Florida Warm-Up 2019
Once again the long journey down south for Burn began on Thursday morning, February 7th, with a gathering of boys at the U-house. The two vans (Storytime Van and Beat Van) departed at 10-ish and we finally arrived to our lovely hotel around 11pm, where everyone managed to get a bed spot (yes, even the frosh!) and we got to sleep in a little extra thanks to a first round bye.
Friday - Burn started the weekend off with a close 9 - 13 loss to Florida State where we couldn't keep trading late in the game, then rallied back strong in the next game and managed to upset Wisconsin on universe point 13 - 12. Following Wisconsin came in a fiery University of Central Florida team that we couldn't figure out how to stop and we ended up losing badly 6 - 13. To end the day we got to enjoy the heated pool at the hotel (why don't all our hotels have heated pools?!).
Saturday - We came out a little lackluster against Texas A&M early in the morning and couldn't stop their one-man handler core or figure out the wind, losing 5 - 11. Thankfully we at least managed to bounce back and beat Boston College 13 - 7, our most dominating win of the weekend. Our last game of pool play was a tight one against Alabama-Huntsville (who threw zone defense after every turn they made). We got two breaks to start the game but immediately lost both of them and then traded points all the way to hard cap, making it universe point, where we couldn't get the D and lost 8 - 9. Following pool play, we had a bye before our night game in the first round of the 25th-32nd place bracket. We faced the University of South Florida, the host team of the tournament, and we held an early lead to an 11-8 win in a fun game (which included some face paint) to end our long day. Back at the hotel we enjoyed the heated pool once again and ice baths too this time around.
Sunday - The morning started with the semifinal (of our bracket) against Kansas. We broke a few times to get a lead in the middle of the game and barely managed to hold onto it, winning a close one 12 - 11. Finally, the championship (again, not of the whole tournament) with Temple. It was still warm out and everyone was starting to turn red with the sunscreen supplies running low, but we played well, getting a couple breaks and holding onto them for the win 12 -10. We all slept plenty on the van ride back and now are working our hardest to improve before our next tournament. Tune in next after we face more in-region teams at Oak Creek Invite March 16th and 17th!
