Christian Ultimate
Disc League

     As always, the CUDL likes to take whatever we expect- then twist it in the most bizarre way imaginable.

​

What happened?

​

     It wasn't supposed to rain. It really wasn't.

 

     But it did.

​

     Both HammerTime and the Turtles came into the game with a chance. The Turtles were perhaps a bit shakier, having won only one of their last four games. However, the playing field- statistically speaking- was level. Against each other, both teams were 1-1-0. Both teams would be missing very good players. Both teams needed the redemption of the win. Teal went 6-0 in the first few weeks- but then won only one game since. A championship win would wipe that away. Brennon Huff and Red came so tantalizingly close last year- this was, in many ways, a second chance for them.

​

     It looked like Red would win without any trouble, too, as HammerTime promptly shut out the Turtles 3-0 in the first quarter. 

​

     But then Teal all but shut out Red in the second.

​

     And that's when it started to rain.

​

     Playing Ultimate in the rain is a lot of fun if you can get your mind around the fact that it's just water, and that you'd probably be wet anyway at the end of the day. Rain does, however, introduce some difficulties in the successful moving of the disc.

 

     Water falling from the sky makes the disc fall faster, forcing harder or longer throws. Harder throws often mean more torque, but a wet disc doesn't comply with any torque. High- and Low-pressure systems colliding create awkward air pressure. This makes it very difficult to throw the disc accurately and makes it almost impossible to read. I've seen discs rise, fall, soar, curve, and even flip in the rain. Rain can decrease visibility, and the wind that comes with it spells disaster for throws longer than ten yards. 

​

     So while Ultimate in the rain is fun, it's not very effective.

​

     As lightning storms approached, the disc became harder and harder to handle. Discs were dropped, spiked, and missed throughout the third quarter and into the fourth. The conditions also brought out the best in some: many players introduced epic layouts and fantastic second-effort saves, and several had what was probably their best game of the year. HammerTime seemed to simply play better than the Turtles did, though. While Teal struggled to convert longer power plays, Red's short game stayed more or less consistent. With eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Red was up 13-9.

​

     And then the game was called due to lightning.

​

     It's some strange sort of funny that the only game that had rain all season long was the championship game. It's the only thing you can ever expect from a CUDL championship: unexpectedly epic.

​

     That said, let's break down the teams.

​

     Teal's defense struggled in the first quarter. Maybe their heads just weren't quite in the game, or their lineup wasn't working well together, or Red's short-game offense was just too quick. Either way, Teal's offense wasn't able to stop Red's defense from breaking them time and time again. Something must have changed, however, because Teal brought the kind of play we were expecting from the Turtles in the second quarter. This is how they'd been playing the first half of the season: winning. They were collected, accurate, smart, and powerful. Their defense was effective, their offense quick. But I think they became too sure of themselves- in the third quarter, huck after failed huck gave Red the disc again and again. They couldn't recover.

​

     Red surprised us. They didn't win for the first three weeks. But then they didn't lose a single other game the rest of the season. I don't know what clicked, but whatever it is worked. Their short game is unbeatable, and their players work together incredibly well. And with the small exception of the second-quarter slip, the results came with it. HammerTime has their redemption. They are officially the first team to make it to the championship twice; now, they've won it.

​

     13-9, in a solid win over the top-seed team. 

​

     Well done, HammerTime.

​

Final Whistle

​

     And well done, really, to everyone who participated in CUDL2022. We had an absolutely fantastic season, saw the level play rise extraordinarily high, and had a lot of fun doing it. I think that even Red would agree that at the end of the day (or season), it doesn't matter who won or who lost. We are here to glorify God- and that's the most important thing. One player had this to say, which I thought was absolutely fantastic:

​

"I'm thankful that God had something to say about our attitudes this year in CUDL. Everyone in the league should hear this. You are defined by the Lord Jesus NOT Ultimate... Competition is great. Jesus is greater."

​

     Amen. 

​

The Call

​

     Sign-ups for the 2023 season open October 1st. After 84 players this year, and having to turn away almost a dozen more, we are expecting over 100 players and eight teams next year. I genuinely hope to see all of you sign up! Let's keep glorifying the Lord together, friends. And while we're at it, let's play some Ultimate!

​

P.S. Check out all the photos from the championship match here! We got some great shots.