Disclaimer: "rookies" is referring to guys and girls. I'm President, I'm a little lazy.
DAY 1
Last year we left this mixed tournament with the Stanley Cup, this year we went back to defend it. This time we took a whole new girls team, the Angels, and more guy and girls rookies then I've ever thought we'd take. Some of our rookies were had been around since PantherPalooza and even some of them had only been around for a week exactly. We've been practicing together since the start of the season so our chemistry was strong going in.
Game One: Depaul Y
I thought after last season we had finally shaken off the curse of Game One that, from the stories, had haunted Reaper for a so long. Then it came back out during this game, almost like the curse of the goat. This was a Depaul team that took their chances as we continuously shot ourselves in the foot. We took half but after that it was all downhill. The curse had come back and Reaper lost game one during soft cap.
Score: 9-8 LOSS
Game Two: Illinois Weslyn
The first thing we knew about this team was that they play pick-up on concrete. We took that information and played how Reaper should play. We put a tight O line for the first point and ran rookies after that. We came out and played the suffocating D that we can play. This game was so much different than Depaul. We came out and played as one team, not the Reaper and Angels.
Score: 11-2 WIN
Game Three: Bradley
This was the first time I could ever remember playing Bradley. I had no information on this team going in and we definitely didn't think they'd run a cup this early in the season, especially at this tournament. Our rookies had no idea how to break the cup and it showed as our motions stopped and we scored on early. This was the call for the vets to come in. Half of us played through the cup, breaking five straight (which seems to be a tradition at this tournament), and the other half of the vets demonstrated to the rookies what exactly the cup is. We wanted to make sure we advanced farther so we kept a tight line until the end. Even though the vets played a lot this game, during a timeout the captains told the rookies one thing, "When you're on the field, you give it 100%. Show us you want to be here and want to play and put everything on the field."
Score: 8-6 WIN
Game Four: The Bid Lebowski (TBL)
After our win over Bradley we were given a bye. This ended up being about an hour and a half of a break, just long enough for some people to get Carl's Jr and let it digest. As the last game of pool play rolled around, we were introduced to an opponent that consisted of people with experience ranging from two to seven years. One of those older guys happened to be one of our own small nicaraguan alums, Alex Castillo (Sadly his brother wasn't there to show him that he's better). As we got our lines on the field the whole team got fired up. We wanted to show them that no matter the experience, we could win. The guys who really showed that mentality were the rookies. They came out that first half and played out of their minds. Every rookie that touched that field left gave it their all. We took half at 6-4. Then we let it get to our heads. We got comfortable with winning and it gave TBL the chances the needed to come back. The game got to uni and the easiest way to describe it, us vets let the rookies down.
Score: 10-9 LOSS
DAY 2 - The Return of Brock Dunn
Game One: ISU Y
For a little bit of a background, when I was first introduced to the team I was told one thing, we don't like the Gnomes. It always seemed that some of the best Reaper games came from ISU, especially at this tournament last year. With that being said, this was no different. This game ended up being a play in for the champ bracket between the two of us so there was quite a bit on the line. Kyle returned to the sideline and Brock came out not the field with us instead. The first half, we played like a Reaper team on a mission. Rookies and vets alike showed that same fire we had against TBL. We took half 7-2 on a roll. Then we shit a brick to be honest. We won the game and the first half, but ISU won the second half. They beat us into the ground and wore us out.
Score: 13-7 WIN
Game Two: NIU
In a rematch of the championship game of last year, NIU came as a team reloaded. They had club players, alums, and even a wild Lovie. They again surprised us with a zone, which kept a lot of rookies off the line. The vets came out and tried to do what we could. Our handles worked through the zone, but it was the small things that got us. Actually it was mostly drops. Just about everyone on the team dropped at least one, me included. We couldn't find a way to beat NIU without being ourselves at the same time. Lovie, you got us.
Score: 13-2 LOSS
Game Three: Reaper vs. Reaper
Because of this tournament, we were apparently only given two guaranteed games in the champ bracket (don't ask me and don't ask the Gnomes, they probably won't have an answer). We went into this with the idea of play a real tight scrimmage, but by the third point that broke down. It became the pick-up that everyone needed. How can a team hang their head after playing Hammer points, T-Rex points, Backwards points, and just being with each other?
Overall: 7th Place
Final Thoughts:
This tournament was about the fun. We didn't have a lot when we were losing and we were all hard on ourselves. I think it was a good thing that a lot of the rookies got that taste of losing in their mouth though. They found out what losing two an alum feels like, what losing to Depaul feels like (which sickens me to even think about), and what losing a half feels like. They also found out what is was like to spend roughly 48 hours together being a family. Reaper maybe a little crude and a bit dark, but we know how to bond and just enjoy being together. The rookies learned a massive experience about what tournament are like and just how great they can be for EVERYONE involved. I hope they take this with them for the rest of their Reaper careers, because I know I had a good time, no matter what the scores were.
Highlights:
-Every rookie had at least one D. I think its fair to say they played nuts for the amount of time they got this weekend.
-Rookies bidding. I still don't bid and Kieffer is just learning how to. These guys and girls are showing us up.
-Just saying this, but Kyle and I scored 100% of the time we were both on the field. Just sayin'.
-Playing as a team and a family.
- Sierra "Kieffer you're the biggest piece of shit I know."
Kieffer "Awe I'm blushing."
-Shawn #7
Eastern Illinois Ultimate Frisbee Club - Team Reaper
