The team ate breakfast at Hotel Rhea and then traveled to the Vrsovice complex in small groups to eat a light early lunch and soak up the atmosphere around the stadium as the mixed and women’s finals played out. Around halftime of the Fury-Uno game, Revolver walked to a nearby grass field to throw and warm-up, while Sockeye prepared on a separate field. After plyos, Hollywood Squares, and some individual skills work (pulls, hucks, and marking drills), we headed for the stadium under the hot sun and refilled our water bottles. A few minutes of half-field scrimmage and the directors ushered us into the tunnel under the grandstands, where we waited for what seemed like forever to be announced. Sockeye, after finishing a team song, ran out as their names were announced. Then, Rocky Beach, about to play in his final game with Revolver before retirement, led the entire team onto the field.
Game 11 – Bracket play, finals – 14:00 vs Sockeye (Seattle)
We won a tough game against a favorite rival. Check out the link for the video, but the commentators are unfortunately badly misinformed about most things they say, including many mistaken player identifications.
Two momentous plays in particular, from Revolver’s perspective:
- #12 Nick Chapman flying down the field on the pull at 8-6, masked by the stack, and blocking the first centering pass. Though we turned it over afterward, it set the tone for the defensive point and eventually led to a second straight break for the defense to take the half.
- On a huck to #20 Mike Caldwell of Sockeye, our #50 Beau Kittredge made up a lot of space and laid out high to block the disc in the back of the endzone.
The remaining original nine (Nick Handler, Rocky Beach, Mike Payne, Eric Halverson, Robbie Cahill, Mark Sherwood, Jon Levy, Josh Wiseman, and Ryo Kawaoka), with the team since its debut in 2006, celebrated with their younger brothers a championship long in the making. Indeed this title belongs to every member of every Revolver team since the beginning, because the team can only build on what has come before it, and all of us have shaped the direction of a team dedicated to intensity, humility, and discipline, founded on a spirit of hard work and camaraderie.
Congratulations to Sockeye for a great tournament, as always–they are worthy opponents and champions. Congratulations as well to all the medalists in every division, including the other three American teams to sweep gold for USA.
Thanks to all the fans out there that followed and supported us along the way!
…but we didn’t put a team together merely to win a world championship… so it’s back to work for everyone–except Rocky Beach, who goes out on top–until another fall series begins in September.