CHS Ultimate takes Second Place at State Championship.
~ by Chris O’Connor
The first annual Oregon High School Ultimate Championship was held Saturday April 27th at Philomath High. CHS took second place, being crushed in the finals by State Champions PHS.
The OHSUC marks the culmination of a successful first season for the Oregon High School ultimate league. CHS, among other highlights, beat traditional rivals Crescent Valley twice successively before the championship, and again during the tournament.
The first game for CHS was against the Sheldon A team, from Eugene. It was completely overcast at 9:30 in the morning as the Spartan top seven took the line. Sheldon received the pull and immediately hucked the disc to a receiver sprinting for the opposite endzone. This seemed to be the basis for their overall strategy. After a few points in this fashion, CHS’ talented deeps Brett Cochran and Brendan Bucy shut down Sheldon’s deep cuts, and the CHS handlers had the opportunity to work the disc back up the field. After a few points by CHS, Sheldon began attempting to plug up CHS’ short game- prompting two successive (and successful) hucks from CHS captain Shane Rubenfeld to Cochran and Bucy respectively.
Memorable plays from the first game include: great layouts from Bucy, both Scottie and Brett Cochran, and James Miller. CHS’ top secret ‘short offense’ from freshmen Colin Shear, Scottie Cochran and Jacob Artz. Shear, Artz, and Noah Jack held together a fearsome Zone Defense, against which Sheldon made little headway. Some well-timed ‘D’ blocks from Artz, Tamara Andreas, and Mike Wallace. CHS beat Sheldon A with a score of 13-6.
After the first game, CHS watched the end of the huge match between Philomath and Crescent Valley. CV was ahead 10-9 when a hard cap of 11 was declared. A crowd of Spartan Blue shouting “Go Raiders!” were actually rooting for CV, because had CV taken the victory over the undefeated PHS, CHS would have a much improved chance at the State title. Unfortunately, the athletically superior PHS outlasted the fatigued Raiders and scored a hard three points for the win.
CHS’ second match of the day was against the recently defeated Raiders. Worn out from the great match with PHS, the Raider’s spectacular spirit and effort was no match for the Spartans, still enthusiastic from their first win. Most of the big plays came from CV, but CHS’ smooth handling made the points, and the Spartans shut down the Raiders with one of the best Zone D’s of the day. The final score was: CHS 13, CV 4
Memorable plays of the second match:
CV deep Steve Merschel's COLOSSAL salmon leap over 2 Spartans for a catch in the endzone. CV handler Dave’s great effort, team coordination and nice upfield movement. A good cup from CHS, again Shear, Jack, and Myles Cunningham. CHS’ awesome combinations of handlers: first Zac Hervey, Shane R., and Francis Shala; then Shear and Scottie Cochran. Scottie’s spirit and huge layout D’s disproportional to his stature lead to his nickname of “Effort Boy” by the Raiders.
CHS’ third match of the day was against Sheldon B. Sheldon B had one excellent player, another who worked well with him, and not much else to speak of except a false sense of security after beating a CV tired out from their matches with PHS and CHS. With the finals against PHS one match away, CHS tried to give its less experienced players as much playing time as possible. CHS took a quick lead, reaching the half at 7-3. In the second half, however, Sheldon began taking quick advantage of any laziness displayed by CHS. A time cap was called at 10, and CHS reached it to take the game at 10-7.
Memorable plays:
The Sheldon B star player working his way downfield with his submissive second half, ‘green shorts.’ Shane R. D-ing said player. Hard marks from Gabe Russell and James Miller. Great defending of ‘green shorts’ from Dan Jones. Layout D’s from Miller and Brett Cochran. Bucy’s horizontal bid (unsuccessful) in the endzone.
PHS comes back from a two-hour rest to face CHS in the finals. Both teams were at that point 3-0 for that tournament with equal margins of victory. Philomath takes the first point playing their characteristic long game, CHS scores their first next with a spectacular catch by Michael Wallace, snagging it after tripping over his defender. A few mistakes, however, lead to more and more for CHS. Unable to cope with this ‘choke,’ CHS completely loses the mental game and makes turnover after turnover. Also, the Spartans lost confidence in their Zone D after a few lost points, and reverted to a person-to-person defense. This disastrous decision clinched the game, because CHS could no longer put players in their best defensive positions. Instead, PHS could get the players with the best defenders out of the endzone and score over the weaker guards.
CHS ended up losing the final round… 13-**
What??
13-1.
CHS did, however, prove themselves in the cheer for the other team after the
Game. After PHS’ weak 4 line rhyme, the Spartans returned with a classy rendition of the sports rock anthem, “My House,” with the appropriate change: “Your House.”
Memorable plays: As hard as it is to believe, CHS had a number of great plays, while PHS’ game was methodical at best. Wallace’s catch, above, as well as some deep D’s from Wallace, Fitzpatrick, Bucy and Cochran. Tight marks from Shane R. and Brendan Bucy. PHS’ Nate Sexton was a great handler, and we’d better mention Ben Dort’s deep Scottie and Shear had more good handling, and Tamara Andreas did a huge job of taking up the slack and playing most of the game.
Local Results:
PHS 4-0: 11-10 13-4 13-6 13-1
CHS 3-1: 13-6 13-4 10-7 1-13
CV 1-3: 10-11 4-13 13-10 5-13
Glossary of terms:
Disc- ‘frisbee’ is a trademark.
Handlers- offensive position, stay back and make short passes. Bug eyes!
Huck- really long throw, usually an attempted score.
Layout- (also 'get ho' as in horizontal) Dive to catch/block the disc.
Marker- person trying to keep opponent from throwing the disc.
Pull- throw-off
CHS Ultimate varsity roster, 2001-2002
Shane Rubenfeld, Captain, ‘02
Brett Cochran ‘03
Brendan Bucy ‘02
Colin Shear ’05
Dan Jones ‘02
Francis Shala ’03
Gabe Russell ‘02
Jacob Artz ’05
Jacob Mellard-Hafner ‘04
James Miller ‘05
Jesse Fitzpatrick ‘04
John Hancock, 1776
Kevin Rooper ’03
Michael Martin ‘02
Michael Wallace ‘02
Myles Cunningham ’03
Noah Jack ’02
Scottie Cochran ‘05
Tamara Andreas ’02
Zac Hervey ’04
More photos from the tournament/ CHS’ season at www.geocities.com/chsultimate/photos1.html
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