Results from the 2009 UPA College Championships
Game summaries courtesy of the UPA and Chris Spittal. Photos courtesy of UPA, Freeheel Images/Andrew Davis, and Russel Gaskamp
On May 22-25, 2009, Ohio State University hosted the UPA College Championships in Columbus, OH. The top 20 men's and women's teams came from across the country to compete for the title of College Champion. Texas came representing the South region, along with Kansas. Despite a number of tough games, TUFF managed to make it to the semifinals, and finished tied for third. Below are summaries from several of the games Texas played, along with a couple of pictures from each match.
Check out the complete results of the tournament at the UPA Score Reporter Page.
To watch videos of the games, read game summaries and more, visit the 2009 College Open Championships website.
Semifinals: Texas vs. Colorado
While Texas played itself deeper than many expected at the Championships, they certainly had their hands full against Colorado in order to earn a spot in the Final. TUFF came out fired up and Jeff Loskorn got a layout D underneath that Texas used to steal the first point. After Colorado answered, Loskorn and Campbell got two more Ds to help Texas go up 3-1. It took Colorado a few points to find its deep game, as Zander Padgett found Ted Phillips with a huck to the goal line that Mamabird eventually worked in to answer Texas at 3-2. Soon after, Jack McShane would hit Phillips with a forehand huck to go make it 4-3.
After a Texas drop allowed Colorado to tie it at 5, TUFF tried to match Colorado's deep game, but turned it over again and allowed Mamabird to connect on a huck from James Mitchell to Marty Freeman to go up one. Another turn by Texas allowed Colorado to take the lead by two, which it held to take half 8-6 on a 50-yard forehand huck from Mac Taylor to Freeman.
"We weren't as composed as we should be. We tried to rush some throws and ended up turning them over," Taylor said of Mamabird's slow starts to its two games on Sunday. "We didn't really get into the game until we stuck some of our second line players in there and got some breaks, which relaxed the offense. It showed us that it's not all up to us and that we have a full team. It allowed us to calm down and we just started to take the open looks instead of trying to force stuff."
Texas was able to find its deep game a little late in the first half, but they were unable to match Colorado in the second half. Colorado was able to step up its deep defense to force poor throws, or to make them work the unders, which resulted in a number of turns for Texas and a 12-7 lead or Colorado. Colorado would add two more points with two more bombs deep, but Texas refused to concede the game. Loskorn was finally able to deny a Colorado a huck on game point, which he sent long to Thomas Powell for a quick score. Texas' Paul Tsuji added a huge layout D on an in cut on the next point, which he converted by finding Joshua Kipp from 10 yards out to bring the score to 14-9. Though Texas was able to get one more D and connect deep one more time, Colorado settled down to work the disc downfield to Taylor on the goal line, and he found Evan Padgett for the 15-10 win, and the right to face Carleton in the Finals.
Quarterfinals: Texas vs. Virginia
Texas TUFF jumped ahead of Virginia Night Train 3-1 early, but Virginia bounced back to eventually tie it at 4's once its offense got going. Virginia's handlers rely on a lot of continuous and quick motion to move the disc, and Robert Runner, Jonathan Neeley and Tyler Conger were able to do just that and keep it tied at 5. 
Texas would soon rediscover its deep game when Stephen Presley ripped a big backhand to Jason Fortner to go up 7-5. Virginia was knocking on the door twice to again pull within one, but two turns on the goal line proved too costly and instead Texas was able to increase its lead to three at 8-5. TUFF's offense would lead the way the rest of the game and eventually build an 12-5 lead after Presley found Nathan van Oort with a backhand from 60 yards out. Virginia was able to connect on two more hucks of their own, but Texas easily held on to earn a 15-10 win.
Saturday Pool Play: Texas vs. California
Because Texas had already won its pool by defeating Wisconsin earlier in the day, they were able to rest some of their veteran players for the Cal game. Cal was thus able to get their first win of the Championships against Texas by a score of 15-4.
Saturday Pool Play: Texas vs. Wisconsin
The game of the day in Pool C was a battle between Texas TUFF and the Wisconsin Hodags that handed Wisconsin its first pool play loss at the Championships in over four years. Both teams came out flying on the field and hungry for the disc, but Texas was the first to take advantage with its defense to build a 5-3 lead. The defense of Josh Kipp and Matt Campbell helped Texas keep its lead, as the offense was struggling to find a groove. Stephen Presley and Jeff Loskorn helped lead Texas' offense into half with a two-point lead, but it as clear that Wisconsin would not fold that easily.
Jim Foster and Jon Gaynor helped keep the Hodags in it in the first half by showing off their deep game, and they got the first score after half. Texas' offense continued to be a little sloppy with the disc, and Foster hauled in a huge huck to tie it at 10. The teams continued to trade points on deep bombs, which featured a Presley huck from 50-plus yards to Loskorn, who skied Wisconsin's Jon Bergen. The very next point had the Hodags returning the favor on a bomb to Gaynor, who skied Loskorn to bring it to 12s in a game to 13. Texas was able to clean up its O on universe point enough to work it to midfield, until Presley ripped a crossfield back hand to Loskorn for the win, which gave Texas first place in Pool C.
Friday Pool Play: Texas vs. Pittsburgh
Texas' last game of the day brought up memories of last year's epic game at the College Championships against Michigan. Pittsburgh was controlling the game from the start, as they went up 5-2 and rode that cushion to half at 8-6. Texas kept it close at 10-8 and 12-9, but then they turned the tables on Pittsburgh and ended the game on a 7-2 run for the 16-14 win.
Friday Pool Play: Texas vs. Williams
Williams had a hard-fought first game against Texas, but just wasn't able to close the gap enough. TUFF went up 6-3 early, eventually taking half 8-5. WUFO showed that they had the fight to keep it close, but they couldn't quite get over the hump, as Texas held onto the lead for the 15-12 win.
