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The 62nd Annual International Frisbee Tournament will be held this weekend.
The competition brings together some of the best Guts Frisbee players from around the world.
For the last several years…the IFT has been held at Agassiz Field in Calumet but Shottlebop’s Ron Blau says the tournament will be held in a new location. “It’s going to be at the Hancock Driving park this year,” Blau said. “The field was getting torn up in Calumet and the city of Hancock was very nice to let us have that field and use one of the hardball fields up there for this Guts tournament and we’re pretty lucky there.”
Blau says there are going to be some great players and teams taking part this year. “We have two teams coming from Japan. So it’s definitely going to be interesting. We’ll have the Appleton Assassins, which are the defending champions, along with the strong Boomtown Saints, and your local flare—we got the Shottlebop, which we’ve been doing pretty well lately and all local boys on that one,” said Blau.
The IFT begins Saturday morning and the Julius T. Nachazel Cup will be awarded to the winner of the championship game Sunday.
The Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, held every other year, will take place Saturday evening at Gino’s Restaurant in Hancock.
For more details, click here.
62nd Coca-Cola IFT Up for Grabs:
Japanese Teams in the Mix
HANCOCK—As the Appleton Assassins prepare to defend their crown at the 62nd Coca-Cola International Frisbee Tournament, several other squads are poised to give them a run for the right to drink from the Julius T. Nachazel Cup.
Six-time IFT champion Boomtown Saints, from the Lansing area, will be joined by local favorites Shottle Bop, former champion Blame the Dog, and two teams composed of Japanese players, among others competing at the Hancock Driving Park. The IFT moved to Hancock this year, as Calumet’s Agassiz Field is being renovated.
Japan’s Samurai Spirit is made up of players who have had success in their nation’s tough Guts Frisbee competitions. They will be joined by another tough Japanese team the Grabbers, filled out with Americans Ben Nommenson and Karl Ploeckelman (see related story).
This is also a Hall of Fame induction weekend, with four new honorees: Motor City’s Al Bauman and Tom Matuzak, Marquette’s Bill “Brock” DePetro, and John Sappington of Ann Arbor’s Humbly Magnificent Champions of the Universe (see related story).
In Guts Frisbee, two teams stand fourteen meters apart hurl the orange Professional Model Frisbee in speeds over 80 mph. The disc must be caught with one hand cleanly, and throws must be within reach. The first team to reach 21 points and win by two claims the game. The finals will be Sunday evening, with a best two out of three match.
2019 Hall of Fame Inductees
HANCOCK—Four worthy additions to the International Frisbee and USA Guts will be inducted this weekend, during ceremonies as part of the 62nd Annual Coca-Cola International Frisbee Tournament. The new members’ plaques will hang in the Calumet Colosseum’s second-floor ballroom, home to Hall since 2011.
Al Bauman possessed one of the best sidearm throws in the history of Guts. His low “skimming” flatball and rising two-finger were extremely accurate, enabling him to target any weakness on opposing teams, and his strong defense was integral to Motor City’s dynasty. Al was a fierce competitor on various teams, including Mr. Naturals, Video Sensations, and Blame the Dog. He played in 25 tournament Finals, winning 3 of 3 IFTs, 2 of 3 US Nationals, and 3 of 6 GPA World Championships. He also won at least one tournament in 6 different years. Al directed the Redford Open for 5 years and was an original founding member of the Guts Players Association. He was also known for his sportsmanship, often diffusing tensions during hotly contested calls by interacting good-naturedly with fans and opponents.
Bill “Brock” DePetro was one of the best athletes ever to play Guts Frisbee. His big run-up backhand was deceptively fast, and his defense was rock solid. Opponents would avoid shooting Bill, but his incredible scrambling ability made him a factor in every game. He played with a high energy level and could take over a match with his enthusiasm. “Brock” was incredibly successful, especially on the big stage, playing in 16 major tournament Finals, winning 2 of 4 IFTs, 3 of 6 US Nationals, and 3 of 5 GPA World Championships. Bill won tournaments in 6 consecutive years and was named MVP at the GPA Worlds (1995), IFT (2008 and 2012), and US Nationals (2008). The Bad Apples, 151, and the Cupola Bandits are just a few of the teams made stronger when “Brock the Rock” stepped onto the line.
Tom Matuzak was arguably the best thrower on the most dominant team during the Golden Era of Guts Frisbee competition. Dubbed the Sandy Koufax of Guts, Tommy would unleash a vicious lefty thumber that broke hard across three players before blasting through their line. He was rarely targeted because most teams were afraid to have him throwing back. Tom’s teammates passed him tips and gave him every free shot for one good reason: he almost always scored for his team, helping lead them to victory. For five short but brilliant years, Tom competed at the highest level with his Motor City and Mr. Naturals teams. He appeared in 17 tournament Finals, winning 2 of 3 IFTs, both US Nationals, and both U-M Indoor Frisbee Festivals. He also won at least one tournament in 4 different years.
Pioneering tournament director, accomplished player, and first Guts Players Association Director, “Honest John” Sappington was instrumental in organizing Guts Frisbee in the 1970s. He helped launch the University of Michigan Frisbee Club and, as Director of the U-M Indoor Frisbee Festival, made Ann Arbor the premiere stop on the Guts circuit. The Humbly Magnificent Champions of the Universe, under John’s direction, became world renowned. With amazing versatility, John also competed in Distance, Accuracy, Maximum Time Aloft, Disc Golf, and Ultimate. Deadly accurate with both sidearm and backhand, John also had great hands, especially on tips. He competed in 8 tournament Finals—including two IFTs—and won 2 of 3 World Frisbee Championships at the Rose Bowl.
