HPU Club Ultimate Heads to Biggest Tournament in Team History

Over the last 7 years, the club ultimate team has evolved tremendously. From originating from a team that was very laid back and focused on more of just the social aspect of the sport, the team has raised their standards of competition in the last few years and is now playing in one of the most competitive regular season tournaments in the country this weekend.

Queen City Tune-Up, held at the Ramblewood Soccer Complex in Charlotte, hosts some of the top teams from around the country. Some of these teams include: UMass, Harvard, North Carolina, Georgia, Notre Dame, Michigan, and now our very own High Point will be in the mix. In the past, this is a tournament that a handful of players could only have dreamed of playing in, and now has become a reality.

High Point's past success has come from player-coach, Michael Ball, a once-captain turned grad student who has seen the team's evolution first-hand. His ability to handle the disc, move upfield, and stellar defense, allows the team move the disc well around the field and force turnovers on defense. Other key players this weekend who should stand out if HPU plans on being successful is sophomore captain, Michael Sellers, sophomore, Jake Heins, junior captain, Austin Morris, and freshman standout, Pete Isler. While these players will tend to stand out and make big plays, the team has seen success during the preseason due to their amount of depth. Plenty new players and returners have began to found roles on the field that will contribute to the team's success.

In pool play on Saturday, the team will face off against Virginia Tech, VCU, Georgia, and Georgia Tech in that order. Sunday will feature bracket play for 1st, 9th, and 17th place depending on their success on Saturday.

-Cam Bellando

Patriots Defeat Steelers to Win AFC Championship

The AFC champions were determined last weekend as the Pittsburgh Steelers traveled to the legendary Gillette stadium to play the New England Patriots. Tom Brady led the Patriots to a 36-17 victory over the Steelers with 374 total passing yards averaging 8.7 yards per pass. Chris Hogan led the Patriots on the receiving end with 9 receptions, a total of 180 yards. LaGarrett Blount had the most rushing yards between the two teams with 47 yards in 16 attempts, only averaging 2.9 yards per attempt. Ben Roethlisberger also performed well, with 314 yards and a touchdown. Although Roethlisberger performed, it wasn’t enough to take down Bill Belichick’s defensive strategy. 

Bill Belichick now has 24 postseason wins, and is attempting to win his fifth Super Bowl in his seventh attempt. Tom Brady is also going for his fifth ring, as the patriots take on Dan Quinn’s Atlanta Falcons lead by quarterback Matt Ryan. Super Bowl 51 is scheduled for February, 5th at NRG Stadium in Houston Texas.

David Garbo Jr.