Quad Quips: Preseason
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.
Preseason Survey Results
Who is the team to beat in 2024?
New York Titans: 56 percent of votes
Chicago Prowl: 28 percent of votes
Other franchises receiving votes: Austin Outlaws, San Antonio Soldados, Toronto Raiders
Biggest Pickup of the Season
Josh Johnson to New York and Leo Fried to the Detroit Innovators have been the talk of the preseason and this edition of Quad Quips was no exception.
“Detroit grabbing Leo Fried feels like the 2017 Cavaliers - I feel like most of the rosters have stayed relatively the same, save the Josh Johnson transfer.” - Gabe Templeton, Washington Admirals
“New York Titans had a HUGE pickup with Josh Johnson joining their ranks. Arguably the MVP of the USQ season, Johnson just seems to get better and better every season. Given he’s won MLQ, USQ, and the IQA World Cup in the past year, it’s safe to say he’s bringing his winning ways to the Titans.” - Mohamed-Yahia “MY” Monawar, Charlotte Aviators
“Detroit picking up Leo Fried is huge. It's like the prodigal son returning home.” - David Banas Jr., Detroit Innovators
“Titans picking up Johnson is like when Lebron James joined the Miami Heat in 2010. We thought we knew super teams in quadball. We haven't seen nothing yet.” - Mike Devine, Minneapolis Monarchs
“It’s gotta be Johnson to New York. We’re talking about a guy who hasn’t missed a finals in USQ or MLQ since before 2020. Just a stud, a baller, and a great dude.” - Daniel Williams, San Antonio Soldados
East Division
“Without the Team USA trio [of Julia Baer, Rachel Heald, and Tyler Trudeau,] Admirals struggles to win games and has to fight in the play-in bracket.” - Mike Devine, Minneapolis Monarchs
“Boston is going to beat New York this year. The pick up of Emily Hickmott plus some already fantastic core with the [USQ] Bosnyan Bearsharks and Pandas crews – New York should be a little nervous.” - Jeannette High, Washington Admirals
“New York isn't as clear favorites as people think they are. Boston under Harry Greenhouse will show the East why their old uniform had two stars on it. Expect a split series with a flag catch deciding game three.” - David Banas Jr., Detroit Innovators
“No one in this division can tackle without back contact.” - Louis Sanchez, Austin Outlaws
“At Quadball Canada nationals, the first and second place teams this year are both in the Ottawa Black Bears' radius, which should be exciting for that team, but it hurts Ottawa that they only are rostering a couple of the Montreal Flamingos (who won QC nationals). On the other hand, they have some very exciting rookies from Carleton: Aya Tessier and Ugochukwu Nwadike.” - Emma Sherwood, Toronto Raiders
“For the first time since 2018, Washington will not make the championship bracket (and Ethan Sturm will still find a way to pick them to beat Austin).” - Jack Levy, Detroit Innovators
North Division
“Matt Brown finished the season last year with a plus/minus of +49. That's more than 20 goals better than anyone else in the North Division. I wonder who will rise in the stat sheets with his absence.” - Jack Levy, Detroit Innovators
“There will be a LOT more split series this year than in the past couple of years in the North division, based on roster gains and losses and the full round robin format.” - Emma Sherwood, Toronto Raiders
“Prowl is a hard team to ignore, it’s stacked with talent. However, I am interested to see if they will be able to limit the number of cards some of their players receive. I could definitely see that being a deciding factor when it comes down to the division championship between them and the Monarchs.” - Maya Hinebaugh, Austin Outlaws
“Prowl lost too many valuable pieces to make another finals run.” - Louis Sanchez, Austin Outlaws
“Who? I don’t know her.” - Rachel Ayella-Silver, New York Titans
South Division
“KC wins the South outright.” - Mike Devine, Minneapolis Monarchs
“League City will not win any series or make champs, but if they were at home for both their away series they would qualify.” - Bryan Melchior, Toronto Raiders
“No one will go undefeated this year, and every team will win at least one series.” - Daniel Williams, San Antonio Soldados
“Jay Stewart is gonna be better on Outlaws than Miguel Esparza ever was.” - Toby Jenkins, Charlotte Aviators
“Soldados beat Outlaws and get the one seed.” - Ojas Turekar, Chicago Prowl
“Kansas City takes first place in the division under the helm of Brenna Duncan's leadership.” - Oliver Hodge, Charlotte Aviators
“A lot of people think the South will be chaotic this year, but I think we will see the same results as last year, maybe with Kansas City and San Antonio swapped.” - Jack Levy, Detroit Innovators
“No South team will have a perfect record and League City, despite their pickups, will still go winless. The Cattledome will cause at least one South team to drop a game that they shouldn't.” - David Banas Jr., Detroit Innovators
“New Orleans is gonna give Austin and San Antonio a run for their money!” - Jeannette High, Washington Admirals
Taunting is Legal
“Jay chose the wrong path.” - Daniel Williams, San Antonio Soldados
“Figure out your passport issues, Cleveland.” - Bryan Melchior, Toronto Raiders
“I’m the only one in the league that can guard Josh Johnson and he knows it, ask him.” - Louis Sanchez, Austin Outlaws
“Shane ‘Moneybags’ McConaghie? He’s walking out of the Aviators’ bank empty handed.” - Mohamed-Yahia “MY” Monawar, Charlotte Aviators
“Hey JJ, don’t forget to look for beaters this time when we see you in the finals.” - Maya Hinebaugh, Austin Outlaws
“Byron Ng better watch out before I steal his ankles.” - Luis Mendoza, New York Titans
“‘You’re a worm with a mustache.’ Directed at Louis Sanchez.” - Rachel Ayella-Silver, New York Titans
For Funsies
You’re building a roster from scratch: which MLQ athlete would you sign first?
“Billy Quach, for sure. I feel like if I can get him he can convince players from the Kansas City Chiefs to join our roster.” - Carlos Prado, San Antonio Soldados
“Ryan Hsu - He’s talented and has the skills needed to teach teammates regardless of whether he’s on or off the pitch.” - Lyndsey Smeyers, Detroit Innovators
“Devin Lee because I saw him slide cancel once IRL.” - Luis Mendoza, New York Titans
“The best athlete that I would pick would be the most versatile, the one that can play the most positions. There's only one choice then: Ryan Davis.” - Tony Bonadio, Charlotte Aviators
“Daniel Williams. He's got to be the best beater in the country and is fully rested after taking a USQ season off. His motor gives Russell Westbrook and his IQ gives JJ Reddick.” - Mike Devine, Minneapolis Monarchs
“Kennedy Murphy. One needs to have someone who can build and lead a team. I see no one better suited for the job.” - Ojas Turekar, Chicago Prowl
“Lindsay Marella. She’s shown she can play monster minutes throughout the USQ season while keeping all assets of her game at the top level.” - Mohamed-Yahia “MY” Monawar, Charlotte Aviators
Grab Bag
“I am just really excited to see all my Brandeis University teammates and all Massachusetts Quadball Conference talent perform and prove themselves in MLQ.” - Eli Fighter, Boston Forge
“I’m STOKED to see the next generation of athletes start to take over the league. Old heads gotta go and let some new names and faces start to emerge.” - Daniel Williams, San Antonio Soldados
“Excited for the youth movement being enacted by multiple teams this year. Ready to witness a whole lot of breakouts this season.” - Ad Ojo, Boston Forge
“The women are going to run this game!” Jeannette High, Washington Admirals
“Outlaws 2.0 – New players, same record.” - Maya Hinebaugh, Austin Outlaws
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