Let's Begin with a Loss

Bittersweet Motivation (9/21/13) - 

For every two-to-three teams making it to the Open Club Nationals ultimate tournament each year from the eight respective regions, there are 10-20 teams that barely miss the cut. This blog is the following of one such Open Club Team - Inception - based out of Denver, CO in the team's journey to break through to the Club national tournament in 2014.



Last year was the most successful campaign for the relatively short-tenured club team from Denver. After 5th place finishes in the 2011 and 2012 South Central Regionals, Inception managed to find themselves in the game-to-go to nationals in 2013, ensuring at least a 3rd place finish in the region. After an even first half with Johnny Bravo that left Inception trailing 8-7, the first four points of the second half saw the Denver team stumble just enough to eventually fall to their Boulder-based brethren, 15-10. While the team's goal was to be in that very game, the fact that only 5 points separated Inception from every Club player's end-all, be-all goal of making the national tournament left a not necessarily foul, but certainly permanent taste in their mouths.

This is where the journey for the 2014 National Tournament (and this blog) begins, with the conclusion of the aforementioned bittersweet loss at the end of a tough, yet very successful 2013 campaign.

To be realistic, the goal for Inception in 2014 should not be "beating Johnny Bravo" or the other regional powerhouse, Doublewide once the time comes in Regionals. Instead, it should be to secure the "floating" nationals bid that is awarded to the region with the most Top-16 ranked teams in the USAU algorithm. Inception was close to securing this extra "strength bid" as it's known, falling just four spots shy, at #20 in the country. While there's no doubt in any of the players' mind with the new recruiting class, a sharp mental focus, and hard training throughout the season, that besting the likes of JB and DW are not beyond the realm of possibility. However, Inception are no strangers to "working smarter, not harder" and regular season results which would, in turn, secure an extra (3rd) bid for the South Central region would do just that.

There will be ups and downs, highs and lows as there always inevitably are in any sport's regular season, and hopefully this blog will chronicle each and every step along the way. From training programs, to social events, "Taking the Next Step" will hopefully be an eye-opening, first-hand account of the work Club ultimate players put into their teams in order to reach their individual, as well as team goals.

BOUGH