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.
RedHawks’ Rookie Spotlight
Although it’s his first year, Cole has developed himself into an all-around player that can be counted on to make big plays every point that he’s in. He’s a good calming force on our team, always keeping a level-head no matter how the game is going. I’m confident in Cole’s ability to catch anyone in the league and throw hard – definitely a player to watch over these next years!
Max came in to the season ready to dive all in and learn everything he could about the game. Watching him play, you wouldn’t guess that it’s only his first year. Max is one of the most dedicated players I’ve ever seen. He always puts in 100% and that certainly shows itself while he’s playing
Key Contributors for the RedHawks
Elly Schipfer
There’s endless positive things to say about Elly and about how integral she is to this team. She’s a fearless, adaptable player who can match any opponent at any time. Elly is known to be an insane catcher, and those abilities have changed points and games for us more times than I can count. She also leads the team honestly and with humility and has been a huge driver of our improvement this year. I can’t wait to see all that she does this weekend and continue to represent what Miami is capable of.
Jake Parks
After taking a brief hiatus last semester, Jake is back in action for his final semester. Jake’s been with the team his whole college career. He knows this game inside and out and that translates to his on-court skills. Jake’s developed himself into an all-around skilled player who can catch, throw, block, and change the flow of a game positively. He’s also been a huge role model for our team and isn’t afraid to get loud on the court. Get ready for him to pop off for his last nationals.
Anna Moellenbeck
As the first female president for Miami, Anna leads this team with never-ending positivity and a strong competitiveness. As a player, she continues to prove her skill by making incredible catches. She reads the opposing team better than most would give her credit for, and this allows her to compete against the best of throwers. At nationals, you’ll find her at the front of the line directing team throws, blocking for her players, and dropping for a catch whenever possible. We’re proud of our captain. :)
Xander Kravec
Xander’s the vice president of our team and helps lead the team in all aspects. He’s had terrible luck when it comes to tournaments this year, being sick for all but one, but Xander’s influence on the team cannot be overstated. He keeps morale high, helps move the team on the court, and has really helped our team learn to throw smartly and accurately. He makes big plays for Miami and I’m excited for him to show this during nationals.
Jay Patel
Jay is one of the big throwers on our team. He moves quickly up and down the court and confidently cross throws like a fourth year veteran. Jay has started to become a leader on our mostly-new team and I’m excited to see him step into this role more in the next two years.
It’s Jay’s first year playing in tournaments but his second full year on the
team. He’s stepped up to be a smart and reliable player on the court. I think he
embodies the spirit of Miami dodgeball- Jay fights until the end and doesn’t give up. His leadership translates on and off the court and is a central figure that our first years look up to.
Mindset for Nationals – Jake Parks
“I think this nationals we’re looking to embrace the underdog mentality. We want to go out, be competitive, and surprise people. Our team is young but they’ve been working hard all year and are ready to take that next step.”