Hey Everybody,

So, with dear brother Neale biking across the country this summer - he's doing a trip called Bike and Build for Habitat for Humanity (along with Josh Champagne and Reid Hopkins) - I've sort of adopted this newsletter. Hopefully my future sentences won't be as muddled as that one was.

Quickly, the short story of Nationals 2004 in Seattle, WA:

We were seeded 4th and won our pool, defeating Kansas, George Washington, and William and Mary (the 5 seed) on Friday. This gave us a pre-quarter bye on Saturday morning, and after sleeping-in we defeated Iowa in a tight, nerve-wracking encounter. This set up a semi-final match-up with Cal Berkeley, the tournament's #1 seed. It was an awesome game, with amazing plays, intensity, and a gigantic crowd to boot. Unfortunately for us we lost 15-13 to UgMo (as Berkeley is known), who, in turn, lost in the final on Sunday to Colorado. It was a great weekend for all of us and one that I'm sure no one will forgot.

Much love to our wonderful group of seniors: Jon Jay, CJ Karwowski-Hoppel, Ross Loomis, and Michael Kofron. As a (former - weeeee!) freshman on this team I can truthfully say that they are as good a group of role models, leaders, and friends as I could ever imagine.

Now, the long story:

Our first game of College Nationals 2004 was against Kansas - the tournaments #9 seed and a quality team that likes to throw deep. B-Mo came out fired up and shut their deep game down. Hard D and patient throws underneath gave us a convincing 15-9 victory over a very solid team. This being my first game of College Nationals, it was a great experience: the team would rush the field on  every goal, the sidelines roared, the fields and weather (although sometimes rainy) were just about perfect. Everything was really sweet!

After a bye, during which it rained constantly (as we all know happens in Seattle), the sun peaked out from behind the clouds to welcome us to our second game against George Washington. Despite being the #16 seed, GW had quite a few quality players and had achieved many momentous victories during their season so we should've come out with intensity and fire. We didn't. With the main exception of Will Arnold, who caught hucks and made many terrific D's, we were flat, and struggled to pull-out a 15-12 victory.

Our third game of the day was between the two top seeds in our pool, B-Mo (#4) and William and Mary (#5). The winner of the game would recieve a pre-quarter bye the following morning, and would be able to sleep in, so this game was vital. Also, W and M are a huge rival of ours - we have beaten them consistently in the last couple years and all the games have been tight and combative. The first half went like a great heavyweight fight: one punch by W and M would be responded to by another by B-Mo, solid play by both sides ended with William and Mary taking half 8-7. The second half though, was all B-Mo. Our offense, guided by CJ Karwowski Hoppel and Paul Vandenberg continued to work the disc down the field while our defense began to make plays. Dan Macarthur began to make D's all over the place - it was as if he couldn't stop - and with terrific man D also being put on William and Mary's Callahan nominee by Neale Mahoney (as he had earlier done to Kansas' Callahan), and a great layout grab by Ross Loomis, Brown took the half and the game 15-12. On to the quarters - Well done B-Mo!

In the quarters on Saturday we faced Iowa, a suprisingly strong side who had defeated pereniel contenders Carleton in the pre-quarters earlier that morning. For most of the game Iowa dominated. Although Brown's offense, through the great-cutting of Reid Hopkins and Alex Bowman, scored virtually evertime they touched the disc, Brown's defense just couldn't make it happen. We tried - but everytime Iowa made the plays and they just kept on scoring. Things were getting desperate as down 11-8 in the second half 'Big Play' Jon Jay came to the rescue. A sweet layout D on the impenetrable Iowa offense ignited our D team, and suddenly we started making it happen. A couple more scores, one on floaty sky of a few Iowa defenders by Colin Mahoney (me!), led to a resurgent Brown victory.

I've read in some of the reports of the tournament that the Brown vs. UC Berkeley semi-final was the best game of College Nationals 2004 - and as a player it's hard to imagine anything more full of energy, intensity, or spectacular plays. Berkeley, led by superstars Bart Watson, Dan Hodges, and Gabe Saunkeah were the #1 seed and picked by many to win. They liked to work the disc for a few passes before throwing it deep and had a strong group of athletes to support their 'Big Three.' B-Mo was in for a challenge, but we were ready. Heckling, video camaras from CSTV (along with interviewers),and hundreds of fans faced us as we stepped on the field for the first point. It was pulsating.

Berkeley would score. The crowd - ever growing - would roar. Brown would match them. Roar. Each side made one defensive break in the first half, with Berkeley getting their right before half to take the lead 8-7. Josh Ziperstein  dominated the half like he has done so many times for B-Mo, burning the best and most athletic Berkeley had to offer time and time again to catch deep hucks from Paul Vandenberg. The pair were unstoppable.

After half time, the intensity went up another notch. Berkeley got a break, then Brown got one. Incredible catches were made by both sides - with a hammer grab by Josh Ziperstein, over a crowd of players being the best ultimate play I've ever seen. Camera crews rushed the players after every point, demanding interviews, while also bugging those who were on the sidelines. The crowd swelled so that every play and every call was met with a cascade of boos and cheers - the audience was well over 500 people, probably closer to 1000. In the end, despite continued great play by Zip and some terrific catches and D by Mike Pozar, Berkeley took the game on their third break to win 15-13.

The following day a Berkeley team that was exhausted and unable to make the plays it had against us lost in the finals to U Colorado Mamabird, a team they'd beaten previously.

For us, looking back, I think I speak for all of our team when I say that we left this tournament and season with our heads held high. Sure we didn't win,   but we played a tremendous game against a great opponent and gave our all. That's all we can do and it's something to be really proud of.

Our seniors from this year's team will be really, really missed. Jon Jay, CJ Karwowski-Hoppel, Ross Loomis, and Michael Kofron were all integral parts of the team and were wonderful guys. As a freshman I really believe that they were as good a group of role models, senior leaders, and friends that a teammate could ask for. It's impossible for me to imagine a B-Mo team without them. Thanks so much Jon, CJ, Ross, and Kafka for everything - you guys are unbelievable.

Wow, looking back at this I realize that I'm about as big of a blabber-er as you'll ever find. But it's also hard to imagine writing anything less about a tournament that was that much fun.

Have a great summer and you'll be sure to hear from me next year (although it'll be drastically more concise, I promise!).

Best wishes,

-Colin