Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/72380
Alex Rule takes on the competition in a Masters Division contest. Enjoli Izidor goes to the hoop in a Women's Division game. ex-Gonzaga University players, entered the fray for the first time. When the dust settled, however, the WAC won its first Open championship since 1998 with an 86-74 final-game victory over Spokane. TEAM EFFORTS topped Olympic 89-81 in the final. Matt Lapin, Tyson Grumm, Doug Thompson, David Weaver, Chris Sheeks, Jesse Bond, Paul Hiemstra and player-coach Ethan Caldwell all played well. The WAC A Team had to outlast eight other clubs to win its championship, also over Olympic, 59-48. Coach Chris Sheeks used his roster masterfully during three days of tough competition, keeping the team fresh and energized. Ryan Coldren was dominant throughout the tournament, and the team received outstanding contributions from Marcus Clift, Michael Kirkham, Alex Johnson, Andrew McCaffrey, Brian Platt, Patrick Dunlop, Charlie Farra and Tim Wang. The WAC Open team, meanwhile, In a tournament of this caliber, with so many games in such a short time, the entire roster must contribute. For the WAC Open team, power forward Matt Nelson provided the muscle on the boards and scored consistently against big men from the rest of the division. Front-court players Hans Gasser and Matt Dlouhy had monster tournaments offensively and defensively, while guards Aaron Fitzgerald and Michael Knight controlled the pace. Greg Ricker, Stephen King, Brayden Billbe and Chad Troyer came off the bench and contributed heavily. The WAC's Masters team (over 45) and Golden Masters (over 55) didn't win championships but played extremely well. The Golden Masters lost by six to Multnomah in the championship game. Entering this year's NACAD tournament, no club had ever won more than three divisions in a single year. WAC members can be proud of their new championships and of the way all 70-plus players and coaches represented the Club on and off the court during this amazing weekend. knew it was in for a battle. The talent level in the Open category was stronger this year than ever before. New York Athletic Club arrived in town having won seven out of the past nine titles. Its toughest competition in recent years had come from The Olympic Club, which won in 2011. Multnomah's Open team, meanwhile, came motivated and knocked off New York and Olympic. Spokane, loaded with Stephen King drives the hoop in Open play at Seattle University. JULY 2012 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 21