For the first time, Maple Grove has players participating in the Minnesota Youth Ultimate Summer league. The Summer League plays twice a week in both Minneapolis and Blaine, and features dozens and dozens of players from around the metro looking to continue their play and try out for the Youth Club Championship Teams. This year Dylan Garves, Noah Corwin and DJ Rekstad are playing for Team England. Harrison Culotta is playing on Team France, Mitchell Rekstad is playing on Team Spain, Milo Rice is playing on Team Italy, and Shawn Hilst is playing on Team Brazil. Several players have been approached about joining the YCC system that will get under way after summer league ends in early July. MGDC's summer session is getting under way slowly, but the Summer League has allowed players to get in quality games against high competition.
Also for the first time Maple Grove will open up competitive play in the Exit 69 Tournament this Fall; the weekend of September 27th and 28th.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Dylan and Mitchell win All Conference Honors
For the second consecutive season in Maple Grove's two year history, two players were named to the All-Conference Team. Last year's award winners saw DJ Rekstad and Atherton Wiseman win All-Conference honors and Mitchell Rekstad win Rookie of The Year.
This season Mitchell Rekstad and Dylan Garves made the all conference team and were awarded sweet looking shorts for their efforts. Mitchell and Dylan picked up right where their brothers left off and even led the team to a better record (9-4 vs. 7-6) than their brothers the previous season.
Side Note-Milo Rice was an honorable mention for North Suburban Rookie of the Year, and was recently invited to an extended tryout for the YCC team this summer.
This season Mitchell Rekstad and Dylan Garves made the all conference team and were awarded sweet looking shorts for their efforts. Mitchell and Dylan picked up right where their brothers left off and even led the team to a better record (9-4 vs. 7-6) than their brothers the previous season.
Side Note-Milo Rice was an honorable mention for North Suburban Rookie of the Year, and was recently invited to an extended tryout for the YCC team this summer.
Year One vs Year Two Comparison
2013 Maple Grove Sandlot Squad 2014 Maple Grove Floppy Discs
Regular Season Regular Season
1. Benilde St Margaret(28) W 15-6 1. Apple Valley(5) L 11-15
2. Bloomington Jefferson(40) W 15-3 2. Eastview(15) W 16-15
3. Blake(33) W 15-11 3. MN Southwest (19) L 11-12
4. Hopkins B(30) W 15-4 4. Rosemount (33) W 15-6
Conference Tournament Conference Tournament
Quarters: Benilde B(50) W 15-3 Quarters: Armstrong B(38) W 7-0
Semis: Cooper(20): W 15-13 Semis: St Louis Park(17) W 14-13
Finals: Armstrong(17): W 14-10 Finals: Cooper(18) W12-10
State Tournament State Tournament
Play in/Seeding Cretin Derham(8) L 14-16 Play In/Seeding Open World(25) W 15-6
Pool St Paul Central(10) L Pool Eagan(8) L 16-15
Pool St Paul Charter(7) L Pool Hopkins(2) L 6-15
Pool Hopkins (1) L 4-15 Pool Eastview(15) W 14-9
Bracket White Bear (13) L Bracket Cretin(10) L 10-12
Bracket Minneapolis South(15) L 13-14 Brakcket Central(14) W
Bracket N.A. Bracket Mounds View(12) W
Overall Finish 7-6 Overall Finish 9-5
2013- 16th place, lose 13 seniors, return 5 players 2014- 11th place, lose 3 seniors, return 13 players
Regular Season Regular Season
1. Benilde St Margaret(28) W 15-6 1. Apple Valley(5) L 11-15
2. Bloomington Jefferson(40) W 15-3 2. Eastview(15) W 16-15
3. Blake(33) W 15-11 3. MN Southwest (19) L 11-12
4. Hopkins B(30) W 15-4 4. Rosemount (33) W 15-6
Conference Tournament Conference Tournament
Quarters: Benilde B(50) W 15-3 Quarters: Armstrong B(38) W 7-0
Semis: Cooper(20): W 15-13 Semis: St Louis Park(17) W 14-13
Finals: Armstrong(17): W 14-10 Finals: Cooper(18) W12-10
State Tournament State Tournament
Play in/Seeding Cretin Derham(8) L 14-16 Play In/Seeding Open World(25) W 15-6
Pool St Paul Central(10) L Pool Eagan(8) L 16-15
Pool St Paul Charter(7) L Pool Hopkins(2) L 6-15
Pool Hopkins (1) L 4-15 Pool Eastview(15) W 14-9
Bracket White Bear (13) L Bracket Cretin(10) L 10-12
Bracket Minneapolis South(15) L 13-14 Brakcket Central(14) W
Bracket N.A. Bracket Mounds View(12) W
Overall Finish 7-6 Overall Finish 9-5
2013- 16th place, lose 13 seniors, return 5 players 2014- 11th place, lose 3 seniors, return 13 players
State Tournament Recap
Maple Grove Ultimate defeated Open World Learning Community to clinch its second consecutive birth into the division one state tournament in its two year history. Last season Maple Grove lost a play in game to Cretin Derham Hall and ended up as the eighth overall seed. They then lost their three pool play games to Central, Charter, and Hopkins. Then lost their two Sunday games to White Bear and Southwest giving them a 16th place finish.
This season Maple Grove came in as the fifteen seed in a pool with Eagan(7), Hopkins(2), and Eastview(10). In their first game, Maple Grove played a back and forth barn burner with Eagan losing 16-15 on universe point. In the second game, Maple Grove played Hopkins in a rematch from last year's state tournament. This time around MG not only took a 1-0 lead, but a 2-1, and 3-2 lead ultimately falling 15-6 improving upon 15-4 last year. In their final game Saturday Maple Grove played Eastview and was rained out after a few points. When they resumed in Maple Grove during the middle of the week, Maple Grove took it to them winning 14-9 to supplement their 16-15 victory over Eastview earlier in the season.
Due to the rain delay from Saturday, the bracket play was slightly disturbed. Maple Grove took third in the pool lining them up for the ninth place bracket, but had to play a meaningless game versus Cretin before hand. Maple Grove lost a close 10-12 affair under cap before playing and defeating St Paul Central in the ninth place bracket. But then instead of playing Prior Lake for ninth place, they found themselves playing Mounds View and won again for an eleventh place finish. A great showing in their second year in the state tournament.
Now a fantastic season concludes improving upon year one's sixteenth place finish even after losing 13 seniors and returning only six players. Next season? They lose 3 seniors to graduation, and return 13 players.
Watch Out.
This season Maple Grove came in as the fifteen seed in a pool with Eagan(7), Hopkins(2), and Eastview(10). In their first game, Maple Grove played a back and forth barn burner with Eagan losing 16-15 on universe point. In the second game, Maple Grove played Hopkins in a rematch from last year's state tournament. This time around MG not only took a 1-0 lead, but a 2-1, and 3-2 lead ultimately falling 15-6 improving upon 15-4 last year. In their final game Saturday Maple Grove played Eastview and was rained out after a few points. When they resumed in Maple Grove during the middle of the week, Maple Grove took it to them winning 14-9 to supplement their 16-15 victory over Eastview earlier in the season.
Due to the rain delay from Saturday, the bracket play was slightly disturbed. Maple Grove took third in the pool lining them up for the ninth place bracket, but had to play a meaningless game versus Cretin before hand. Maple Grove lost a close 10-12 affair under cap before playing and defeating St Paul Central in the ninth place bracket. But then instead of playing Prior Lake for ninth place, they found themselves playing Mounds View and won again for an eleventh place finish. A great showing in their second year in the state tournament.
Now a fantastic season concludes improving upon year one's sixteenth place finish even after losing 13 seniors and returning only six players. Next season? They lose 3 seniors to graduation, and return 13 players.
Watch Out.
Monday, June 16, 2014
North Suburban Conference Playoffs
Maple Grove finished second place in the 2014 North Suburban Conference Playoffs. In the first round Maple Grove won a 7-0 rain shortened game against Armstrong B.
In the second round, Maple Grove finished off another universe win with an emphatic come from behind victory over St. Louis Park 14-13 under hard cap. This set up a conference finals rematch with an improved Marty Adams led Armstrong squad.
Unfortunately, the league rescheduled the game from Thursday to Friday night the Wednesday of the same week. Upon hearing that Maple Grove wanted to switch the date back because of players being out of town for Memorial day, they told Maple Grove to play against Robbinsdale Cooper and allowed St. Louis Park to play in the finals.
In a rematch of last year's conference semifinals, Maple Grove dispatched of Robbinsdale Cooper 12-10 hard cap to remain undefeated in conference play over their first two seasons.
Maple Grove then played Open World Learning Community in the game to go to State Division 1. Maple Grove won 15-6 and secured the 15 seed heading into state.
In the second round, Maple Grove finished off another universe win with an emphatic come from behind victory over St. Louis Park 14-13 under hard cap. This set up a conference finals rematch with an improved Marty Adams led Armstrong squad.
Unfortunately, the league rescheduled the game from Thursday to Friday night the Wednesday of the same week. Upon hearing that Maple Grove wanted to switch the date back because of players being out of town for Memorial day, they told Maple Grove to play against Robbinsdale Cooper and allowed St. Louis Park to play in the finals.
In a rematch of last year's conference semifinals, Maple Grove dispatched of Robbinsdale Cooper 12-10 hard cap to remain undefeated in conference play over their first two seasons.
Maple Grove then played Open World Learning Community in the game to go to State Division 1. Maple Grove won 15-6 and secured the 15 seed heading into state.
Northwoods D1 Conference Recap
Four teams advanced to the regional tournament due to a cancellation by another region team.
1. Minnesota
2. Carleton
3. Duluth
4. Winona State
Carleton took the second bid in the regional tournament by beating Minnesota in the game to go to the national tournament.
Cullen Garves and the Minnesota State Blue Skunks failed to advance with a 5th place finish. One place ahead of North Dakota State whose 6th place finish was last in the conference.
1. Minnesota
2. Carleton
3. Duluth
4. Winona State
Carleton took the second bid in the regional tournament by beating Minnesota in the game to go to the national tournament.
Cullen Garves and the Minnesota State Blue Skunks failed to advance with a 5th place finish. One place ahead of North Dakota State whose 6th place finish was last in the conference.
2014 Northwoods Developmental Conference Recap
Nine teams descended upon Mankato Minnesota Easter weekend with four bids to Appleton awaiting them. Three teams participated in the Developmental Conference Tournament (which had procured a bid to D1 regionals), and six teams participated in D1 Conferences for the other three. Minnesota, Carleton, Duluth, Winona State, Mankato State, and North Dakota State participated in D1 while Minnesota B, St. Olaf B, and Carleton C participated in Developmental.
The Developmental tournament was very straight forward. Three teams, two games each, one bid up for grabs. A late start had Minnesota B facing off with Carleton C in the first game of the tournament. Insane gusts were blowing straight upwind downwind all game long making it nearly impossible to move the disc towards the upwind goal. The Ugly Ducklings lost the toss and pulled upwind to start the game.
They strategically split their team into upwind and downwind lines. Franklin, Burke, Jones, Walker, Graham, Ranji, and Brad composed the upwind line while the Laven brothers, Breyen, Brian, Stebbins, Chris, JayTay, and DJ formed the downwind line. Both teams enacted a huck, play defense and stuff strategy. Downwind defense was made irrelevant due to the wind. Carleton C played zone when Ugly went upwind while Ugly played straight man to man defense. The ducklings controlled play from the start.
Swapping scores the Ducklings scored upwind on a beautiful up line cut by Burke to take a 6-5 lead, and that was all they needed. Carleton was within thirty yards of the endzone only once before Jack hammered a turnover all the way back down field. The Ugly Ducklings took half 7-5 and held the rest of the way through to win 10-8 by the cap. In their second game the wind was gone, but their momentum held through. The Ducklings kept their same lines and led 2-1 before break training their way to a dominant 13-1 victory.
Former Crimsanity Captain DJ Rekstad extended his dominance in conference tournaments with an undefeated run at the Northwood Development tournament. In two games, he played every single downwind point for the ducklings (nine vs. Carleton, seven vs. St Olaf). He was a plus 16 and led the team in assists and overall scores. It was clear after the final game that this was the best he played all year. He will not play in regionals for the Ducklings, and ended his Redshirt Freshman campaign with an excellent spring by improving every tournament. With an entire offseason to improve it will be exciting to see where his college career goes.
The Developmental tournament was very straight forward. Three teams, two games each, one bid up for grabs. A late start had Minnesota B facing off with Carleton C in the first game of the tournament. Insane gusts were blowing straight upwind downwind all game long making it nearly impossible to move the disc towards the upwind goal. The Ugly Ducklings lost the toss and pulled upwind to start the game.
They strategically split their team into upwind and downwind lines. Franklin, Burke, Jones, Walker, Graham, Ranji, and Brad composed the upwind line while the Laven brothers, Breyen, Brian, Stebbins, Chris, JayTay, and DJ formed the downwind line. Both teams enacted a huck, play defense and stuff strategy. Downwind defense was made irrelevant due to the wind. Carleton C played zone when Ugly went upwind while Ugly played straight man to man defense. The ducklings controlled play from the start.
Swapping scores the Ducklings scored upwind on a beautiful up line cut by Burke to take a 6-5 lead, and that was all they needed. Carleton was within thirty yards of the endzone only once before Jack hammered a turnover all the way back down field. The Ugly Ducklings took half 7-5 and held the rest of the way through to win 10-8 by the cap. In their second game the wind was gone, but their momentum held through. The Ducklings kept their same lines and led 2-1 before break training their way to a dominant 13-1 victory.
Former Crimsanity Captain DJ Rekstad extended his dominance in conference tournaments with an undefeated run at the Northwood Development tournament. In two games, he played every single downwind point for the ducklings (nine vs. Carleton, seven vs. St Olaf). He was a plus 16 and led the team in assists and overall scores. It was clear after the final game that this was the best he played all year. He will not play in regionals for the Ducklings, and ended his Redshirt Freshman campaign with an excellent spring by improving every tournament. With an entire offseason to improve it will be exciting to see where his college career goes.
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