This season, the Ball State Wizardz (6-11, 0-2 Eastern Plains Conference) have had a rollercoaster of a season. After starting the season with an eight-way tie for first place at Music City Tune-Up, the team finished the regular season on a seven-game losing streak. Even with everything that has happened this season, senior Garrett Fuelling said he expects the Wizardz to play hard at this tournament.
“We’re going to go out and play our hearts out,” Fuelling said. “Not leave anything on the table.”
The weather hasn’t treated the Wizardz great this season, but for sophomore Jaden Jarrett said going to practice is still important for him.
“I’ve been trying to keep myself in shape the best that I can,” Jarrett said. “Keeping going practice even during busy weeks and crappy weather.”
The Wizardz have prepared for this entire tournament for the whole season. Sophomore Ben Schwartz said that the previous tournaments has helped him narrow down on aspects of ultimate to work on.
“I think that previous tournaments have helped us prepare by narrowing down the things we need to work on,” Schwartz said. “Also, I think that the previous tournaments have helped us understand what works best for us with who is on the line.”
At this tournament, the Wizardz have faced only two teams of the EPC: Indiana HoosierMama?s (10-10, 1-1 EPC) and Purdue Undue (9-5, 3-0 EPC). Out of this tournament, only four teams will reach the Great Lakes Regionals. Jarrett said the Wizardz will have trouble against HoosierMama?s.
“Since they are just as solid as us but have a lot more depth and more athletes,” Jarrett said. “That just has to make us play that much harder to win but there’s no reason why we can’t hang with them.”
The first game starts at 9 a.m. against No. 2 seeded team Kentucky Kult (13-5) in Evansville, Indiana at Goebel Sports Complex.
Patrick Murphy 