Acappella is a summer club team with strong Maple Grove ties. The newly renamed club ultimate frisbee team was established in 2012 from the remnants of Banana Slugs Ultimate. They made great strides in 2013 bringing together a young core group of players from Winona State and St. Mary's. This season they have returned more organized and motivated than ever before. This season they've added four former Crimsanity players and added several of the top players from Mankato's Blue Skunks.
Mark Waananen was the first player of Maple Grove origins and has been heavily involved with the organization. He recruited former Captain DJ Rekstad who played with Acappella twice last season. This year began with Mark already on the team. DJ signed in early March and Nate Haines and Zach Benton signed a week later. Cullen Garves was the fourth former Crimsanity player who signed in late March. Zach and Nate were both recruited by Mark, Cullen by his Mankato teammates that had signed on earlier, and DJ made a statement by signing his older cousin Dirk Meyer to the team. Dirk has been a participant in several MGDC events, played two years in the Madison Ultimate Frisbee Association (MUFA), and will bring elite athleticism and speed to the team.
Apart from the Maple Grove signings, Acappella extended its reach by securing top players from Mankato's Blue Skunks. Headlining the Blue Skunks signings include Rosey, Hobbs and Cole. This team has brought back a core group of Experience-Winona State's Ultimate Team-players that have improved and developed another year's worth of games and chemistry. Besides the core Winona State Players, Acappella has brought in a second college pipeline in Mankato, a high school pipeline in Maple Grove, and possibly another in Minnesota's Ugly Duckling squad. Acappella rival Shinigami was the past team of choice for the Ugly Ducks, but they will not be returning for the 2014 season.
This team is very young and appears to have the talent needed to be a decent sectionals participant.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Quest to Perfection Foiled by Apple Valley
Maple Grove opened their 2014 campaign on the road against Apple Valley. There they did something they hadn't done yet. Lose in the regular season. Crimsanity finished blemish free with wins against Benilde St Margaret, Bloomington Kennedy, Hopkins B and Blake last season. However this year with a much tougher schedule Maple Grove will be playing: Eastview, Minneapolis Southwest, and Rosemount.
Maple Grove lost to Apple Valley 15-11. Standout performances came from Mitchell Rekstad and Dylan Garves (both juniors and younger brothers of former captains DJ Rekstad and Cullen Garves). Dylan's game most resembled DJ's as he had mostly assists and was vocally active with his teammates. Mitchell on the other hand resembled Cullen's game with his more laidback approach, and he also had an even blend of goals and assists.
Mitchell and Dylan both got major time in the rotation last year and unsurprisingly had big impacts. In future games look for Treyton Van Slyke to step up and build upon a nice showing in last season's state tournament. As far as rookies go keep on eye on Sophmore Milo Rice to not just make a positive impact on the team, but also make a rush for North Suburban Rookie of the Year.
The recap of today's game vs Minneapolis Southwest will be online shortly.
Maple Grove lost to Apple Valley 15-11. Standout performances came from Mitchell Rekstad and Dylan Garves (both juniors and younger brothers of former captains DJ Rekstad and Cullen Garves). Dylan's game most resembled DJ's as he had mostly assists and was vocally active with his teammates. Mitchell on the other hand resembled Cullen's game with his more laidback approach, and he also had an even blend of goals and assists.
Mitchell and Dylan both got major time in the rotation last year and unsurprisingly had big impacts. In future games look for Treyton Van Slyke to step up and build upon a nice showing in last season's state tournament. As far as rookies go keep on eye on Sophmore Milo Rice to not just make a positive impact on the team, but also make a rush for North Suburban Rookie of the Year.
The recap of today's game vs Minneapolis Southwest will be online shortly.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
MG Falls to Edina in Preseason Scrimmage
Thursday afternoon the new look Maple Grove Ultimate Team made its way down highway 169 to face off with state runner up Edina. The weather and conditions were as frustrating as a typical Minnesota spring. Upon arrival, the field was still covered in ice causing incompletions and falls on both sides. The rain was heavy at the beginning of the game and turned into a thick snowfall by halftime.
Despite the weather, despite the new personnel (only 5 returners), despite the new coach, the Maple Grove Ultimate Team's culture hasn't changed a bit. The team walked onto the field with about half of the team in cleats the other half not even in tennis shoes. No one had matching uniforms, and the pregame cheer?... Sandlot Squad. This team still holds the same core value: Go out and have fun.
The look of the team was the same, the values of the team were the same, the cheer for the team was the same, but what about their play? Nate was unable to attend leaving only four returning players on the field out of 14. Maple Grove received the opening pull, and the first throw was a full field huck from Dylan to Mitchell 1-0 Maple Grove. Mitchell ran uncontested up the sideline and made a beeline for the end zone as soon as Dylan picked up the disc.
Edina expected a stack or set play and were surprised by the early ambitious attempts. The game continued to steer Maple Grove's way as Edina had difficulty adapting to their style 3-1 Maple Grove. That's when the cold set in.
The handlers began to freeze up and started missing on deep connections and reset throws. This led to long turnover ridden points in the first half as the game started to shift in Edina's favor. Edina took half 7-4 and ended the game 13-5. Despite the lopsided point total there were nothing but positive takeaways for a young team going against a perennial state title contender.
Despite the weather, despite the new personnel (only 5 returners), despite the new coach, the Maple Grove Ultimate Team's culture hasn't changed a bit. The team walked onto the field with about half of the team in cleats the other half not even in tennis shoes. No one had matching uniforms, and the pregame cheer?... Sandlot Squad. This team still holds the same core value: Go out and have fun.
The look of the team was the same, the values of the team were the same, the cheer for the team was the same, but what about their play? Nate was unable to attend leaving only four returning players on the field out of 14. Maple Grove received the opening pull, and the first throw was a full field huck from Dylan to Mitchell 1-0 Maple Grove. Mitchell ran uncontested up the sideline and made a beeline for the end zone as soon as Dylan picked up the disc.
Edina expected a stack or set play and were surprised by the early ambitious attempts. The game continued to steer Maple Grove's way as Edina had difficulty adapting to their style 3-1 Maple Grove. That's when the cold set in.
The handlers began to freeze up and started missing on deep connections and reset throws. This led to long turnover ridden points in the first half as the game started to shift in Edina's favor. Edina took half 7-4 and ended the game 13-5. Despite the lopsided point total there were nothing but positive takeaways for a young team going against a perennial state title contender.
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