As it has done for the past 15 years, Nietzsch Factor (NF), the Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team, headed down south for Spring Break to compete in a series of tournaments.

The first stop for the Factor was historic Savannah, GA. 

On March eleventh and twelfth, the squad competed in the "First Wave" tournament against such other powerhouses as Duke, East Carolina and University of Virginia (UVA). 

In the first game of the Spring against UVA, NF found itself without key players, who were still making the long drive south after cruelly imposed Friday afternoon exams. Once the full squad arrived, the team was able to dispatch all opponents with stunning ferocity until a key quarter-final match-up with a Minnesota school, Winona State. 

The Factor took half 7-6 and found themselves up 12-10 and later 13-12, but couldn’t close out the game in the clutch and dropped the last three straight points to lose 15-13. Frustration abounded. Trash cans were kicked.

Monday brought the start of the week-long "High Tide" tourney, also in Savannah. After another 15-13 loss to the eventual champions, the University of Pennsylvania, NF went on to win the rest of the week’s seven games by a combined score of 91-31. 

With a convincing lead in every match-up, NF was able to incorporate less-experienced players and perfect its offensive and defensive strategies. Brandon Welch ’03 and Dave Krypel ’03 were notable on offense, while soccer converts Noah Levine ’02 and Eric Steffen ’00 put in impressive defensive performances throughout the week.

The week, ended, though, as it had begun, with a frustrating loss to a weaker opponent – 15-11 to the University of Indiana.

All of the previous week’s games, though, were mere tune-ups for "Terminus," an Atlanta tournament that ranks among the most competitive college tournaments in the country. NF,
after enjoying a week of sunny and warm weather in Savannah, were caught off guard by the University of Wisconsin, who brought 40 degree temperatures and vicious wind down south along with their number eight national ranking. 

Quickly putting this loss behind them, Wes was able to upset stalwart Duke, 10-8. Victory over the University of Illinois ensured a spot in the championship bracket during Sunday’s
elimination round. The first game was against University of North Carolina - Wilmington, 1996 National Champions. Nietzsche Factor executed consistently on offense, with Josh Sohn ’00 connecting with Steve Munno ’01 for several key scores. In the end, Wes was able to pull off the huge upset, earning a spot in the quarter-finals and a date with the eventual champion, Carleton College, 1999 National runner-up. Despite injuries to key players Jeff Malamy ’00, a tri-captain, and Jody Avirgan ’02, Nietzsche Factor was able to give the Minnesota juggernaut a valiant battle before conceding defeat 12-8.

The squad now returns to Middletown riding a huge wave of momentum, having finished sixth (of 30) at Terminus. With the anticipated return of deep threat Chris Saenger ’01 from a broken throwing arm, NF has high hopes for the rest of the spring season. The team anticipates a berth as one of the two Northeast schools at Nationals, to be played in Boise, Idaho from May 26 to 28.

Nietzsche Factor will face stiff competition from regional rivals Williams, Brown, Tufts and Cornell over the next two weeks before hosting Sectionals on April 22 and 23, the first
qualifying tournament on the road to Nationals.