The 2019 Elite South Region Preview
Written by Curtis Manlapig, Edited by Tyler Greer
#SouthSux. The unofficial rallying cry from multiple dodgeball teams in the South region that competed in the 2018 Elite Dodgeball season. It galvanized the region and took Elite Nationals by storm. Well, kind of.
The South no longer “sux” as some outside the region may (still?) seem to believe, with multiple teams from the South having better-than-expected turnouts at Nationals. As there are more complete teams than ever before in the South, the divide in talent compared to the other regions have shrunk.
Along with being a more-balanced region as a whole, and the new single elimination rule in bracket play, this should make for an exciting season series in the South.
Open 8.5"
A changing of the guard happened last year as Outsiders took over the mantle as the best team in the South. Outsiders continued their momentum at Elite Nationals finishing high in all divisions and proving to the country that they are one of the most well-rounded teams in all of Elite. They bring back most of their roster and are the odds on favorite to repeat.
Ascension, formerly Stingers, played in only two rounds in the South region in 2018, but still managed to grab a Top-4 spot in the season standings. Making their trade initially in no sting on the trampolines, this young team full of power arms and bounce are set to rival Outsiders for the top spot in the South.
Another strong contender to finish in the Top-4 is Wrecking Ballz. This team has shown the most growth in the South as their roster has stayed consistent for every tournament and non-draft league they participate in. They have even added a big name in the dodgeball community, Anthony Miller, to what looks to be their most talented roster yet.
All the best, to the rest
With Outlaws disbanding as a team in 2019, there will be one new team in the South that will grab a Top-4 spot and earn themselves a Top-16 seed at Elite Nationals. Here are those contenders:
A Memphis-area squad will try to crack the Top-4 as there will be two teams defending their home turf in Round one. Juggernaut makes their return to Elite with a fresh roster after taking several years off. They are a relative unknown to the current teams in the South and will be looking to capitalize on their past experience and home court advantage.
Continuum, formerly Dodgetronic, finished two points out of that Top-4 spot that would have guaranteed them a Top-16 seed at Nationals. With talented arms and clutch catching, this team is set to surprise in their home-city of Memphis.
New Orleans once again sends Category 5 and Voodoo into the Elite South Series for 8.5. Both teams look to return to form after falling short of the Top-4 in the South just a year ago. Category 5 is back coming off a successful Nationals in Open 8.5, eliminating the talented Chicago Rogue in bracket play. Voodoo brings an intimidation factor with their size and power on the court. They might have the tallest roster in the South.
Southern Revolver, a team captained by Sergio Leon from the West, looks to make news in their first foray as a team in Elite. This team has added a solid core of free agents, including Michael Sheppard, a standout player in the region a season ago.
Vendetta and Judgement join Southern Revolver as new Dallas-area teams looking to make a name for themselves for the first time in Elite. Both teams are packed with local tournament and Elite experience.
This brings us to Lone Star Syndicate, a team new to Elite’s Open 8.5" division, but not to Elite nor the South Region. Lone Star has been around for several years, starting out as a foam team in the local Dallas Dodgeball league and participating in most every tournament in the South region. The roster has undergone multiple changes throughout its history, but it is one of the most welcoming teams to adding players from around the country for local Dallas tournaments.
Players like Eric Stone, Dillon Clark-Oden, Eric Jones and Jalen Gardner have donned the Lone Star jersey in the past. As well as from the women’s side like Tanja Kaiser, Ashley Cook and Jess Sexton. The Lone Star family spans from sea to shining sea.
2018 saw Lone Star’s most successful year of dodgeball with a long run at Elite Nationals, tying for 7th in Coed No Sting, qualifying for UDC and winning Dallas’ annual Dodge Bowl tournament. This team looks to carry that success over into Open 8.5.
But already in 2019, Lone Star has been hit with roster issues that might hurt them in the short term. Losing two players, one to a no show and the other to an incident, it will be interesting to see how they stack up.
With their captain and Team USA player, Cody Stidham, leading the way, Lone Star Syndicate has a lot to prove.
Captain’s Power Ranking Poll
Instead of the usual power rankings, we have given the captains of the South the opportunity to rank the teams in order of how they think they will finish after the three rounds of play are completed. This poll is for Open 8.5" only and is made up of the known teams participating in the South Regional series. This does not account for late-add teams (because you never know…)
1. Outsiders
Key players: Elijah Hashimoto, Khiem Nguyen
Joe Martinez on Elijah: “I mean… he’s El Niño. There’s so much to say about this kid. He’s a beast on the court on his own, but this year people are gonna really see his leadership role really shine through. It’s gonna be fun seeing him do great things this season.”
2. Ascension
Key Players: Devin Parham and Trey Fatzinger
Patrick O’Donnell Jr on Trey — “He is a big arm, and has developed over the last year as a big part of our team.”
3. Lone Star Syndicate
Key Players: Eli Moreno and Corey Larson
4. Wrecking Ballz
Key Players: Justin Ashby and Anthony Miller
Joseph Chincarini on Justin: “Justin is our all round best player. He is ready to get after it.”
5. Continuum
Key Player: Ben McCoy
6. Voodoo
Key Players: Sean Mcdiarmid and Travis Avery
Randall Michel on Sean: “He’s the newest addition to Voodoo and will be a key contributor to the success of the team. His agile playing style, and ability to throw will help with the team being short handed in round one.”
7. Southern Revolver
Key Players: Brenden Boliard and Michael Sheppard
Sergio Leon on Michael: “Having followed his playing career from UDC and onward to elite, he possess a lot of natural talent and can pose a threat regardless where he is on the court. His arm strength and range is up there with the best of them and once he goes on a streak, there’s seldom an answer to him.”
8. Category 5
Key Players: Alex Matherne and Clay Austin
9. Vendetta
Key Players: Eric Vazquez and Ernie Almeda
Jonathan Wheeler on Eric: “Eric is a strong throwing lefty in his first full season in Elite.”
10. Judgement
Key Players: Adam and Deshawn Hornback
11. Juggernaut
Key Players: Jason Levine and Kenneth Mitchell
Corey Cooper on Kenneth: “He has a lot of dodgeball experience.”
Women’s No-Sting Division
For the first time in the South region, the women’s division will be made up of four teams with full rosters. Last year, the women’s division existed for the first time in the South, but only consisting of 5-women rosters. This is a big step in the women’s dodgeball evolution.
Last year, Caught Up took the crown in the South led by Valerie Lerma, however, she returns to captain a new team in Khaos. Khaos’ roster is stacked and includes one of the stronger female arms in the South, in Phalcon Parker.
“Parker has a killer arm, competitive spirit and is an all around athlete,” Lerma said.
Also returning is Vania Zafra, one of the best catchers in the country, which gives Khaos an advantage that no other team has.
Last year’s runner up in the South, Weapons of Mass Destruction or WMD, return to stake their claim as one of the top women’s teams in the country. Led by Captain Kristy Stephens and star Jen Woodlee, this is a team with the experience necessary to take the crown.
“Jen is an incredible offensive threat. She has a hard and accurate throw but can also defensively protect herself with catching and dodging,” Stephens said about Woodlee. “Her enthusiasm for team fun bleeds into great on-court chemistry.”
Aiming to take down the two top teams in the South is That Girl is Poison, led by captain Becka May. A newer team to Elite, but they rely on experience and clutch throws to keep them in every game they’re in.
Poison’s Katrina Hillman is lauded for having one of the top arms, utilizing the softball throw technique to perfection.
“Hillman has an arm with two solid types of throws,” May said. “You’ve got to watch yourself or she’ll knock your socks off.”
Rounding out the women’s division is Envie from New Orleans. They are a late add, but is captained by Arianna Thayer and includes Alexandra Shelton, one of the more improved women’s players in the South.
Captain’s Power Ranking Poll
1. Khaos
Key Players: Valerie Lerma and Phalcon Parker
Vania Zafra on Valerie and Phalcon: “Both are super strong players. They have great arms, can catch and are skillful dodgers.”
2. Weapons of Mass Destruction
Key Players: Kristy Stephens and Deanna Darnes
Jen Woodlee on Deanna: “In the off season, she has stepped up her game immensely. She’s catching, sniping and hella smart at all the right times for both women’s and coed.”
3. That Girl is Poison
Key Players: Alicia Hoang and Katrina Hillman
Becka May on Alicia: “ She has clutch catches and overall is becoming a great well rounded player offensively and defensively.”
4. Envie
Key Players: Arianna Thayer and Alexandra Shelton
