Cup (MDC). This event has historically been the toughest regular season tournament of the year. The 2015 version of the MDC has the makings of an absolute classic tournament with #1 Grand Valley State, #2 Central Michigan, #3 Michigan State, and #11 Saginaw Valley State all set to compete. I don’t remember a year where the top four Michigan region schools were as close competitively as they are this year. Continue reading “2015 Michigan Dodgeball Cup Preview”
SVSU Never Forgets
I don’t know about you, but the minute I joined Central Michigan’s Club Dodgeball team a few years back, I discovered not only a great group of friends, but a family. Anytime one loses a member of their family, it tears their world apart. Death has a tendency to come out of nowhere and take us by surprise, thus making the loss of someone we love even more difficult. The real challenge is overcoming that loss and honoring their memory. Continue reading “SVSU Never Forgets”
Colin O’Brien’s “Overtime Six”
The following was written by Michigan State’s captain: Colin O’Brien:
First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has thought highly enough of me to included me on his overtime roster. It is a great honor to have your peers want you on their team, but it sure is harder to not be the subject of team throws now. With that said, I thought I would offer up my opinions on who I would choose for my overtime roster. (And I apologize to the East Coast schools; I have only had a few opportunities to see them in action)
All of the players on my overtime roster impress me every time I watch them play. My support for these players is more anecdotal in nature rather than a rigid analysis of their skillset. Nonetheless, I am fully confident that an overtime roster comprised of these players would have no trouble winning the point. These are six complete players, each can throw and catch with the best of them. Continue reading “Colin O’Brien’s “Overtime Six””
Jonathan Shaw’s OT Article: “My Top Six”
Listed below is the “Overtime Six” written by Towson University’s Jonathan Shaw:
Brent Gromer – JMU
Simply put, Gromer is just an absolute force to be reckoned with. The man has a top 2 or 3 arm in the league, and he compliments it with a highly underrated ability to catch after he throws. I can’t really explain this adequately but if you’re on the sidelines, watch Brent’s eyes after he releases a throw. The time it takes him to survey the court is simply superior to the rest. Add all these factors up, and it is easy to see why Brent is one of my 6 OT picks. Continue reading “Jonathan Shaw’s OT Article: “My Top Six””
Chicago Dodgeball Open Recap
Over the weekend, DePaul University hosted their annual Chicago Dodgeball Open. This year was a bit different than CDOs in the past thanks in large part to the terrible weather. A tournament that usually involves five or six teams, only had three teams in attendance. Central Michigan, Grand Valley State, and host school DePaul competed in a three team round robin. Wisconsin Platteville could not make the trip due to the bad driving conditions on account of the Blizzard [-Ed., ZM]
The results from the tournament were as follows: GVSU went 2-0, CMU went 1-1, DePaul went 0-2. Here is my brief recap from this year’s Chicago Dodgeball Open: Continue reading “Chicago Dodgeball Open Recap”
2015 Chicago Dodgeball Open
CHICAGO – Ray Meyer: The long tradition of the Chicago Dodgeball Open continues despite 20 inches of snowfall in Lincoln Park.
CMU def DePaul 8-0
GVSU def CMU 3-1
GVSU def DePaul 4-0
The Chicago Dodgeball Open Preview
Other than the Super Bowl, there will be one other exciting sports competition taking place and that is the Chicago Dodgeball Open. Teams attending this round-robin are Depaul (1-3), UWP (2-0), Central Michigan (18-6), and GVSU (22-0) respectively. While CMU and GVSU played each other 3 times last semester, there are new matchups taking place thanks to UWP, who is coming off of an impressive 2-0 record against Nebraska and North Texas. Both GVSU and UWP have yet to lose a game yet, whether one of them comes out of this weekend still undefeated is a story in itself. Continue reading “The Chicago Dodgeball Open Preview”
UK Invitational
LEXINGTON – Alumni Gym: University of Kentucky Dodgeball hosts their UK Invitational
UK def Kent 3-2 OT
BGSU def WKU 2-1
JMU def OSU 3-1
JMU def UK 4-0
OSU def BGSU 3-0
Kent def WKU 3-1
UK def BGSU 2-1
OSU def Kent 4-0
JMU def WKU 5-0
NCDA Mid-Season All-Underrated Team
As a member of the NCDA for several years now, I have noticed that in a lot of cases, the league is a bit of a popularity contest. If your name has not been mentioned in the past, it is pretty hard to get recognition. It seems like only the same few players from every team ever get acknowledgement for their effort, instead of a more balanced situation where any player that makes an impact is able to get their name recognized.
A lot of interest is given to the top players in the league, and the annual All-NCDA team, but I am here to give some recognition to those players that seem to fly under the radar even though they are great performers. Listed below is my 15-man All-Underrated Team for the NCDA. Continue reading “NCDA Mid-Season All-Underrated Team”
Opinion: Who I Would Take Into Overtime
Back in January 2013, former NCDA Chief of Content Sam Hiller posted his choice of what six players he would take into overtime. The list that Sam compiled included Spencer Jardine, Camden Fullmer, Wes Hopkins, Felix Perrone, Brett Hadwin, and Eric Paul. This is certainly a stellar group of dodgeball players.
In the latest Average Joes’ Podcast Sean Smith, Jacob Leski, and myself gave our opinion on what six players we would choose for overtime. Here is my list, with more in-depth explanations for each choice. Keep in mind I did not choose any player from my own team (GVSU). Here’s my overtime roster in no particular order: Continue reading “Opinion: Who I Would Take Into Overtime”
Kentucky Invitational Preview
This weekend will feature two very interesting NCDA regular season tournaments. One will be played at DePaul University (Chicago Dodgeball Open) featuring two of the top teams in Michigan (Grand Valley State & Central Michigan) along with arguably the top two teams from the Illinois region (Wisconsin Platteville & DePaul).
The other tournament played over the weekend might be even more interesting than the CDO. On January 31, the University of Kentucky will play host to in state rival Western Kentucky, the top three Ohio teams: Ohio State, Kent State, and Bowling Green State, as well as an undefeated James Madison squad from the East Coast.
Here are a few storylines to follow in this mid-season showdown as UK. Continue reading “Kentucky Invitational Preview”
Nationals 2015 Preview #2 (All-Star Match)
The 2015 National Tournament is still a long ways off, but it’s never too early to look forward to the best weekend of the season. As mentioned in Nationals 2015 Preview #1, I have had the opportunity to discuss Nationals plans with Director of Nationals: Nick Johnson of Western Kentucky. Listed below are a few interesting facts on this year’s All Start Match.
Continue reading “Nationals 2015 Preview #2 (All-Star Match)”
GVSU tops MSU in a Doubleheader to Start the Semester
Michigan State traveled to Allendale to take on Grand Valley State in a doubleheader to start off the semester. The Lakers were victorious in two very different games over the 13-manned Spartans.
The first game quickly turned into a rout. GVSU started school one week before MSU and had one more week of practice under its belt, and it showed early. The Lakers took points early and without much trouble to take 3-0 lead into the half. Continue reading “GVSU tops MSU in a Doubleheader to Start the Semester”
AJP #37: Winter Break 2014-2015
This edition of Average Joes’ Podcast was recorded over the winter break! Join the Content Team as they discuss the first half and prepare for the second.
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James Madison Dodgeball: A Season Four Years in the Making
The East Coast’s dynasty has high aspirations for 2015, the last year for many of their star players
James Madison University Club Dodgeball was founded in the fall of 2010 by Computer Science and Sports Management student, Christopher Hess. Since their first tournament ever, JMU has stormed their way to an above 75% winning percentage over the course of four seasons, with victories over all of the top teams in college dodgeball including Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State, Central Michigan, Michigan State, Kentucky, and Kent State.
The Dukes have long been considered the cream of the crop in the East Coast region since they generally dominate their competition in the east. They hold a 27-1 overall record against those teams, including an impressive 20-1 mark against teams from the state of Maryland. This group may be relatively new to the National Collegiate Dodgeball Association (NCDA), but JMU has garnered some pretty high praise from opponents in the past. Compliments like: “They are the most athletic team in the NCDA” or “the hardest throwing team in the league” have constantly been directed toward this team, and rightfully so.
While the Dukes are only in their fourth year as a member team of the National Collegiate Dodgeball Association, they still have compiled quite a few accolades thus far in the team’s brief existence, including two appearances in the quarterfinals, and one Final Four at the annual “NCDA Nationals” tournament.
All of this is old news to anyone who follows the NCDA, and it’s not the reason for me writing this feature story in the first place. Would it surprise you if I said that this year is, in a way, a make-or-break season for JMU? Would you believe me if I told you that everything that the Dukes have accomplished in seasons past was just a prelude to what they may have in store for this spring? Well, now that I’ve grabbed your attention… Continue reading “James Madison Dodgeball: A Season Four Years in the Making”