Quad Quips: Nine
Submissions undergo light copy editing for clarity.
MLQ athletes have a lot to say and now we’re giving them space to broadcast those opinions weekly. “Quad Quips” is a series consisting of player thoughts and feelings from around MLQ. Each week a randomly-selected batch of athletes are sent a number of questions and prompts for which to respond. The majority are open-ended though multiple choice surveys are sometimes included.
Week Nine Survey Results
This is it. One MLQ Championship bid remains. Who is taking it?
League City Legends: 59.3 percent of respondents
Kansas City Stampede: 40.7 percent
On the Tuesday, Aug. 6 episode of MLQ Replay, the New York Titans will choose their quarterfinals opponent. Who do you think they should choose based on our bracket?
Detroit Innovators: 81.5 percent of respondents
Austin Outlaws: 18.5 percent
“Innovators are the better choice in the bracket because Chicago looks like a much better team this season than any South team for the semifinals. Their chasers are so precise, cohesive, and adaptable.” - Emma Sherwood, Toronto Raiders
Who is the player to watch this weekend and why?
“Swathi Mannem is about to carry League City on her back.” - Ojas Turekar, Chicago Prowl
“Hayden Boyes (LC) has a chance to cement himself as a top quadball player if he wasn’t already. You can’t get fifth in consecutive years and be one of the best in my opinion.” - Josh Johnson, New York Titans
“Lauren Curry will certainly be highly impactful in Kansas City's beating department in a must win series.” - Tony Bonadio, Charlotte Aviators
“Nathan Podolsky (MPLS) – As a coach, he has a lot left to prove for this Monarchs squad.” - Ben Schlueter, Minneapolis Monarchs
“Riley Usami (KC) coming back for this series is going to be interesting against Hayden Boyes (LC). Both are very quick players with crazy shots and I’m interested in seeing who scores more: Hayden, who’s been getting better and better all summer, or Usami, who’s coming in fresh; but without any recent Quadball under his belt.” - Brandon Kubena, League City Legends
“Emma Persons (MPLS) will show that their rehab is progressing fine by recording a double double.” - Ben Zimet, Minneapolis Monarchs
“Riley Usami (KC) – how much and how well he plays determines if Kansas City goes to Howard County or sits bottom of the South Division.” - Sena Morimoto, Boston Forge
“Lauren Smith (KC) – She's going to cook some kids, guarantee it.” - Ben Engels, Kansas City Stampede
“Max Havlin (BOS) – If he finishes the series against Ottawa with a +13, he will pass Tad Walter's (CHI) plus/minus and will tie Matt Brown's (former CHI) regular season record. If he does better, he'll set the record for best plus/minus in a season, and he'll do it without winning the division (a monumental feat).” - Jack Levy, Detroit Innovators
“As a fellow Canadian, Erin McCrady (BOS) will give Ottawa a valuable lesson.” - Hei-Ho Gabriel Kwok, Toronto Raiders
“Ryan Mehio (KC) – He's an absolute baller. If he can limit some of the turnovers, his driving ability will open up a lot of looks for him and his teammates.” - Louis Sanchez, Austin Outlaws
“Ugochukwu Nwadike (OTT) is gonna absolutely destroy this Boston defence.” - Zach Reiken, Ottawa Black Bears
“Michael Wanless (TOR) will be key in organizing their team on both offence and defence.” - Emma Sherwood, Toronto Raiders
“Lauren Smith (KC) – With the League City defense zoned in on Ryan Mehio/Jackson Herdade, Smith should get a lot of open looks. 🥩” - TJ Martinez, San Antonio Soldados
“Max Meier is returning to the pitch for the first time since CHI vs. MPLS. Meier is ready to outrun, out move, and out play each and every player who tries to stop them.” - Brady Charles, Minneapolis Monarchs
Which player matchup deserves all eyes this weekend? Why?
“Lauren Curry (KC) vs. whoever is dumb enough to stand near Lauren Curry.” - Ben Zimet, Minneapolis Monarchs
“Anya Ortiz & Lauren Smith (KC) vs. Swathi Mannem & Mallory Hughes (LC): The team that best utilizes these VITAL players will come out on top.” - David Avila, San Antonio Soldados
“Lauren Smith (KC) vs. Christopher Dorsey (LC): Two key players that have almost the exact same statline through nine games. Both players are their respective teams' third leading scorers. Smith has one more stop and one fewer turnover than Dorsey. Dorsey has one more goal and one more assist than Smith. In order to win the series, the Stampede need Smith and the Legends need Dorsey to produce like they both have all season long.” - Jack Levy, Detroit Innovators
“Riley Usami (KC) vs. Hayden Boyes (LC)! Battle of the USNTDA!” - Daniel Williams, San Antonio Soldados
“Ryan Mehio (KC) vs. Hayden Boyes (LC): Whoever can keep up their top-tier offensive production for their team and shut down the other will be the difference maker in this series.” - Tony Bonadio, Charlotte Aviators
“Swathi Mannem (LC) vs. Lauren Smith (KC): Both are arguably the most important pieces on their respective teams and deserve to have the ball more.” - Ojas Turekar, Chicago Prowl
“MPLS and TOR seekers vs. Canada's best flag runner Cory Smithson: Smithson was uncatchable accross seven games at Quadball Canada Eastern Regionals.” - Emma Sherwood, Toronto Raiders
“Ryan Mehio (KC) vs. Hayden Boyes (LC): Two young talents going to go at it at the point and ball carrying positions against each other. Should be fun to watch.” - Vincent Reyes, Kansas City Stampede
Our #MLQ2024 Series of the Week is the Kansas City Stampede vs. League City Legends. Give us your thoughts.
“KC gets the broom out and LC continues to watch the MLQ Championship stream from home while eating Shipley’s Donuts.” - Josh Johnson, New York Titans
“The away team tends to struggle in this matchup every year. I don't see this one being any different as KC wins 3-0.” - Ben Schlueter, Minneapolis Monarchs
“It's not often you get to the last week and have two teams with their fates in their own hands. It's sure to be a series with some fireworks.” - Ben Engels, Kansas City Stampede
“I love the chaos we've had in the South this year. Give me KC!” - Peter Brechting, Cleveland Riff
“Kansas City is one of two teams that has fewer than 30 assists as a franchise this season. The Stampede roster is loaded with young talent, but it seems ball-movement has plagued the Stampede all year. League City, on the other hand, has electrified their offense and has been cleanly moving the ball all summer with 52 assisted goals. With legendary passing, League City gets it done with an unprecedented sweep at the Cattledome.” - Jack Levy, Detroit Innovators
“League City better win this; otherwise, the defending champion's only series loss is against a team that can't even make the championship, which is just embarrassing.” - Hei-Ho Gabriel Kwok, Toronto Raiders
“League City is going to end the weekend 3-0, finishing the regular season with an even record for the first time in franchise history.” - Brandon Kubena, League City Legends
“All eyes on KC’s head coach Brenna Duncan–line management, planning, and adapting, are all going to have to be pristine to beat a tough League City team. 3-0 KC. Ring the cowbells and send them home.” - Sena Morimoto, Boston Forge
“Absolute dogfight incoming, expect heavy hits and supreme hustle! They both want to prove who wants it more.” - David Avila, San Antonio Soldados
“I can’t believe the team that beat the defending champs might not make the championship. I would argue this is the biggest series of the season.” - Brittany Taylor, Toronto Raiders
Whip out the magic 8 ball and give us your upcoming weekend's predictions that you have not already provided.
“Boston and Minneapolis will both look like the USA Men’s basketball team vs. Canada. 6-0 to the USA.” - Ryan Cleary, Kansas City Stampede
“LC, BOS, MPLS. Sorry Canada, eh?” - TJ Martinez, San Antonio Soldados
“Bring out the brooms 🧹🧹🧹” - Vincent Reyes, Kansas City Stampede
“Toronto thinks they can win a game when they wake up on Saturday. Then, they really wake up when they see the gap between them and the baby butterflies.” - Josh Johnson, New York Titans
Taunting is Legal
"Monarch butterflies are now on Canada’s endangered species list." - Emma Sherwood, Toronto Raiders
“Looking forward to fixing the power rankings this weekend and sending the Monarchs migrating down to fourth in the North.” - Brittany Taylor, Toronto Raiders
“Monarchs rookies will put up more goals than the entire Raiders roster.” - Emma Persons, Minneapolis Monarchs
“Raiders have never lost a game in Canada. Try us, Monarchs, you won't succeed.” - Hei-Ho Gabriel Kwok, Toronto Raiders
“Max Havlin and Lulu Xu: I'm sorry, but you’re not gonna touch a dodgeball this series.” - Zach Reiken, Ottawa Black Bears
“Don’t worry Toronto, we’ll go easy on you.” - Brady Charles, Minneapolis Monarchs
Grab Bag
“I said it in the very first Quad Quips, but don't put too much stock in the regular season. You still gotta play us at MLQ Championship.” - Louis Sanchez, Austin Outlaws
“Congratulations to my San Antonio friends! South Division Champs!” - Sena Morimoto, Boston Forge
“I better hear some crazy/absolute fire walkout songs at champs, nothing lame or overplayed PLEASE.” - David Avila, San Antonio Soldados
“Bench even more men. This weekend will showcase some of the best female chasers in the world. Our female chasers are too good in this league not to get the opportunities that men have had.” - Josh Johnson, New York Titans
“Wouldn’t it be crazy if four South teams made it to the quarters? Yeah, you’re right, too crazy…unless 👀” - Daniel Williams, San Antonio Soldados
“T Time is truly the best content ever put out by MLQ. Can’t wait for more!” - Brittany Taylor, Toronto Raiders
“Last year Ryan Davis was the only seeker to have five pulls. This year three seekers (Carson Running, John Alvarez, and Neil Peterson) all have five catches already. Plus, five seekers playing this week (Christos Kaldis, Stephen Trempel, Nwadike, Mike Devine, and JD Hopton) can join the 5-catch club. Kaldis, Trempel, or Nwadike could all finish the season with more than five after this weekend. If none of them do, there could be up to a 7-way tie for who finishes the season with the most pulls.” - Jack Levy, Detroit Innovators
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