THE DOUBLE DIP

Inception 2013 - All smiles after making the game-to-go, but you can see the wheels already turning for an even better 2014 in each and every face.

Written by Tim Hopp
Edited by Coit 
When a club ultimate Frisbee team qualifies for worlds they attempt to “double peak” in one season – winning club worlds and USAU club championships – not any easy task for any team. Recently this has been done by Revolver, the bay area club team that has been on a tear over the past 3 years. Revolver has won 3 out of the past 4 championships with Doublewide taking the other. In 2010 Revolver bested Sockeye at the world games in Prague and came back to win their first national title in Sarasota, Florida. 

Why do I lead with this? Because I experienced the opposite on a much smaller scale – losing back to back league finals.

In my small section of the world, the biggest games I am able to get up for are the South Central Club Regionals. Inception is entering its 5th year and has not cracked Club Nationals. That is the goal every year for any competitive club team and is something that is within reach. The talent pool in the Denver / Boulder area is enough to possibly even send 2 teams to natties. 

2014 will be Inception's year. I can feel it. 

We are excited about it. One more year of experience under the belt. Mamabird kids are gaining that important sense of confidence crushing the college level. Bravo is going to worlds – surely some talent will slide Inceptions way. The offseason is for working in the gym, on the track, and on the field.

Mile High Ultimate is the best league in Denver. I can say this with complete confidence because I have played in all of the leagues. Sure DSUL has a very fun atmosphere and has been around forever but I cannot get over driving through rush hour traffic to get in 1 game. Kegs after the games help but in my estimation, not worth it. MHU makes playing league fun and easy – and the competition is decent as well. To the casual observer, league may not seem like the same level of play. Because it isn't. But in some ways playing against friends in a local league can make the games feel more powerful. I know the movements of the 13 other players on the field. I know tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, who has the killer instinct.

As Coit illustrated in the Sucks to Suck post, Twaffle was the #1 overall seed and poised to win another MHU crown only to be beaten by the other team comprised of Inception players, Hot Cocoa.  That game was less than fun, a 9 -4 beat down that was not close. Losing sucks. What hurts more than getting blown out? Losing on universe point.

I chose to captain because I like to spread the game as far as I can and make the experience as enjoyable as possible for my team and others. I also like to win. My dues are also paid for and I can drink free beer at the draft and the social aspects -- and the list goes on. I put together a pretty good team for Winter League. We won most of our games and earned the #2 seed for the tournament, earning us a bye into the semis. Last night was cold for Denver in February. The wind was biting enough to make you consider every throw.  The kind of night where a good book and a warm bed are all you need.

The semis started off well. A break. And then another. A dropped pull. And then a Callahan. We were playing pretty well considering one of our best downfield options was sidelined.  Brucey from the Kansas Horrorzontals hurt himself over the weekend at Keystone. I happened to bump into him on the mountain right after he hurt it and knew – a top cutter is out. He was our bailout. At 6’3” with some hops, he had been a main cog of our offense. With Bruce out we had to scrap for every point. But it changed the way we played. We no longer had our bailout option; we placed an increased value on possession and teamwork. We found our groove in the semis and won by a comfortable 2 or 3 breaks. 

On to the finals against the Pink Team. 

We had 2 losses on the season and both of them were to Pink. The first game was decidedly in their favor but the second game should have been ours. Just a couple of weeks ago we were up 6-2 before the wheels began falling off. We owe them one. Previously, they had our number but tonight the pressure was on and the setting was different.

There was no one left on the sidelines. The other 4 teams had gone home for the most part. A few stragglers huddled up to a nearly kicked keg were all that were left. It was quiet and cold. We started on defense – yep – a break. And then another break. Up 2-0 and 2 breaks. They finally punch one in on a high stall goalline full extension bid. A guttural scream from the captain throwing the disc and the guy laying out – game on. We traded to 4-3 before they rattled off 2 breaks to get back on serve. 5-5 6-6 7-7 and then we broke for half 8-7.  

Halftime. Trying to keep everyone loose and the pressure off. Up a break and receiving out of half. What do we do? Second throw turn into a crafty veteran poach. They score and tie the game back up. At this point I am focused to the point of tuning everything else out. Plays were being made, emotions were just below the surface because no one wanted to waste their energy due to the cold. It is these times when you must be at the utmost focus so that everything else seems irrelevant. I lost track of the outside world and was playing the game I love with close friends. I don’t remember exactly how it happened. I think we received and maybe 2 or 3 turns in the 5 minute horn sounded. A few more turns and it was universe point. Game tied; next goal wins. We lost.

Losing in the finals on universe point was not the way I wanted the season to end. But I was proud of the 10 of us who competed for 2 hours on a frigid night at Infinity Park. In those 2 hours we were warriors. Letting go of life’s distractions and playing ultimate is a great feeling. It is an outlet for any built up angst or aggression. Let it all out. Pink beats Red on universe point to win the game, sweep the season match 3-0 and take home the MHU winter championship. Well-played game all around. Could not be more proud of the effort from everyone involved. Winning and losing team alike.

After winning both fall leagues and the local Halloween tournament it was humbling to lose in the finals for both winter leagues. 2 finals losses on consecutive Monday nights. Certainly not as painful as a 15 – 10 loss to Johnny Bravo in the game to go to Nationals but it does provide fuel for the gym and the track workouts. 

"The Double Dip" – back to back league final losses. 

BOUGH.