Dodgeball at Anderson: How it began

The league was formed in the spring of 2005 by Mr. Servis after a suggestion from then senior, Kevin Zidron. He suggested that Anderson students needed something to do to pass the time until graduation. We had no idea how successful the league would be, how much it would really cost to run, etc. We bought a set of dodgeballs and got a group of kids over to Maddux Elementary to play a little. The idea was to determine how to set up the court and how long matches would last. Court setup and game times have stayed consistent from the beginning. Maddux Elementary was chosen because it was determined that they in fact have, the perfect gym for our style of dodgeball.

Our style was determined by scouring the internet and stealing rules from everywhere we could find them. For the most part, they are the standard rules you find in most P.E. classes with a few changes. 6 people per side, at least one girl. Balls start in the middle, players start on the wall. I wasn't sure what size ball to use, so in my first purchase, I tried two sizes, the 8.5" white ball and the 7" stinger. Because we had 4 white and 2 stingers, we messed around with how to arrange the balls on the starting line. We decided to add our personal touch by moving the two Stingers to the free throw lines. We also dropped the rule that you had to take the balls back at the beginning, creating mayhem and chaos from the whistle, Anderson style.

The format of the game has remained unchanged thus far. We play matches made up of best-of-7 game series. The first team to 4 games wins the match. Games have a 5 minute time limit. The rules are somewhere else on this site, so I'm not going through them all.

Year One: 2005

Summary:
At only $100 a team to play and the promise of somethig new and exciting at Anderson, we filled the league with no trouble. 24 teams signed up and were divided into 2 divisions of 12. In keeping with the Dodgeball movie theme, the divisions were named Patches and Wrench. The logo was the Average Joe's Gym logo from the Dodgeball film. I'll try and find a picture of it.

The 12 teams in the Wrench Division were:

• Wu Tang Clan
• The Morality Squad
• Little Rascals
• Butterfly Horses
• Green Goblins
• Caution
• Pirates
• Pink Panthers
• Radical 5
• Vipers
• Miltary Aircraft Designed to drop Bombs on People
• Team Skater

The 12 teams in the Patches division were:

• The Platypus
• AP Dodgeball
• Phat Chrome
• The Frickin' Sweet Team
• Arff
• Eskimos
• Noodles
• The F.C.
• Fighting Moose
• Brooklyn Dodgers
• Skillz That Killz
• The Mafia

Though times were reserved at Maddux, we played several open gyms in the wrestling room at Anderson prior to play to get organized and learn how we wanted the rules to work. Spring break was really early that year, so we got organized and had open gyms before the break, and when we got back from break, the regular season began.


The Regular Season:

Sad to say, but I can't find any record of the regular season. I know that it happened, because I was there. I think I saved over the records with the next year's stuff. I do know that even though we started the year playing matches at Maddux, at some point we wore out our welcome and were asked to take our game elsewhere. At that point, matches were moved to Anderson in the Wrestling Room. The room is fine for our game. It is narrower and longer. The main problem is that fans had to watch from outside.



The Postseason:

There was no NIT Tournament, just a regular, 12-team single elimination tournament to determine the champion.

In the Wrench Division, the six playoff teams were:

• Radical 5
• Team Skater
• Pink Panthers
• Vipers
• Pirates
• Military aircraft designed to drop bombs on people

I'm not positive about the order, but I think that is right.

In the Patches division, the six playoff teams were:

1. Eskimos
2. Frickin' Sweet Team
3. Phat Chrome
4. Skillz That Killz
5. The Mafia
6. Fighting Moose

I can't remember exactly how it played out. Maybe someone from that year that can remember can email me at justin.servis@foresthills.edu and let me know.

I do know that there were several upsets and that ultimately the Vipers were the first ever champions of Anderson Dodgeball. For his part in the championship, Zak Schultz was named the inaugural MVP of the league.

Year Two: 2006

Summary:

The league really comes into form in it's second year. People know what to expect. Less has to be explained. To get back into Maddux, the league agrees to hire full time security to work the matches. The team price goes up to $250, which is still a steal. The league schedule is set up for 24 teams maximum and 22 sign up. Instead of just two divisions like the first year, we split them again, creating four divisions (two on each day). This creates the added element of play within your division and out-of-division games. Which gives us another tiebreaker in case we need it.

As the league had hoped, some teams return from the previous year. Wu Tang Clan returns and Phat Chrome returns as well, although with new members. This becomes a trend with people beginning to bequeath their franchise colors and names to underclassmen for the next year. Teams are made up of all types of students and all ages.

The league stays with the Dodgeball movie theme, keeping the two original division names Patches and Wrench, and adding two new division names, Vegas and Ocho.

The new logo looks like this:


During the course of the year, we decide that everyone should get to play a tournament match at least once in their life, so we decide to add the NIT tournament to the post season.

The regular season lasts 8 weeks, plus the All-star week (another addition) plus the post season. The two division winners and the next three best wildcard teams from each day make the Championship Cup Tournament for a total of ten. The remaining teams are seeded as well for the NIT Tournament.

Also during year two, the website for the league is developed based on a tip from Wrestling coach, Mr. Yeager. I would tell you more about it, but you are here, so what's the point?

The final change adopted during year two is the introduction of the Championship Cup. Miniature versions of it are given to the winners of the Cup Tournament and the winning team name is added to the Championship Cup which is actually kept in the trophy case in Anderson by the front door/senior lobby.

The regular season goes down like this:

Final Standings - Patches Division (Tuesday):

1. Alaskan Assassins 12-4 Overall, 23 gl, 9-1 division (#2 seed)
2. Wham-Bam 11-5, 35 gl, 7-3 div. (#6)
3. Floccinaucinihilpilification 8-8, 43 gl, 5-5 div. (#7)
4. Team America 8-8, 47 gl, 4-6 div. (#8)
5. Malzedongs 7-9, 43 gl, 5-5 div. (#9)
6. The Red Team 2-14, 61 gl, 0-10 div. (#10)

Final Standings - Ocho Division (Tuesday):

1. Ghostbusters 13-3 Overall, 29 gl, 8-2 div. (#1)
2. Team Zissou 12-4, 32 gl, 7-3 div. (#3)
3. Q T TTs 11-5, 35 gl, 7-3 div. (#4)
4. Wu Tang Clan 11-5, 29 gl, 6-4 div. (#5)
5. Lunatics 2-14, 59, 20-8 (#11)
6. Furious Chickens 0-16, 56 gl, 0-10 (forfeited postseason)

Final Standings - Vegas Division (Thursday):

1. Pro-Pains 11-5 Overall, 31 gl, 8-2 div. (#2 Seed)
2. Noobs 10-6, 39, 7-3 div. (#5)
3. Who-Dey? 8-8, 41 gl, 7-3 (#6)
4. Ninja Turtles 2-14, 60 gl, 2-8 (#9)
5. The Oddballerz 1-15, 62 gl, 1-9 div (#10)

Final Standings - Wrench Division (Thursday)

1. Phat Chrome 15-1 Overall, 15 gl, 9-1 div. (#1 Seed)
2. The Warriors 13-3, 26 gl, 7-3 div. (#3)
3. Transformers 12-4, 27 gl, 7-3 div. (#4)
4. The Minutemen 5-11, 50, 2-8 div. (#7)
5. Merry Pranksters 3-13, 56 gl, 0-10 div. (#8)

The NIT plays out like this:

Opening Round

• Team America def. The Oddballerz 4-0
• Ninja Turtles def. Lunatics 4-2
• Malzedongs def. Merry Pranksters 4-0

Quarterfinals

• Who-Dey? def. The Red Team 4-1
• Team America def. Floccinaucinihipilification 4-0
• Whan-Bam def. Ninja Turtles 4-1
• Malzedongs def. The Minutemen 4-3

Semifinals

• Who-Dey? def. Team America 4-2
• Wham-Bam def. Malzedongs 4-2

NIT Championship

• Who-Dey? def. Wham-Bam 4-2

The Championship Cup is Double elimination, so it is pretty confusing to type, so just look at the bracket. Click on the them so you don't hurt your eyes.




Basically, Phat Chrome lost, came all the way back through the loser's bracket and then beat The Warriors twice at what felt like midnight to win the whole thing.

League Honors

First Team All Anderson Dodgeball

• Phil Lisi - Warriors- *Regular Season MVP
• David Flaherty - Phat Chrome
• Jake Byczkowski - Pro-Pains
• Nick Weiss - Wu Tang Clan
• Chris Hertlein - Transformers
• Alex Klus - Phat Chrome - * Tournament MVP
  

Second Team All Anderson Dodgeball

• Alex Rhizor aka Tobasco Moss - Warriors
• Ryan Tarvin - Phat Chrome
• Brad Kamman - Phat Chrome
• Johnathan Arnold - The Red Team
• Greg Burns - Team Zissou
• Molly Snead - Who-Dey?

Honorable Mention

Kevin Staggs, Drew Lausten, Ray Nakakura, Kevin Loeskamp, Brian Oliveira, Nate Solone, Brad Cunningham, Nick Kane, Brian Klus, Tommy Fyffe, Kevin Corder, Brian Menendez, Jack McGrath, Kristen Adam

Year Three: 2007

Summary:

2007 becomes a very interesting mix of teams, both old and new.

Team Skater, an original franchise, returns. Wu Tang Clan becomes the only original franchise to play all three years. Q T TTs change their name to Booya and return. Merry Pranksters return. The Oddballerz return and change their name to Super Pirate Ninja Rockstars. Captain Jack McGrath bequeaths the franchise rights of League Champion, Phat Chrome to underclassman Patrick Kollmeier and they return with new members. Pro-Pains follows a similar path with new captain Kevin Johns. Malzedongs makes a few changes and becomes Amerikaz Most Wanted. Members of the Minutemen become Wendy's Is Good and The Erasers. Other new franchises are born from the upper class.

The future is bright with four teams made up mostly of 10 graders; Super Pirate Ninja Rockstars, Banzai Blitzers, Kind of a Big Deal, and Panda Bear?

No changes are made to gameplay for the '07 season. 20 teams are still split into 4 divisions. The league cuts ties to the Dodgeball movie and instead begins an identity with a new league logo. Here tis.



The regular season goes down like this:

Final Standings - Eastern Conference - Eight Mile Division

1. *-Booya - 13-1 Overall, 9 gl, 8-0 div.
2. *-Team Skater - 11-3 Overall, 24 gl, 6-2 div.
3. Kind of a Big Deal - 7-7 Overall, 40 gl, 4-4 div.
4. Those Guys - 3-11 Overall, 44 gl, 2-6 div.
5. Rec. Specs. - 0-14 Overall, 56 gl, 0-8 div.

Final Standings - Eastern Conference - Forest Division

1. *-Wendy's Is Good - 12-2 Overall, 18 gl, 7-1 div.
2. *-Banzai Blitzers - 10-4 Overall, 35 gl, 6-2 div.
   
3. *-The Erasers - 8-6 Overall, 32 gl, 4-4 div.
4. Merry Pranksters - 5-9 Overall, 43 gl, 3-5 div.
   
5. Justice League - 1-13 Overall, 54 gl, 0-8 div.

Final Standings - Western Conference - Salem Division

1. *Phat Chrome - 11-3 Overall, 22 gl, 7-1 div.
2. *Righteous Harmonious Fist - 11-3 Overall, 26 gl, 7-1 div.
   
3. Irishmen - 6-8 Overall, 36 gl, 3-5 div.
4. Super Pirate Ninja Rockstars - 6-8 Overall, 37 gl, 3-5 div.
5. No Boys Allowed - 0-14 Overall, 56 gl, 0-8 div.

Final Standings - Western Conference - Markley Division

1. *Wu Tang Clan - 13-1 Overall, 14 gl, 7-1 div.
2. *Amerikaz Most Wanted - 10-4 Overall, 25 gl, 6-2 div.
   
3. *Pro-Pains - 9-5 Overall, 28 gl, 5-3 div.
4. Your Guide To Getting Into College - 2-12 Overall, 48 gl, 1-7 div.
   
5. Panda Bear? - 2-12 Overall, 51 gl, 1-7 div.

Postseason:

Final Seedings for Championship play in the Eastern Conference-

#1 Seed - Booya - Eight Mile Division Champion
#2 Seed - Wendy's Is Good - Forest Division Champion
#3 Seed - Team Skater - Overall Record
#4 Seed - Banzai Blitzers - Overall Record
#5 Seed - The Erasers - Overall Record

Final Seedings for Championship play in the Western Conference-
#1 Seed - Wu Tang Clan - Markley Division Champion - best overall record
#2 Seed - Phat Chrome - Salem Division Champion - win tiebreaker over RHF
#3 Seed - Righteous Harmonious Fist - Lose tiebreaker w/ Phat Chrome by 1 individual game, Overall record.
#4 Seed - Amerikaz Most Wanted - Overall Record
#5 Seed - Pro-Pains - Overall Record

Final Seedings for NIT Tournament play-
#11 Seed - Kind of a Big Deal - Overall Record
#12 Seed - Irishmen - win individual games lost tiebreaker over SPNR
#13 Seed - Super Pirate Ninja Rockstars - lose individual games lost tiebreaker to irishmen
#14 Seed - Merry Pranksters - Overall Record
#15 Seed - Those Guys - Overall record
#16 Seed - Your Guide To Getting Into College - win individual games lost tiebreaker over Panda Bear?
#17 Seed - Panda Bear? - lose tiebreaker to YGTGIC
#18 Seed - The Justice League - Overall Record
#19 Seed - Rec. Specs. - individual games won tiebreaker over NBA
#20 Seed - No Boys Allowed - lose individual games won tiebreaker to Rec. Specs.

Here is how the postseason went:




Following the conclusion of the season, a survey was conducted asking any player in the league to vote for the players that they felt were the best in the league. Here are the results:

Anderson Dodgeball First Team All-League

• Ben Homan - The Erasers -League MVP
• Ben Combs - Wendy's Is Good
• Brian Menendez - Super Pirate Ninja Rockstars
• Pat Kollmeier - Phat Chrome
• Kyle Giesting - Booya
• Pam Lisi - Righteous Harmonious Fist

Anderson Dodgeball Second Team All-League

• Ray Nakakura - Team Skater
• Nick Weiss - Wu Tang Clan
• Carl Coburn - Wu Tang Clan
• Greg Burns - Team Skater
• Kyle Nelson - Righteous Harmonious Fist
• Kristin Adam - Booya

Anderson Dodgeball Third Team All-League

• Nick Aylward - The Erasers
• Dan Vorderbrueggen - Booya
• John Runk - Phat Chrome
• Brian Klus - Amerikaz Most Wanted
• D.J. Licata - Merry Pranksters
• Brittany Roehm - Wendy's Is Good

Anderson Dodgeball Honorable Mention

• Wesley Combs - Wendy's Is Good
• John Kelly - Righteous Harmonious Fist
• David Mackey - Irishmen
• Ory Tilford - Banzai Blitzers
• Max Elliott - Banzai Blitzers
• Blake Littleton - Wu Tang Clan
• Jake Impellizzeri - Righteous Harmonious Fist
• Josh Davis - Super Pirate Ninja Rockstars
• Matt Roberto - Panda Bear?
• Brandon Simon - Wendy's Is Good

It should be an interesting off-season.

• Who becomes the new Wu Tang Clan?
• What happens to the 4 sophomore teams?
• Do the remaining members of the Fist stay together?
• What franchises stay together and what franchises break apart?

Only time will tell.

Year Four: 2008

Great Season. Great Teams. Great traditions.

Two teams of only freshmen. Another (Wu Tang Clan) made up of mostly freshmen keeps tradition alive by donning the gold jerseys.

Very competitive regular season. No clear favorites going into the tournament.

The jerseys looked like this:

Championship Cup Tournament went like this:

• Play-in- Target Practice def. Faith +1 4-3 (Faith + 1 eliminated)
• Play-in- Pro-Pains def. Radical 5 4-3 (Radical 5 eliminated)
• Play-in- Team Kimbo def. Anderson Security 4-3 (Anderson Security eliminated)
• Play-in- Amerikaz Most Wanted def. Intergalactic Super-Fantastics 4-0 (ISF eliminated)
• Abusement Park def. Target Practice 4-0
• Pro-Pains def. Team Skater 4-2
• Jabbawockeez def. Team Kimbo 4-0
• Phat Chrome def. Amerikaz Most Wanted 4-3
• Team Skater def. Team Kimbo 4-3 (Kimbo eliminated)
• Amerikaz Most Wanted def. Target Practice 4-1 (Target Practice eliminated)
• Abusement Park def. Pro-Pains 4-0
• Phat Chrome def. Jabbawockeez 4-2
• Team Skater def. Pro-Pains 4-2 (Pro-Pains eliminated)
• Jabbawockeez def. Amerikaz Most Wanted 4-3 (AMW eliminated)
• Team Skater def. Jabbawockeez (Jabbawockeez eliminated)
• Phat Chrome def. Abusement Park 4-1
• Abusement Park def. Team Skater 4-3 (Team Skater eliminated)
• Phat Chrome def. Abusement Park 4-2 (Phat Chrome Champions)

Phat Chrome became the first franchise to get their name on the trophy twice.

1st Team All-League

• Nick Aylward-Abusement Park-Co-MVP
• Pat Kollmeier-Phat Chrome-Co-MVP
• Ben Combs-Team Skater
• Brian Menendez-Jabbawockeez
• John Howard-Anderson Security
• Anne Flower-Knock Outs

2nd Team All-League

• Nick Truesdell-Amerikaz Most Wanted
• Jason Bruner-Phat Chrome
• John Runk-Phat Chrome
• Ory Tilford-Jabbawockeez
• Michael Marcagi-Intergalactic Super-Fantastics
• Sarah Nelson-Jabbawockeez

3rd Team All-League

• Nick Kane-Amerikaz Most Wanted
• Breon Mapp-Jabbawockeez
• Ray Nakakura-Team Skater
• Brian Klus-Amerikaz Most Wanted
• Zac Anderson-Faith +1
• Elisha Porta-Radical 5

Super Smash Brothers defeated Ghostbusters for the NIT title.

Year Five: 2009

Prediction: Global Domination