2020 Wylie Texas Major
This is the first Major in 5 months. This is a clean slate.
Many players have been honing their game for months,
While others have travelled and found national success.
The fight for the top 15 Texas spots is vicious with only a month
before the summer TT100 release everyone is desperate
for a coveted Major success on their resume!!!
Gold
M.D. - Zach Danyla and Luke Mowry
Danyla hasn’t played a tournament in……. Awhile. Don’t discount the former LoneStar Member. This guy can play scrappy defense and he knows how to win, having won numerous tournaments before. The hiccup will be serve receive. Luke will have to be the magic maker with critical recovery setting and finishing!
Final Placement: T-9
Red - Caleb Cummings and Brad Thompson
Brad and Caleb are making their return to Texas Roundnet. We haven’t seen Caleb in Months. Brad played the Gold League, but this will be a far more competitive field. Caleb has improved a great deal during his time in California. Brad could be the consistency that Caleb needs with him. I know both want to make a BIG move into the TT10! With a podium finish, they very well could.
Final Placement: T-5
Etcetera - Grant Laughlin and Matt Cole
Hotter than Hot or Colder and Cold? These are two of the most dangerous servers in Texas. The Laugher needs no introduction. Matt Cole has steadily been climbing the ranks since his establishment as a solid player last fall. A strong showing here could solidify him as another forceful Texas player. If neither player is putting on serves, I could easily see a disappointing result.
Final Placement: T-5
Knull - Dax O’Hair and Chase Meyer
Baylor is excited about the improvement these two have made. These two players will be pushing for that 4th spot on the Baylor squad all year. This team shouldn’t have a terrific showing, but after their 4th place showing in Albuquerque, maybe they have what it takes. T-5 would be a good finish, but a semis showing could be huge for them and their confidence.
Final Placement: T-9
Carnage - Rahul Murthy and Luke Marshall
The most hyped Texas team of all time is back. Rahul is coming off of an absolutely prodigious summer filled with wins over notable players and top level finishes. He won KOTP at Baylor last week and is in the Gold League Finals. Luke has been playing steadily in Texas all summer. Luke and Rahul have always played very well together and this will be their first tournament together in months.
Final Placement: 3rd
WySpike Butterfingers - Colton Mowry and Garrett Hornok
Undeniably the second-best team in Texas. Colton and Garrett play great together. The defense they showed at Heatwave was exciting and forced errors from others. They both serve well and Colton is magic from 6 while he is always empowered by Garrett. Garrett with his apathetic mental state seems to calm Colton’s competitiveness. I look forward to seeing these players continuing to grow as serve receivers against more and more dangerous servers outside of Texas.
Final Placement: 2nd
WySpike Triple Threat - David Louis and Nick Noguez
They won at Strake Jesuit, but that field was softer. They made Carnage look bad in a stronger Waco field. David has been showing his age recently though. He’s been cramping and struggling to finish events. The question for this team isn’t the quality of play, which is undeniable. The question will be stamina. If David plays top-notch roundnet all day this team should podium. Nick Noguez will have to step up his play early to support David and let David save his legs for the later rounds.
Final Placement: T-5
Incompetence Luke Marshall - Ethan McWhirter and Josh Weinbach
Josh is likely the most improved player in Texas since the Waco Major. He’s grown in every aspect and is looking to make a big push up the TT100. Ethan will need a good performance to salvage disappointment in the Gold League. The problem for Ethan hasn’t been the serve quality, it’s been the consistency. I believe this team can pull some big upsets, but McWhirter will need to find the magic from the 6 foot line.
Final Placement: T-5
I Speak for the Trees- Dylan Keen and Rich Tarpey
Interesting results from this team. Dylan struggled last week at King Of The Park while Rich flourished. Rich has not been practicing a ton while Dylan is back in College Station playing heavily. They beat premier teams at Maroon & White Classic this year and they’ll be looking for another one of those staple wins. This is a good opportunity to make themselves look terrific.
Final Placement: 4th
We Throw Stuff - Fredric Hinkle and Kevin Bailey
Kevin is coming off of a HUGE Huntington Beach win in a very strong field. Kevin has also been living in the SpikeHouse and playing heavily with Preston, Ryder, and other monsters. Fredric off of second place in HB with the big win over HTR. These two players are both in form and looking like some of the best serve receivers in the SRA. These power serving Texas fields will be an exciting challenge for Kevin, if he can handle the heat (Editors Note: it’s going to be HOT) this team will win.
Final Placement: 1st
LoneStar Implications
Luke Mowry is looking to qualify for LoneStar with a podium finish, it’ll be tough in this stacked field.
Author Predictions
We Throw Stuff
WySpike ButterFingers
Carnage
Advanced
The top 4 teams in the Advanced Division will earn a Gold qualification for future majors!
Author Predictions
B&B Phenoms
SA Pinnacle
‘Merica
Taco Bell Surprise
P.S. Go Body Shots