The Backstory
The story begins in the spring of 2007, when Michelle (current Showdown captain) and Christie (current Brute Squad captain) exchanged a few friendly (or creepy) emails, finally met in person at ECC a few months later, and stayed in sporadic contact over the next few years. Sometime during the 2009 club season (they can’t remember how, but it was probably awkward and most likely involved Twitter), Michelle and Sara (current Brute Squad / Philly Fusion TD) met. They became Gchat buddies, and that was the beginning of the end (of all occupational productivity). During an email exchange between Showdown and Brute Squad leadership re: the 2010 season, Michelle jokingly mentioned that it would be cool to start a new fall tournament. Sara convinced Brute Squad to attend before it even existed. Together, Michelle and Sara have continued to walk the fine line between crazy and genius all the way to (just outside of) Philadelphia.
About The Tournament
The Brute and Showdown leadership have separately worked on some of the most prestigious tournaments in the college and club scenes (Pres Day, Midwest Throwdown, Philly Classic, Women’s College Centex, Boston Invite, Texas Shootout), so we are very excited to be teaming up on this project together. As competitors and friends (frienpetitors, if you will), we’re looking forward to bringing together the Northeast and the South, the college and club women’s divisions, all at a mutually inconvenient site– Manheim, PA.
We expect it to be a unique, highly competitive experience that will benefit both the club and college women’s divisions. For the college women, there will be great early-season competition against other college teams as well as an opportunity to watch the top women’s teams in the country compete. Club women’s teams will be able to get some quality games in closer to the USA Ultimate Club Championships Series, as well as being able to scope up-and-coming college talent. Finally, there will be a club-college fusion skills clinic on Saturday night where club players can get teaching/coaching experience and college players can learn from the best in the country. We’re looking forward to a fusion of great things, and we hope that you’ll join us!
Full disclosure: This tournament will serve as a joint fundraiser for Showdown and Brute Squad, as both of our teams will be represented the United States at the World Ultimate Club Championships in Prague in July.
