The central region kicked off the season with two tournaments this weekend; the first being the Rosen Bowl III on Saturday, September 19th, and the second being the Cornhusker Clash IX on Sunday, September 20th. Check out the preview an recap for the Rosen Bowl III after this one. The Sunday tournament was a change of pace which allowed UWP and Iowa to dedicate all of Saturday to traveling down to Lincoln, Nebraska. It was great to see the turnout for this tournament, so let’s take a look at how each team did!
UNL (2-0)
UNL started the day off with a uniform intensity, pushing up to attack as a confident wall of players. They have the impressive ability to keep their intensity high and stay focused the entire time they play with the clear goal of winning in every player’s mind. Throughout the game against UWP, veterans like Art Provost and Malakai Horne kept the momentum going by keeping the front line moving quickly with the rhythm of the game. Another thing that UNL does better than most teams they face is executing cross-throws or center-throws effectively. They all have expert-level court awareness that allows them to read the game and make the play. The Players on both UWP and UNL have played each other for at least three seasons at this point, some for more, and these repeated encounters can be both beneficial and detrimental for each side. Players begin to learn the strategies utilized by each player, and they know what to look out for when playing them. The scouting team has plenty of information and experience to go off of in order to best strategize attacks against certain players; they almost know UWP better than they know themselves.
When it came to playing Iowa, their vibe shifted a little to acclimate to Iowa’s more unpredictable style. They didn’t let Iowa score on them either, but these points were more chaotic and disorganized, almost refreshingly so, as UNL tried to keep the game’s flow under their total control. In the end, UNL swept Iowa, but each point was a great learning experience for both sides. It is great to see Art Provost, Jesse Stebbing, and Malakai Horne step into the leadership role alongside Tre, and I’m sure they will bring great success to their team as the captains this year.
UWP (1-1)
Platteville came into this event with a positive attitude and the goal to leave with more experienced rookies and a few wins under their belt. Their recruitment took a good turn before the tournament, and they had seven rookies on their roster. Pinching had yet to be a covered in practice, but it didn’t stop their rookies from applying pressure, staying confident, and receiving any attack with careful precision. While they didn’t score a point on UNL at this event, there were a few very close points, one in particular had #4 Jamie Damm and #93 Alex Kirchman battled in a 2 vs 4 until they were unfortunately picked off. These two did a great job taking turns throwing and ensuring their teammate had a ball at the ready so they could counter hard and return to their baseline.
They didn’t get a break before their next game, and they jumped right into the game against Iowa. This game didn’t go how anyone expected, and the game truly could have gone to either team at some points. Fortunately, UWP was able to come out on top against Iowa after several long, demanding points that pushed their vets and rookies alike to play their hardest. Shout out to #93 Alex Kirchman for his pressure and intensity on court. He does a excellent job providing coverage for his teammates and has a a great court awareness that helps keep the point alive. Another Player that deserves recognition is #1 Logan Van Camp. Much like Alex, he is incredibly athletic and determined to get the block and counter hard. It is obvious these two have worked very hard to improve this season so far.
IOWA (0-2)
Iowa has done a great deal of growing over the course of last season and into this season. Their veterans have clearly taken what they’ve learned from both the NCDA games and the NDA games they participated in over the summer to confidently build up their large rookie recruitment. It is also reassuring to see the growth their women have achieved as well as their fearlessness against intense teams like UNL. Their veterans like Camden Richgruber, Nolan Reed, and Lucas Hesson were doing most of the throwing as they have the confidence and the power to get off throws they know will count, but their rookies and less experienced players never felt left out. They found opportunities for their rookies to get experience blocking and attacking on their own without them being unsupported or hung out to dry. The Hawkeyes have a great dynamic of support and teamwork, and their technique has clearly developed since last season. Their game against UWP was probably the closest game they’ve had so far as a team–only losing by one point–but their game against UNL was much more challenging. I’m sure they learned many things they could hopefully incorporate into their own strategy from that game. While the Cornhuskers are a formidable opponent in the central region, they are also great teachers; they continue to grow and improve themselves, but they also help their rivals out a great deal without realizing it.
Shout to #16 Camden Richgruber for his awesome three consecutive outs on UNL. He has shown impressive leadership and dedication to the game over the 2026 season, and he’s started the 2027 season off on an impressive footing. The Hawkeyes are truly an inspiring team that will do great things this year.
Check out the NCDA’s Facebook and Instagram for future updates on events and players. Check out the teams’ socials for updates on the teams and to see the fun stuff they do. For more articles, click here, so you can keep up-to-date on all the latest dodgeball news. Thank you to those who helped out at this event, and we look forward to the next central region tournaments in October and November, hosted by Iowa and UWP!