LUFDA makes nationals

The Luther Ultimate Flying Disc Association (LUFDA) reached new heights this weekend, qualifying for the national tournament for the first time in the program’s history.

In order to qualify, LUFDA had to finish in the top four teams at the UPA Central Region Championships, which were held in Northfield, Minn. April 25 and 26. LUFDA was seeded third in the tournament and needed only to hold seed to advance to the next round. They did so, finishing third out of a field of 16 of the best teams from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

LUFDA entered the tournament with a lot of momentum after winning the UPA Central Plains Sectional Championship two weeks prior to the event, also for the first time in the program’s history. Their success earned them the three-seed in the tournament and set up an easy first-round game against Wisconsin-B on Saturday, April 25. LUFDA pummeled Wisconsin-B 15-2 and advanced to the second round, where they faced Iowa State. Iowa State did not pose too much of a threat for LUFDA either. LUFDA won 15-4 and advanced to the semi-finals.

In the third match played on Saturday, LUFDA matched up against three-time national champion Wisconsin in a semifinal match that would qualify the winner for a place in the national tournament. Wisconsin, a perennial national championship contender, might have been the best team LUFDA has played all season, and they were up to the challenge of playing such an outstanding opponent.

“Wisconsin has been one of the most dominant programs in the last decade,” LUFDA co-captain Drew Lee (‘09) said. “They’re a team that generates some of the best ultimate players in the country.”

Perhaps because Wisconsin’s talent was too much for LUFDA to handle, or because they were playing their third game of the day on tired legs, LUFDA lost to Wisconsin 9-15 and was going to have to win at least two games on Sunday to finish in the top four and earn a bid to nationals. The first of those two games was against archrivals Iowa, whom they had beaten 14-9 in the sectional championship two weeks prior.

LUFDA had to face a downpour of rain and terrible field conditions on Sunday as their game against Iowa was delayed for thirty minutes due to lightning as a thunderstorm went through Northfield. But after the worst of the storm had gone through, LUFDA beat Iowa 10-9.

“It always feels good to beat Iowa,” Lee said. “They’ve been a sectional rival my whole career, and the games against Iowa are always very heated.”

After beating Iowa, LUFDA faced Minnesota in their second chance to clinch a spot in the national tournament. LUFDA took the momentum at the beginning of the game, scoring the first three points. Minnesota responded well, however, coming back to take a 10-9 lead, needing only one more point to win the game and advance to the national tournament. LUFDA came back to tie it up thanks to a score by Isaac White (‘09) forcing a sudden-death “universe point” to decide who got the bid to nationals.

LUFDA “kicked off” to Minnesota to start the point, therefore needing to force a turnover to win the game. They got that turnover in the form of a massive hand-block by White and then started moving the disc toward the endzone. Aaron Taylor (‘10) caught a pass just feet outside the goal-line and called time-out, giving LUFDA a chance to huddle up and organize one final play to win the game.

“We ran a play that would give Aaron multiple options to pass the disc,” Lee said. “Eric Johnson (‘12) was the first option, but we had two guys cutting right after him.”

LUFDA didn’t need the backup plans, however, as Johnson sprinted past the man who was guarding him and caught the winning pass for LUFDA, sending them to the national championships.

“I’m really proud of everyone on the team,” Lee said. “We’ve all put in so much time and energy; I still can’t believe we’re going to Columbus.”

The national championship was the goal LUFDA set for themselves at the beginning of the season; a goal they accomplished with Johnson’s point. LUFDA has accomplished this season’s goal of reaching the national championships, but they are not settling for just making it there.

“We’ll be an underdog with nothing to lose,” Lee said. “We have a month to improve ourselves and become the best team we can be.”

No matter how they play at nationals, there is no doubt the gigantic steps LUFDA has made during the 2009 season will never be forgotten.