Westerns OPEN Preview (updated)

Due to a couple frustrating events, this years' Westerns will not have the full 16 team program it has had for the previous 3 years since it was created in 2005. That said, there will still be some of the best talent in the West coming to Independence, MO.

Previous Champions:
2007 - Northwest over South Eugene - [15-04]
2006 - Northwest over Hopkins - [14-09]
2005 - Northwest over Churchill - [15-07]


Update: This last weekend, the Hopkins Hustle took place. As has already been commented on, the results from this weekend contradict the seedings already set in stone for Westerns for two of the teams attending. Also of special note is how well the North Hills and Memorial teams did; both of whom will be attending this year's Easterns. Eden Prairie went 2-1 on Saturday and took out either Edina or Washtenaw Technical in pre-quarters late that same afternoon. Eden Prairie would then lose to Cathedral 7-15 as was expected. Cathedral, who had gone 4-0 up until this point would then lose to Hopkins 9-12 in semis. This game should not have gone this way according to what was expected this coming weekend (Cathedral is the 4 seed overall, where as Hopkins is the 6). Hopkins would then lose to North Hills in the finals convincingly 7-15, in a game I am sure will be used to again spur on the argument that Eastern teams are better than Western teams... That aside, it will be interesting to see how Cathedral will bounce back from this loss to Hopkins only one weekend before.

Western OPEN Teams:

POOL A:
The lakeside crew has never made it past semis at this premiere event (if my history is correct), but this year they are the number one seed overall. Taking a backseat to Northwest I'm sure has taken its' toll, but this year the Lakeside team has recorded already 2 wins over the previously dominate Northwest program. Though I'm not sure who is leading the Lakeside program this year, the fact that Lakeside only shows 2 seniors on their roster should be something that scares teams for next year if they take this year's championship. As there are only 14 teams this year, the pools are a bit funky. In both the A and C pools, there are only 3 teams and thus they have the most interesting pool play game times. Lakeside doesn't have their first game until 1pm, and should have one at 6:30pm if they stay 2-0 earlier in the day. Those two other teams that will be trying to knock them off are Alameda and Minneapolis South.

Alameda has gone 15-0 in the two tournaments they've attended (Slopfest & CA States) with their closest game against Downtown College Prep 12-8. They enter into Westerns with the highest RRI, but we all know that this is not a good indicator for how good you really are, especially when you've not played anyone else attending...

Minneapolis South has only attended Madison MudBath, and there went 3-3, but with two earlier wins in regular season games, they are 5-3 for the season. They did attend the Hopkins Hustle this last weekend, but as of my second update to this post, their scores have not been reported. They will have their work cut out for them with both Alameda and Lakeside, but never count out the Minnesota teams as they continue to expand and grow faster than Seattle (at least by some people's standards)...


Pool B:
The number two seed overall, Seattle Academy, has also always been forced to fight with other Seattle schools for the scraps after Northwest has had their fill, but not this year... The Academy has a great shot this time around, if they can avoid costly mistakes (like losing to Bellevue in the WA State quarter-finals 9-11). Maybe it is just me, but earning a 2 seed overall at Westerns seems a bit generous considering their performance at the States, but seedings are set and they'll simply need to stay 3-0 on Saturday to avoid the dreaded 2/3 cross-over.

The top competition in their pool will come in the form of Cretin-Derham, who gave Eugene's Churchill team a great game in the quarter-finals at the 2007 Westerns before. They will be the number 7 overall, and though they only have MadisonMudBath on their record (3-3 for the weekend), they have historically always come ready to play at the big show.

Lakewood comes in as the number 12 seed overall and has traditionally stayed with teams at least in the first half. This year might be a less than glamorous showing if their scores from the Fourth Annual East Invite are any indication (especially the 1-13 loss to Heritage HS). Hopefully Lakewood will come with some better performance to make the B pool a bit more interesting.

Last in this pool is new comer to Westerns; Monroe HS (the Cobras). They are an intense team that has left an impression on most opponents, if not with their talented players, then with their loud and untraditional coach... Their showing at the WA States was nothing less of impressive, with a double-game point loss in the quarters to Nathan Hale. They would take 7th place, and I'm sure this frustration will fuel their desire to avenge their pride at Westerns. Watch out Seattle programs. Those of you who have wronged these Cobras are not to be envied as you will have your hands full.


Pool C:
The third overall will be South Eugene. Now that Churchill won't be making it this year (first time since 2005), these boys will be representing the fine city of Eugene. They took the OR State tournament easily and are now ready for the big stage. Led by ridiculously talented players (Jacob Janin & Dylan Freechild), these boys have more than just serious depth and if this year is anything like previous years, they will more than likely show up with talent never seen before and surprise more than a couple programs with solidly executed offense and frustrating defense. In the funky C pool, they like Lakeside have the potential to have a crazy late Saturday afternoon game at 6:30pm that will serve as a great showcase game. This game also gives the winner the top spot on Sunday morning. Expect this game to be one of the best, if not THE best game of the weekend. My prediction is that these two teams will meet again in the finals and the edge will be on the team who losses the cross-over...

Hopkins takes the 6 seed overall, and will again be a team no one wants to face. If they're anything like they've been in the past, these boys come with a militaristic playing style that never, and I repeat, never, gives up. They had the unique position of attending Paideia Cup back in mid-April and in doing so racked up some nice experience points despite getting beaten up. Forced to play in the 5th place bracket after taking losses to Amherst and Columbia, they would win a sweet universe point game over Heritage and then lose at universe point to Paideia in the 5th place bracket and thus took home a 6th place finish. And then this last weekend, they attended their own hosted tournament, the Hopkins Hustle, where they lost in the finals to the North Hills team attending Easterns 9-15. As mentioned above, the big upset here was taking out Cathedral 12-9 in the semis; a team seeded above them here at Westerns. Hopkins will make this pool a nasty one for South Eugene come 2:45pm when they go head to head.

Nathan Hale rounds out the number 9 seed overall, and the third in this ridiculously talented C pool. Nathan Hale might have gone 3-3 at States, but this team should never be looked over. Historically, this program has never come in anything less than 10th place since 2005 (3rd, 10th, and 3rd). They are a highly developed team that continues to grow and gain a hunger for something more than always being kicked out before the finals...


Pool D:
Earning the 4 spot is something no team really wishes as it means the top spot in the pool of death. I'm not sure what to say about Cathedral, other than that these guys are currently 10-1 in the only 2 tournaments they attended this spring. At MadisonMudBath, they took the championship game, but no score was reported. The second was the Hopkins Hustle, where already mentioned above, they lost a very important game to Hopkins who is currently seeded below them here. That said, they could be a sleeping dog ready to pounce on competition not ready to face their MN style of play. If they want to earn a chance to play more on Sunday, they got to bring it against some great talent in their pool.

For the first time since Westerns was created back in 2005, the Northwest School will not be entering in as the favorite. Having been to the finals 3 years in a row and taking it each time in a definitive manner does not look to be Northwest's fate this year. But, that said, losing games is something this program must go through as it rebuilds after years of dominance. And they are actually in the best pool for a chance at upsetting. This will still mean they'll need to to go through Lakeside in the semis if things hold (a team they have yet to beat this season). Going 7-4 thus far in 2008 has been something new to this program, but no one should count this program out. They simply have too much history for their early season results to be seen as the definitive measuring stick to their abilities. As stated above, it will be their game against Cathedral at 1pm on Saturday that decides whether this program is going to challenge anyone on Sunday or whether they will simply fade into the background of the 9th place back-bracket.

Rockhurst takes the 10 spot overall and will bring a 5-2 2008 season record with them. Their only losses came from Regis Jesuit HS and Colorado Academy at the 4th Annual East Invite. Though this year's Westerns tournament will be happening in their back yard, they won't be the tournament hosts, but that shouldn't stop teams from respecting how far this program has come. Rockhurst also has some of the best spirit I've seen in HS ultimate (with memories that still hold clear from 2005 when I coached against them in the early rounds of Saturday)

And last, but not least, or maybe actually least... Eden Prairie will be making the trip to Westerns for the first time and earn the beloved last spot overall at 14. They will be the third team from Minneapolis this year, as MN continues to develop and expand at rates that compare well to Seattle's development. For Eden Prairie, coming in as the bottom seed means they cannot go home with anything less than they came with. Playing in this place can be beautifully empowering as it gives a team a 'nothing to lose' mentality. It sadly can also be defeating as everyone also believes you won't get a single "W" all weekend. It is a long and expensive trip for the team who ends up without a single win...