USQ Winter Classic: Tournament Preview

Author: Brandon Borges

Introduction

As has become a late-fall tradition, club Quadball’s biggest early-season test arrives in the first weeks of December. This year looks to give that test a new home, as the US Quadball Winter Classic comes to Concord, N.C., bringing together ten teams from across the country for the first true barometer of the 2026 season.

With limited cross-regional play and few official games on record, the club landscape remains unusually opaque. The Winter Classic, featuring two pools of five followed by bracket play, offers the first meaningful opportunity for teams to establish expectations, redefine narratives and stake claim to mid-season bragging rights before the long march towards the US Quadball Cup.

The field is a compelling blend of brand-new programs, proven contenders and young clubs vying for their breakout moment. For fans looking to understand where the balance of power lies this year, the Winter Classic is the event.

Schedule and Pools

Schedule

8:00am

• Breakers vs Reapers, Pitch One

• Dice vs Chicago United, Pitch Two

• Reign vs Lost Boys, Pitch Three

9:00am

• Reapers vs Slice, Pitch One

• Breakers vs DCQC, Pitch Two

• Lost Boys vs Chaos, Pitch Three

10:00am

• Trainwreck vs DCQC, Pitch One

• Chaos vs Chicago United, Pitch Two

• Reign vs Dice, Pitch Three

11:00am

• Trainwreck vs Reapers, Pitch One

• Breakers vs Slice, Pitch Two

12:00pm

• DCQC vs Slice, Pitch One

• Lost Boys vs Chicago United, Pitch Two

• Reign vs Chaos, Pitch Three

1:00pm

• Trainwreck vs Breakers, Pitch One

• Reign vs Chicago United, Pitch Three

2:00pm

• Reapers vs DCQC, Pitch One

• Dice vs Lost Boys, Pitch Three

3:00pm

• Trainwreck vs Slice, Pitch One

• Dice vs Chaos, Pitch Three

Pools

Pool A

• New Jersey Dice

• Chicago United

• Chaos QC

• Lost Boys QC

• Reign QC
  

Pool B

• Bay Area Breakers

• Carolina Reapers

• District of Columbia QC

• New York Slice

• Trainwreck

POOL A PREVIEW

New Jersey Dice

Few programs enter 2026 with more intrigue than the New Jersey Dice, an offshoot of the New York Slice system loaded with some of the sport’s most accomplished talent. Their headline trio of Leo Fried, Lindsay Marella and Molly Potter forms one of the strongest chaser cores in the country, defined by suffocating defensive pressure that enables their beaters to dictate exchanges. When that machine starts turning, Dice can bury opponents with transition runs and early scoring bursts.

But the depth behind them is equally imposing. Michael Li and Vinnie Iannucci bring physicality on the wings, Justin Cole operates as a high-IQ creator who slices through defenses at every angle and Shakthi Kodeswaran continues his rapid ascent as a versatile offensive threat. Dice can initiate offense from virtually any position on the pitch.

At beater, Tate Kay serves as the group’s anchor, while rising talent Max Semegran, fresh out of Harvard’s renowned beater program, could be a breakout performer if he adjusts quickly to club-level intensity. His growth may well determine how high Dice’s ceiling reaches this weekend.

All eyes will be on their matchup with Reign QC. While both are newly branded teams, Dice’s continuity and shared history may give them the early-season cohesion needed to dictate the terms of that heavyweight clash.

Reign Quadball Club

Despite having yet to log even an unofficial game, Reign QC enters the Winter Classic ranked near the top of the national landscape, and the expected roster makes it clear why. Built largely from Creighton’s elite talent pipeline, Reign boasts a core of players with national team experience and championship pedigree. Bitzy Archibald, Lauren Curry, Darian Murcek-Ellis, and Ryan Mehio headline a group known for punishing any opponent's mistakes with ruthless efficiency.

The talent coming to Reign from other areas of the country only raises their floor. Christian Barnes, Ryan Davis and Annika Kim all fresh off a USQ Cup championship, provide winning experience and stability to a roster already brimming with veteran star power. Reign’s identity is built around eliminating defensive errors and forcing opponents into uncomfortable, high-pressure possessions.

The main question is how quickly this newly assembled roster will gel. Early-season continuity typically favors teams with shared history, and a matchup with Dice, who possess years of built-in cohesion, will be a litmus test. Still, Reign’s raw talent alone could decide many pool matchups before chemistry even comes into play.

Chaos Quadball Club

Among the most exciting young teams in the field, Chaos QC brings a roster built around pace, creativity and rising star power. Their attack thrives on quick movement and constant defensive manipulation, with lines composed of chasers who can weave through marking matchups and force rapid rotational responses. George Blackwell’s evolution as a distributor elevates their offense, using his driving threat to create opportunities rather than simply react to them.

Offseason addition Byron Ng adds maturity and proven production at both the collegiate and MLQ levels. Ng’s all-effort, no-ego approach fits seamlessly into Chaos’s identity: a unit that plays hardest when everyone eats.

The biggest variable for Chaos is the progression of utility star Julien Theuerkauf. Theuerkauf showed flashes of brilliance in MLQ this summer, and can play all four positions at a high level. His flexibility enables Chaos to tailor every line to counter opponent tendencies, a crucial advantage in a deep pool.

Chaos enters this weekend likely as the youngest team competing, and they will face several veteran-heavy programs in Reign, Dice, Lost Boys QC and Chicago United. But with youth often comes hunger, speed and growing confidence. Chaos has already turned heads of even the most elite programs within the sport, and they may be positioned for a statement weekend.

Lost Boys Quadball Club

The longest-tenured club in the field, Lost Boys QC, arrives at the Winter Classic looking to demonstrate the benefits of stability, experience and internal cohesion. Under new head coach German Barrios, the program is entering a new era, and this weekend will offer an early look at how he shapes their identity.

A major returning piece is Vincent Woolsey, who brings length, defensive range and crisp perimeter shooting. Woolsey often sets the tone for the Lost Boys in early possessions, and his presence adds much-needed offensive fluidity. Many teammates also played for the Los Angeles Aftershock this MLQ summer, where they found success using spread offenses that leveraged beater control in front of the center of the hoops to open cuts and shooting lanes.

Whether Barrios keeps that approach or unveils a new vision remains an important storyline. Against a pool featuring young athleticism and newly assembled rosters, Lost Boys QC’s experience, structure and composure could give them an edge in navigating the chaos of early-season play.

Chicago United

A perennial sleeper pick that consistently outperforms expectations, Chicago United brings a roster built on fundamentals, physicality and smart possession play. Their Trick or Beat performance re-established a solid strategy that earned the team a number of wins last season. After playing high-level opponents such as Boom Train and Chaos, the team will look to build upon that performance and remain a tough draw for any team.

At the heart of their system is Tyler Piper, a steady and intelligent ball carrier who initiates the offense and sets the tempo. His patience creates opportunities for physical-wing-threat Kevin Farley, while Amy Zadsadzinski provides a reliable scoring option behind the hoops. The second unit is anchored by high-IQ keeper Nevin O’Donnell, and the addition of Marcos Sandoval deepens a roster already rich in role players who understand their jobs.

Chicago’s beating strength remains a defining advantage. Harold Advincula and Annie Petrelli bring the trademark Chicago beater toughness and structure, compressing defenses and opening lanes for drivers like Piper and Farley to attack hoop defenders under pressure.

After finishing second in the 2024 USQ Club Open Division, Chicago enters the Classic with confidence. Their goals are clear: sharpen their system, test themselves against elite competition and build momentum for the spring season.

POOL B PREVIEW

Bay Area Breakers

One of the most consistent and well-structured programs in the country, the Bay Area Breakers enter 2026 as the premier powerhouse of the West. With several members also starring for the San Francisco Fog, their shared ecosystem has produced a polished, cohesive team defined by spatial manipulation, cutting chemistry and veteran beater play.

Their offense thrives on forcing defenses into uncomfortable angles, then exploiting the resulting gaps with sharp, intelligent cutting. Stephanie Ancheta, one of the smartest chasers in the sport, is the linchpin. Ancheta is always in motion, constantly relocating into scoring windows with impeccable timing.

The Breakers rely on matchup creators to generate those openings, and Jesse Stephens fits the role perfectly. His blend of speed, footwork and touch makes him a nightmare to defend, capable of beating markers off the dribble or threading pressure passes into tight spaces. Power drivers Brandon Williams and Jon Judd complement him, bulldozing through defensive collapses to force open-hoop opportunities. At beater, Thomas Chang-Davidson brings elite transition instincts and relentless pressure, constantly reshaping defensive structure with his reads and throws.

With matchups against DCQC, Trainwreck and New York Slice, all teams they saw at USQ Cup, Bay Area enters the Classic with a clear opportunity to measure their growth since April.

Carolina Reapers

The closest thing the tournament has to a home team, the Carolina Reapers arrive ready to defend the Triangle behind one of the most experienced beater duos in the nation: Kody LaBauve and Celine Richard. Their ability to force chaos, flip trades and ignite fast breaks has long been the engine of the Reapers’ identity.

This chaos-first beating style empowers a chaser group built around physical scoring and downhill pressure. Olivier Hodge excels in transition, drawing defenders and finding cutters like Melissa Ross and Lauren Hirsch for clean finishes. Meanwhile, Zachary Thompson remains one of the region’s most dangerous scorers, capable of hurting defenses with everything from deep shots to punishing dunks.

Always a talent the Reapers have had at their disposal, the contributor who has steadily caught the attention of the Quadball faithful is beater Tony Bonadio, whose quick reflexes near hoops create scoring windows in set offense and help break down stagnant defensive looks.

Their matchup with longtime rival DCQC remains one of the most physical and anticipated clashes of the club season. A win there would shape not only the pool standings but also the early-season perception of both programs.

District of Columbia Quadball Club 

A stalwart of the East Coast club scene, DCQC enters yet another season defined by discipline, structure and veteran leadership. Riley Starrs, out-and-out the most influential player on the team, remains the heartbeat of the program, setting its tone through two-way excellence and team-first decision-making.

DCQC’s beater depth has expanded significantly in recent years. Bernardo Berges leads the corps with high-end control instincts, while Colin Bourn and Adrian Koretsky provide communication, versatility and refined in-game reads that elevate the team’s beating strategy.

Offensively, DCQC features rising star Shane McConaghie, a ferocious alley-oop threat who thrives on the spacing and tempo established by Starrs. Strong finishers Julia Rankin and Julianne Nuetzel round out a balanced chaser unit able to adjust based on what opposing defenses give them.

While DCQC hasn’t logged any games yet this season, their cohesion and experience should carry them well through pool play. Matchups against longtime rivals in the Reapers and Slice, along with a rematch against Bay Area and a test against a dynamic Trainwreck lineup, will reveal how close they are to their typical mid-season form.

New York Slice

Splitting talent with the New Jersey Dice, New York Slice enters the Classic with a blend of established veterans and rising homegrown stars eager to step into larger roles.

One such rising star is Cameron Ulrich-Powers, whose physical tools and finishing ability make him one of the most difficult individual matchups in Pool B. Whether initiating drives or exploiting openings off-ball, Ulrich-Powers forces defensive help and reshapes opposing game plans.

But the centerpiece of Slice’s identity remains Frank Minson, a foundational figure in both the team’s culture and game structure. Minson’s combination of strength, leadership and in-game impact alters how opponents defend Slice, and the team’s energy often rises with him on the pitch.

Veteran contributors Mitch Usis and Lexi Raffa add stability, while the addition of seeker Jonathan Nam gives Slice a weapon capable of swinging tight games late. Nam, who has caught critical flags throughout his Emerson career, re-ups Slice’s endgame edge they have had over the years.

Pool B’s depth means Slice will be tested early and often, but with their combination of veteran presence and rising talent, they have the tools to compete with any opponent in the group.

Trainwreck

An extension of the Boom Train development pipeline, Trainwreck showcases the next generation of one of the Midwest’s most successful Quadball systems. With a likely mix of seasoned veterans and rising prospects, the team enters the Classic with both competitive potential and a strong developmental mandate.

Trainwreck inherits Boom Train’s trademark offensive style: patient probing, layered passing around the hoops and relentless attacks on defensive spacing. Their ball carriers excel at finding cracks in defenses and exploiting over-rotations with quick interior feeds or weakside hits.

Screens and picks, staples of the Boom Train program’s playbook, will help create space for shooters and drivers, while their beater unit remains the lifeblood of the system. Expect structured hammer plays, weakside lanes set up through controlled exchanges and the kind of composed beating that has defined the program for years.

For Trainwreck, the Winter Classic presents a meaningful test. With powerhouse opponents across the pool, their rising talent will face one of the strongest competitive gauntlets available early in the season. Regardless of the final scores, Trainwreck’s discipline and system-driven approach ensure they will not be an easy draw for anyone.