2004 UPA New Jersey High School State Championships

by Benjamin Haim, with contributions by Won Choi and Lee Hoffrichter

The weekend of June 12-3, New Jersey High School Ultimate (NJHSU) hosted its fifth consecutive state tournament at Princeton University’s Washington Road fields. In 2004 however, the Ultimate Players Association lent its support with a strong crew of volunteers to keep the tournament afloat. New Jersey was one of eight states, playing host to UPA-sponsored state championships for the first time (others being Minnesota, New York, Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, Pennsylvania and the state of Washington).

Twelve high school teams gathered with the hope to conclude their year in winning fashion, a state title. For eleven of those teams, that hope included a desire to knock off Columbia High, New Jersey’s reigning three-time state champion. Since 2001, Columbia has been the star that no other team can reach. Would ’04 be any different? Whose star would rise higher?

Ultimate has its origins in New Jersey (or Massachusetts if you ask Tiina Booth!) but in those 36 years since, high school teams have formed only to disappear a few years later. Kids fall in love with the game but fail to think ahead and recruit for their future. Thus very few teams have stayed intact since 1968. Columbia is one of the rare few.

In the mid-90’s, a team emerged at East Brunswick High. After a mere two years in existence and burning with a hunger for more organized ultimate, EB and their captain Michael Bolin jump-started NJHSU. Bringing together the various teams in Jersey, a league schedule was formed for the first time in 1999. The league championship was decided on team records alone (East Brunswick, in fitting fashion, took the first title). The following year, a playoff tournament was held to better determine New Jersey’s best team. In 2000, that honor went to West Windsor-Plainsboro. Since the league’s inception, high school teams have been popping up all over New Jersey each with their varying degrees of organization (that is to say some rarely go past playing with their friends in the park while others travel and compete). League membership has grown from eight participating teams in ’99 to 16 this year (four declined to play in the state tournament due to schedule conflicts).

Thus twelve teams made for two pools of six with Columbia atop pool A and Ridgewood, pool B. NJHSU league game results (held between March and early June) determined seeding. Following Columbia, Edison’s John P. Stevens High School, Middletown High, Hillsborough, Manalapan and West Windsor-Plainsboro rounded out pool A. And after Ridgewood in pool B came home-team Princeton High, Warren’s Watchung Hills Regional, Highland Park, Cinnaminson and Columbia B respectively.

The first upset came quick during Saturday’s first round of pool play in which Hillsborough and their star senior, Kevin “Coop” Cooper, overcame Middletown 13-10. Both teams are relatively new, having formed only in the last three years or so. The first round also finds J.P. Stevens versus Manalapan. Manalapan looks like a very green squad in terms of overall skill with a few exceptions. It starts out as a giant butt-kicking of 7-2, but Manalapan makes a comeback and scores three in a row in the second half. At the end, Manalapan is just too far in the deep end to fight their way out and lose 13-7. Hillsborough’s upset train looks to continue as they are leading 12-6 versus J.P. Stevens in the second round. JPS storms up a crazy comeback and ends up winning 13-12. Some say that JPS woke up and started playing D. Others say Hillsborough made a lot of mental mistakes.

Other seeds held until the final round of pool play on Sunday morning that featured two undefeated teams, Ridgewood and Princeton High, seeking to claim the top spot in pool B. The game is pretty even despite PHS jumping out to an early 6-2 lead. Ridgewood was overheard saying on the line, “…don’t let her touch the disc,” most likely referring to Princeton’s lone female player and handler extraordinaire Jean Hsu. Jean followed up, assisting for a score break-side. Princeton High ends up winning 13-11. Jean will be attending Princeton University this fall and playing for the Lady Clockwork.

Until the PHS game, Ridgewood had not allowed more than an average of three points including a shutout over Cinnaminson. Columbia’s A-team would do one better. Its nearest game was a 13-4 victory over Hillsborough.

While Columbia had easily secured their quarterfinal spot, their B-team was looking to advance as well. As the final round of pool play closed Sunday morning, only one game dragged on, Highland Park versus Columbia B. Each coming in with a 1-3 record, the last place in quarters was up for grabs. Reprinted here is Highland Park’s captain Lee Hoffrichter with an account on what many say was the most dramatic game of the tourney, rivaling the awesome finals that was to conclude the day:

“Our team was really exhausted from the day before, but since we really did play our best ultimate of the season during the weekend, we were psyched. Highland Park nearly upset Watchung, and fought hard against Ridgewood and Princeton (until the last few points), and were ready for ‘revenge’ against CHS-B, as they had beaten us in pool play at PADA’s Hip Hop on Pop Tourney…

During the first half, we were playing some awesome D, and our cup was just tight. But after the half, Columbia went on a huge run, and brought it from 9-3 to 10 all. The cap was on. CHS-A came along to cheer from one side, while Ridgewood and a few other teams were cheering for us on the other sideline. Honestly, not too many people wanted to see a CHS-A, CHS-B quarterfinal.

CHS-B put us in a tight spot, and when they made their comeback, we may not have been playing our best D or our best ultimate, but they certainly were. They had some crazy D’s, and really nice flow. Thanks to a few timely plays, and miscues from CHS-B, we were able to compose ourselves get to game point at a11-11 where next point would win, and then finally win 12-11.”

With the final goal scored, Ridgewood and Highland Park’s sidelines stormed the field as Columbia’s freshmen, sophomores and lone eighth grader (everyone will know this kid’s name four years from now) trudged off the field. HP’s celebration was cut short as quarters began soon after, and Highland Park was the first to receive Columbia A’s boot, 13-0.

The only other quarterfinal that resembled a spanking was Princeton High’s easy win over Middletown, 13-5. The remaining quarters match-ups went to the wire, one of them being between NJHSU’s fiercest rivals Watchung Hills and J.P. Stevens. Despite both teams being predominantly Asian, the players just do not like each other. Yet whatever animosity existed in the past, spirit reigned in their playoff match-up. Watchung, one of two coached teams in the league (Columbia being the other) and one of two to gain varsity status within their school (Ridgewood being the other), had made the finals the last two years. J.P. Stevens would be preventing a third straight trip to the finals. Watchung’s Dan Baik (attending Penn State next fall) tried keeping the disc alive with his trademark no-look throws, while teammate Hiren Patel (playing for Rutgers Machine next September) kept it close with his tenacious defense. Senior Ted Pei (attending Tufts in the fall) brought his fearless leadership, but in the end J.P. Stevens put the Watchungers away, 13-10. J.P. Stevens will be sending three seniors to nearby Rutgers University next year, all speedy and smooth throws, Ben Tou, Jerry Tsu and Vince Lai.

The Hillsborogh-Ridgewood quarter went into overtime. Hillsborough’s rise over the last three years can be credited to the support received from former UMass player and College Callahan runnerup Jeff Graham. With Jeff’s guidance and Coop’s enthusiasm for the game, Hillsborough has become a team not to be overlooked. Both Ridegwood and Hillsborough brought their respective athleticism to the picture, neither team running out of gas, bidding on every pass. Game could have truly went either way, but it had to be Hillsborough who would come through with the final goal, 14-12. Kevin Cooper, fittingly, will be attending the University of Massachusetts next fall. Zoodisc is getting a stud in this kid. For Ridgewood, several high school careers ended but look to continue in college: Peter Brownell attending Skidmore, Daniel Katzmen to Guilford College, Max Katal going to Washington U. in St. Louis, Max Engel leaving for Connecticut College and Max Compain to the University of Michigan.

At the start of spring season, many league captains had been unsure of what UPA involvement would exist as they sponsored the state tournament for the first time. Aside from the smoothly run tournament, the UPA’s presence could be felt in the semis and finals with the appearance of passive observers and linesmen. NJ Youth Ultimate would be going where no New Jersey teams had gone before.

In one semi, Hillsborough matched up against Columbia who had been waiting plenty having dispatched their quarterfinal opponent long ago. Hillsborough perhaps exhausted from their overtime quarter could not put much of a fight against CHS’s patient dump-swing offense. Columbia dump-swings to death and it works. Team’s literally have no answer for it. Columbia closes out Hillsborough, 13-5 ending Coop and company’s season. Along with Coop, Hillsborough will be graduating several seniors as well: Seth Mathews to Elon College, Ian Enterline to recent College Nationals qualifier University of Delaware, Travis Zakowsky to local college Ryder, Kyle O’Connor to Bridgewater State and Steve Grossi to NYU.

In the other semi, perhaps Princeton High was having an easier time of things as they had strolled through their quarterfinal as well. J.P. Stevens could not say the same. PHS’s senior star Phil Warren was a force, his long lanky arms reaching around any mark JPS could put on him, each throw a deep bomb. Half the time, Warren’s teammates would come down with it, giving Princeton enough points to keep their lead. J.P. Stevens’ Dan Lui (attending Cornell in the fall) kept it close with his repetitive layout bids, but it was not enough. PHS advanced to the finals, beating JPS 13-7.

Again, Columbia had the luxury of waiting for their next opponent. With less-than-stellar performances at High School Nationals and the Amherst Invitational, CHS was hungry to end their season on a positive note. For Princeton High, they were the envy of the tournament, the lone team with the opportunity to deny CHS’s fourth straight state title.

Columbia had a relatively easy time at this state tournament and expected to breeze through this final. This game was in the fridge, most felt. Princeton High and Phil Warren had other things in mind. The two teams are a stark contrast. PHS, on the surface, looks taller and faster as every other team that Columbia faces. Teams always seem to underestimate CHS, not looking pass Columbia’s lack of height. Time after time, CHS always manage to surprise with their methodical approach to the game with the staple of their offense, the dump and quick swing.

The finals remained close, Columbia facing its only adversity of the tournament despite having a short lead. Spectators could easily tell that CHS had an offensive system, and while Princeton did some good things, their offense was more haphazard. Facing a PHS zone early on, Columbia spread the disc out between juniors Mike Rubin and Campbell Morrissey with senior captain Zach Davis holding it down in the apex. At 11-10, Princeton looked to be mounting a comeback but with timely and aggressive cuts, junior Evan Padget kept the disc moving finding fellow junior Jaryd Emmans for quick scores. With a four-man pull play, Columbia scored again with perfection to reach game-point 12-10. Another PHS miscue and CHS punched it in for the score with their simple endzone offense. The key matchup to this finals was shutting down 6’3 Phil Warren. Columbia’s junior big-man Eddie Cooney was assigned that role. Warren, while able to get open and put up his usual big bombs, was kept in check with Cooney’s huge skies. Warren will be attending NJ’s William Patterson University. We all hate to see his talents go to waste where no ultimate team exists.

For seniors Michael Collins (headed to Syracuse), and co-captains Brett Druck (also bound to William Patterson) and Zach Davis (attending Wesleyan), their high school years always ended first, walking away with a state title. For Columbia’s huge underclassmen, returning an army of new seniors, a fifth straight state championship does not seem unlikely.

Teams gathered for awards and announcement of the all-state team (votes decided by the UPA scorekeepers present at each game). Manalapan, another newcomer to the sport, received the spirit award. The following were named to New Jersey’s all-state team:

Kevin Cooper, ’04 – Hillsborough
Jerry Hsu, ’04 – John P. Stevens
Phil Warren, ’04 – Princeton High
Mike ______, ’04 – Princeton High
Evan Padget, ’05 – Columbia
Dan Baik, ’04 – Watchung Hills
Eddie Cooney, ’05 – Columbia

Selected as all-tournament most valuable player, Columbia’s Zach “Maugie” Davis, ’04. Wesleyan will go far with this kid.

Observer Geoff Buhl, Rutgers’ current coach, noted the good competition but had this to say, “…although New Jersey high school ultimate has a number of skilled and athletic players, it still lacks the breadth of athleticism that has propelled college ultimate forward in recent years. League supervisor and tournament director, Anthony Nunez, preferred to be more optimistic, “I am proud of how much NJ ultimate has grown. This tourney started with only a few teams not long ago and now has grown to 12 competitive teams.”