2011 Tournaments/Winners
Dixon Classic-Jared
Campbell Classic-Jerome
Wacker Classic-Kahlin
Mumford Classic-TBD
Doubles Tournament-TBD
2012 Tournaments
Down in the Dumps Tournament
Dixon Classic
Campbell Classic
Wacker Classic
Mumford Classic
CCFA Championships
A look at the Dixons:
Seth: A quick glance at the league's second oldest player would suggest that Seth, who joined late in the 2010 season, has put up a dismal showing in his CCFA career, limping to a 2-4 record and living out his days in Jared's shadow. A closer look would show that Seth runs a powerful one-touch offense and boasts one of the league's quickest goalies. So, why the dismal record? Seth has played the toughest schedule of any CCFA player, having played four of his six games against Jared, and one against No.3 Ryan. In his only other game, his high-powered offense went to town against Miriam in the Dixon Classic, posting a strong shutout. He is also one of the two players ever to beat Jared in a CCFA game, a well-publicized nail-biter that captivated the public. Expect big things next year.
Jared: What more can be said about this nearly invincible juggernaut that is not already known? The most decorated player in the CCFA (He has won all three tournaments he has played in) is undefeated in the playoffs, he has scored 248 goals in this year's regular season alone, has lost two games in his career, and avenged both these losses with three brutal smack-downs of the offender. He has challenged and beaten almost every player in the league. He won the inaugural season of the CCFA, and has silenced every last person who doubts the legitimacy of his dominance. Unfortunately for Jared, none of the historical powers have managed to maintain their success throughout their history, and someday, one of these years, Jared will be toppled off of his perch at the top of the CCFA. However, this has not happened yet, and it doesn't seem as though it will this season...or the next...or the next...
Miriam: An emerging player yet to have a breakout year, Miriam has served as a punching bag for top tier players such as Jared, Seth and Ryan. Her game weakly mimics Seth's offense without the power, and she sometimes resorts to spinning, but she sports an energetic defense that make for some long, Tony Bennett-style defensive battles. She has the uncommon ability to bounce back from big losses, and is capable of pulling off the occasional big win. Her skill is often overlooked, something she took advantage of in a 9-3 beating of Alex. This dark horse contender could be hanging in the brackets late in the season.
Caroline: It will be a number of years before Caroline gets her chance to shine, and until then, it will be her sentence to look for the small victories in life, such as scoring on Jared, and getting her first victory, both of which are yet to come. She has the tendency to break down late in close games and allow large runs that lead to insurmountable deficits. Until that glorious day when Caroline can finally struggle through the last of her adversities and continue the Dixons' winning tradition, she will play the role of spoiler, and will be a challenge to beat in the Down in the Dumps tournament. However, in the CCFA Championships group stage, in the best case scenario, Caroline could possibly make the playoffs with a victory over a bottom feeder and an upset over a player ranked as low as 10th. After this win, the best she could do would be to win a play-in game before losing to a top 5 team. Such a run would be a huge victory, and the first fruit of hard labor for Caroline and her patient fans.
Jacob: In a similar position as his older sister, Jacob has something that Caroline does not: a well established, evenly matched rivalry with a same-aged cousin. While living and training in one of the toughest foosball homes in the CCFA, Jacob regularly plays the youngest in the league's most competitive family, Nigel. When the next age group of cousins is allowed into the CCFA, a group that includes five cousins in the area, expect a number of match ups between these new additions and Jacob, and expect Jacob's stats to skyrocket.
A look at the Campbell Families:
Ryan: The redheaded league power was born with a huge soccer player and fan for a father, as well as a soccer player's mind, and a body perfect for foosball. He takes advantage of all these key characteristics, and is in a constant battle for first with Jared. He has held the No.1 ranking twice this season, including the kickoff week, which he started with a bang in a 10-9 takedown of Jared, delivering the first loss of Jared's career, and delivering a brutal slap in the face to the defending CCFA champion. Despite an 11-2 record against opponents not named Jared, Ryan has been known to succumb to deep slumps. He was usually able to escape out of his slumps before much harm is sustained, but this weakness was exposed in the Campbell Classic when he was upset by a previously unranked Jerome. Can Ryan put together a CCFA championship repeat this year? It all hangs on whether or not he can conquer his nerves.
Rachel: As the least-hyped of this year's new arrivals to the CCFA, Rachel has quietly entered the scene, and though showing spots of inconsistent greatness, such as a blowout of Caroline with using only her left hand. She has yet to perform well on the big stage, without a win against an older player. With some practice, she could infuse some competition into the Campbell household, but lack of commitment seems likely, and the a second round berth in the CCFA Championships would be a miracle.
Sarah: The struggle that Sarah has faced this season is the same that every Banana Slug has encountered. There's almost no way to overcome the age difference between her and the other players in the league. She gives each game her all, and if she can manage to flesh out a schedule, which shouldn't be too hard, with a new foosball table in the house, she should be able to progress to the point where she could be a challenge to a top 10 player. The 2012 season should end with a Down in the Dumps finish, but depending on her growth, she could be sticking around in the late rounds of the postseason.
Jerome: If before the season, someone told me that Jerome would even compete with Ryan in the Campbell Classic, I would have had them burned at the stake for heresy. It is a long-standing tradition for Campbell children to get embarrassed by Ryan, and I along with many did not expect anything different for the Campbell Classic. Jerome, however, as the tournament's bottom seed, won the play-in game, and fought to a close Ryan lead near the end of the game, won an advantage, and caused Ryan to spazz out and emotionally break down, forfeiting. He easily took the championship game from Rachel, and became the Campbell Classic's 2011 Champion. Jerome then pulled off a convincing win over No. 2 Erich, 10-7. That day, Jerome made a statement in a big way: No more Mr. Nice Guy. He made the transition from the OK-at-best-player we saw in the 2010 Tournament to a force to be reckoned with. He won't win the championship next year, but expect some tasty upsets.
Asha: As evidenced by a first round loss to No. 11 Rachel, Asha is not exactly the best player in the CCFA. She is young, with some potential, but with one other player in her family, and relative isolation from a foosball table, it looks to be a rough road ahead for Asha. there will be tough challenges at every turn. Even in the Down in the Dumps tournament, there will be some pretty good competition. Asha will need to keep her head high and persevere to set a solid foundation for future success.
Isaac: The league's biggest question mark is coming to the Palouse soon, and no one really knows what to expect. He had a solid performance in the Down In the Dumps Tournament, but that's about all we know about him. His four losses were to No. 6 Jerome, No. 3 Ryan, Zach, who won his bracket, and Tim, who lost to Zach in the final round. Isaac's father is a soccer fanatic to say the least, and it may well be that he has had Isaac training and conditioning in preparation for his first year in the area. Isaac will add some much needed competition on the younger end of the league. The day he explodes onto the scene will be the day that all our questions will be answered, and it may be a real wake-up call to such young prodigies as Henry-Jon and Jacob. Keep an eye on Isaac, and don't be surprised if he puts together a string of upsets. This New Yorker has some serious nasty to bring to the table in 2012.
Eliza: Eliza's return to the league will be overshadowed by her brother's, but in the long term, the impact may be just the same if not greater. Eliza has the opportunity to train with cousins at a younger age, which may make her a better player than Isaac in time. For now, however, there may be some culture shock when she arrives in a foosball-hungry Palouse. The pressure may be big, but Eliza can take the intensity and deal out some of her own. Nothing would create a sense of insecurity in the CCFA as much as Eliza coming in and pulling off a few close games and a couple of wins. No one is sure of the style of her play, as she has not been seen behind a foosball table for almost two years. In last year's DID tournament, she took out Caroline in a decisive 5-2 win before losing to eventual champion Erich and Runner-Up Zach. Look for a new, much more intense Campbell Classic next summer; this Banana Slug is no cupcake.
A look at the Mumfords:
Zach: A huge threat to the top five, Zach is the most intimidating figure in the CCFA. He was barely edged by Jared in the Outcast Invitational in 2010. He was then offered a spot in the Down in the Dumps tournament to replace Rosalie. But then, the oldest player in the league was beaten by Erich in the first round, and was thought to be another highly overrated flop. In the elimination bracket, however, Zach rattled off four straight wins, a streak that still stands. Not only did Zach beat four straight opponents, he mowed them down. When Zach is on a hot streak, not much stands in his way. Riding that run into the Mumford Classic, where he is favored to win, and the Doubles tournament, where he is also a strong favorite, the streak doesn't look to be ending soon. If he can carry this momentum into the CCFA Championships, (and even if he doesn't) there's not much out there that can stop him.
Alex: None of the Mumfords should be overlooked, but being overshadowed by his older brother and ranked behind Jared, Erich, and Ryan, all younger than him, Alex might be lost amongst his peers, and ultimately, yes, overlooked by opponents. Nothing would make Alex happier than pulling off that big upset and ruining a perfect season, a playoff run, or, most of all, beating Zach in the Mumford Classic. Alex is the most motivated player in the most competitive family. His playing style echoes that of his brother's, in that you have to fight to get past every line of his defense. He enjoys getting off long crosses and goalie shots, resulting in some sharp tempo changes that boggle opponents. It's nigh on impossible to bring him back down to Earth, which can be a good thing (see: upset of then-No. 2 Ryan after three straight blowout losses to Jared) and a bad thing (see: 9-3 loss to Miriam following that game). Alex progresses in leaps and bounds, and could be a late-season contender if he can learn to respect opponents.
Tim: The sky is the limit for Tim. He brings his A game no matter who he's playing, and will bite, scratch, and claw to the finish. He won't lose an inch of ground, and he can only get better. His playing style is similar to Erich's; a frenzied fast paced barrage of shots on goal and long crosses. Defense isn't anything worth having for Tim, at least not last time we saw him playing, when he ran with Nigel to an easy win, but when facing Alex's stingy defense, choked and gave up huge plays, falling 10-0. Tim went all in for that game, though, and with some tweaks to his game, Tim could be a force to be reckoned with. Expect Tim hanging around in the late rounds of the DID tournament, along with a slow ascent in the rankings.
Nigel: Of the winless players in the CCFA, Nigel's future is the brightest. Though some argue that his physique would be a better fit for a Subbuteo player, and that he lacks speed, running a 4.9 in the forty, he is in very good shape for his age, and has a high level of endurance, a factor that could come into play near the end of close games. He is also coming close to a deal with ESPN concerning a private "NigeWork" deal, which would pump millions of dollars into the program, and propel him to another level. The only setback is the size of the television market, which should grow as Nigel gains prestige and fame as a foosball player. His brothers are sick at the notion of a 24-7 "NigeWork", claiming it lends unfair benefits. Tim has threatened to switch families in order to escape such a handicap. "It sickens me," Tim was heard saying, "That one player would be basically elevated to a higher level than his brothers without putting in the work." An anonymous source told CCFA officials on Friday that Tim was considering a move to the Dixon family. The Dixon representative Mike reportedly told the media that he would gladly welcome Tim as his son, in hopes of creating a six player "super-family". If Nigel can get the deal signed in time, there will be a 72 hour NigeWork special on the 2012 season's potential. I'm counting on that, so I'll withhold my prediction.
A look at the Wackers:
Kahlin: There is no CCFA venue with a home-field advantage as big as East-30. The air is thick with an old-school environment, and an ancient foosball tradition dates back years before the CCFA was formed. The Wacker family is the league's most consistently solid group of competitors, with a 12-7 record in the playoffs(not counting the Wacker Classic). The same Wackers are returning to the big stage next year in the CCFA Championships, looking to continue their dominant tradition, and leading the charge is Kahlin. Kahlin sports a No. 4 ranking and the second best record in the CCFA, with wins over No. 8 Jennabee and No. 3 Ryan this past season. Kahlin, unlike siblings, has already overcome the habit to excessively spin, and with that no longer an issue, Kahlin's only weakness, which is only exposed when playing league powers, is his last line of defense, His goalie and three defenders. His pole to pole transitions are rusty as well, since many of the games played at East-30 years ago were doubles matches, where pole to pole transitions were unnecessary. The CCFA Championships will likely be held at three venues next year, and East-30 is one of them. Beating Kahlin at home will be almost unthinkable in The Barn's uniquely supercharged atmosphere. Kahlin will be a top contender for the CCFA crown in 2012.
Jennabee: Two years, four wins, and six losses down the road, few people remember that Jennabee was actually the projected No. 1 in the CCFA in the first rankings, the week before the 2010 tournament. So much has elapsed since then, and the magic of a pre-CCFA victory over Jared has since subsided. Jennabee has been brought back down to Earth, having lost six of her last eight games. She has shown the potential to be a league power with a victory over No. 2 Erich, and hanging around in games against No. 1 Jared and No. 4 Kahlin. She has been lacking in consistency, however, and has not yet managed to duplicate the same success that she had early in her CCFA career. She can wash away all her sorrows with a Wacker Classic win, and a deep run in the CCFA playoffs, and both are plausible if she can pull herself together and turn a blind eye to history and forge onward with confidence.
Erich: The Wacker family played a huge part in inspiring the CCFA, and kept things interesting in its inagural season. So, why didn't Erich come onto the scene until June 13th, when he showcased his skills with two defeats of Rachel and Jerome (The defeat of Rachel was a friendly) after a Campbell Classic Championship game between the two? We don't know, but for the same reason, whatever it may be, Erich has only played one game since, a 10-5 defeat at the hands of No. 1 Jared. Erich's four losses are misleading; all four came to players who made the round of eight in the 2010 CCFA Championship. He has shown a progression in maturity since the group stage where he went 1-2. He took down Zach in the Down in the Dumps tournament, one of three straight wins that he rattled off to win the tournament. Though competition has gotten tougher since 2010, Erich still has it in him to win the DID.
Henry-Jon: The youngest player in the league comes in the form of pint-sized Henry-Jon, a miniature ball of pure energy. He joined the league as one of the original sixteen players, and at age 5, he beat Erich and Jacob in the group round and posted a 2-1 record, losing to eventual champion Jared. He put up a decent showing against Alex in the second round of the CCFA Championships, but fell in, marking the first loss in a five game losing streak that continues today. All of his losses since have come to semifinalists in that tournament, and Henry-Jon at times seemed capable of taking control of the game. Anyone who has seen him play agrees: Henry-Jon has the potential to become the greatest CCFA player of all time. He is one of the game's top goalie-shot specialists, and has some of the best pole-to-pole transitions in the Wacker family, letting out savage cries while darting in between offense and defense. His goalie shots are so good, in fact, that No. 1 and defending champion Jared has adopted his goalie shot techniques into his game plan. Henry-Jon and Jared also share a similar style of play, one that involves ball control, dominance of momentum and an explosive control of pace. All this when HJ can barely peek over the side of the table. Slower hand-eye coordination and reaction time is a huge disadvantage when playing against older competition, but Henry-Jon has been making progress in leaps and bounds since the 2010 season. Expect some more of the same this year. With the addition of four older players in the 2011, competition has become tougher, making it harder for Henry-Jon to duplicate his Championships run in the 2012 season, but don't rule out a trip to the second round. Henry-Jon has played only one player outside of the current top 4 in his career, a club he may soon join.
