24

All times are approximate, but some are accurately based on the time stamp of Wilson's tweets.

3:00 PM, Saturday, April 25

We're stretching after going 3-0 on the day. I have a Jimmy John's sandwich (#1, the Pepe) in hand from the platter that the parents brought. Sarson remarks that I must be in heaven, going 3-0 and eating Jimmy John's.

3:15

I have a conversation with Stupca about today and tomorrow. He says I know what I'm doing wrong with my throws, I just need to figure it out. I mentioned how I wanted to try his visualization process again tonight with throws. He tells a story of his college nationals the one year he played for Illinois, and his mental state. He tells me it doesn't matter if I don't sleep, my body can run on zero or six or less hours - it's more important that I give my mind time to cycle through important thoughts. Or something.

3:55

Books and I are hungry and upset that no one is taking charge of organizing team dinner. Apparently Books didn't get any Jimmy John's. Poor guy. We're about to go rogue when McKoy finds a place. I make a reservation. We roll out to shower at the hotel.

5:40

We're in my car in the Motel 6 parking lot. Team tensions are high. Why backtrack 20 minutes northwest to the fields to eat at Toni's when Thunder Bay is right next to our hotel? The GroupMe votes.

6:15

We finally order at Thunder Bay. Stupca, ever pedagogical, advises me against the "fresh" salmon. I opt for a pork chop.

7:00

My pork chop disappoints me. It is dry. Kate picks the chicken off of her pizza and gives it to me. Extra protein. Perks of being engaged to a vegetarian/pescetarian.

7:05

Kate keeps giving me the chicken off of her pizza. I think I have had enough chicken. I have a dry pork chop to finish.

7:07

Kate I love you but stop giving me the chicken off of your pizza. Cons of dating a vegetarian/pescetarian.

7:50

The team cannot decide on an ice cream place. Mark, Books, and I head to the one with the most votes, some local joint, only to find out on our way their that it has closed down indefinitely.

8:05

Mark, Books, and I head to Coldstone. Mark has a strong desire to split a 4-pack of ice-cream sandwiches. These are quality sandwiches, mind you; two cookies stuffed with flavors of Coldstone cream in between. I was hesitant until I saw them in the packaging. These are serious sandwiches.

8:08

Northwestern arrives. There is little to no tension, conversation is friendly.

8:15

After standing in line for roughly ten minutes (the recommended thaw time before consumption on the plastic packaging containing the ice cream sandwiches), we pay and have them professionally cut in half backstage by a jovial Coldstone employee.

8:17

Two bites in to our sandwiches we realize we should have gotten water, too. The cookies are soft and delicious, the ice cream magnificent, but man we were thirsty.

8:19

We ask Bruns and NUT players in line if they can ask for glasses of water for us when they pay. Tensions rise, like, 1%. Bruns gets defensive.

8:21

Bruns comes through huge and gets three glasses of water for us. Peace restored.

8:23

Some dad got his kid with the "DEEZ NUTS" joke. Classic. All of Coldstone probably hears and probably chuckles.

8:28

I sit with Bruns and try to get the skinny on Michigan State. I simultaneously just enjoy the company of a good friend while I eat ice cream. I like being friends with my "enemies" on the field. It makes me fight harder to get the best of them. I also like ice cream. It makes me fat.

9:15

I reorganize my things at the hotel.

9:48

I text Kate goodnight and make my first attempt at sleep.

10:05

I ask McKoy if it was a typo when he said "guck you Matt West" prior to Easterns when I messed up as travel planner; he was flying in Thursday instead of Friday and I hadn't prearranged a ride for him. After a little discussion, we realize that was a typo. The "g" was not intentional.

10:07

I hear, like, three people start to snore/sleep-breathe. How do people fall asleep so fast?

12:29 AM, Sunday, April 26

I wake up and check the time on my phone. Jarred is usually an intense snorer, but I can't hear him tonight. Sleep attempt #2.

3:30

I wake up. It's quiet. I know I'm not going back to sleep. I try, but I end up checking and re-checking weather, score reporter, anything on my phone. I lie in bed awake until

4:28

I start to get up. Today's the day. I grab my glasses, put on my pants and coat which rustle more than I'd like, and head to Denny's. I had to push Jarred out of the way of the door but I don't think I woke him.

4:40

I get the ultimate skillet and a small orange juice. My waitress is very pleasant.

5:05

I pay and go to the bathroom. I read texts from the past week from a variety of people. My little brother, Marty, other friends; I look at old blog posts I wrote after D-III regionals in 2013 and 2014.

5:15

In my car in the Denny's parking lot I think some thoughts. Today is the day.

5:30

I re-enter the hotel room and interact. McKoy asks what I got at Denny's. A few long-winded sentences in he cuts me off, saying, "This is the worst story ever." It's good to be back to reality. Today is the day.

6:00

Books, Mark, and I head to McDonald's for breakfast. After deliberating between the one in the Wal-Mart and the one we went to the day before, we are pleased to see the non-Wal-Mart one has no line. I get a small coffee.

6:50

Walden runs up and high fives us. I go to the bathroom and see a kid in a Deus Vult jersey leaving the bathroom. I say "I don't know you but good luck Valpo," and then say "I guess he didn't hear me..." but he pops back in and says "Thanks!" Cool.

7:05

I throw a bunch of hucks to Mark. I feel okay.

8:00

We start our game against Eastern Michigan. They're not half bad, but their zone is loose and we can patiently work through it.

8:14

Books runs up to me and rhetorically asks, "How many turns do you have?" knowing the answer is zero. I try not to think about it.

8:something

After some deliberation on a pick call, I catch an incut and turn to huck it and blast the disc into the Indiana-Michigan State endzone, one field over. So much for no turns on regional Sunday.

9:45

We won't be playing Michigan State; Indiana wins. My scouting info from Bruns about State is irrelevant, and I only know things about two players on Indiana.

10:15

We've scored four goals straight on Indiana, starting with a hold and breaking three times.

11:25ish

14-5 Illinois, receiving on O going downwind. I've walked my guy out as I like to do, so I run straight under to Marty, he hits me, I turn and bomb it to Pro. Classic. Game.

11:38ish

I sprint over to see how Valpo is doing while trying to eat a roast beef sandwich from Jimmy John's (#2, the Big John). I can't really eat but I feel out of it and know I need food. Things don't look good for Valpo against Olivet Nazarene. Olivet has scored and celebrated, Valpo looks down. There's an extended discussion that's obviously about soft cap/hard cap/time. I can't stay and fear the worst, and run back to warm up for Michigan.

11:45

It turns out Michigan is actually going to be Notre Dame.

11:50orsomething

Notre Dame closes it out. We're running an attack drill one field over. Johnny reminds us to focus on us, not the game or victory or whatever next door.

12:05ish because I guess our game started late

The game begins. I've never lost a game to go. We start on D for a rare change of pace.

12:10

Kurt catches me on the sideline and tells me Valpo had a crazy win over Olivet Nazarene, rattling off four straight points to win after the cap confusion. This amps me up.

12:24ish

We get our first break.

12:35

We get our second break. It's 6-3.

12:39

I look off a bump to Prayag to huck it to McKoy. It feels good.

12:59

I glance at Stupca's clipboard. It's 10-3. This is the moment when I know.

1:21

As offense stands on the line, I reckon I can bust deep off the pull since I've been fighting for unders. Marty says he's feeling his downwind puts. I do a brief dance off the pull and run towards the endzone. The disc goes slightly out of bounds out the side of the endzone and I can't reel it in. I land hard on my side with my arm extended and am a bit slow to get up. I take an injury because I didn't trust myself to play good defense, I was a tiny bit winded and sore from impact. I feel lame.

1:25

I go back in the game and throw a huck to Pro. It feels good.

1:30

15-7 Illinois over Notre Dame. I'm 1-0 in games to go, and have now won an open tournament.

1:45ish

After getting a Spikeball set, taking the rainbow picture, taking a million other pictures, and etc, I sprint over to see how Valpo is doing. I run up to see North Park score and celebrate, and Valpo lines up with their heads down. I'm hurt. I can't celebrate with my old friends. I feel weird. I go away before I can really interact with much of the team.

2:30ish

I stop by Valpo to say hi and goodbye. They're doing the "Bill/Pony" type game against Kalamazoo. I see Jesus shoot a pretty backhand to Gabe and they score. It's fun. I say goodbye and head to Wendy's.

2:45

Books comes to the conclusion that winning is fun and obviously ideal, but losing hurts more than winning feels good. Interesting. I think I agree with this. We stop at Wendy's and head home. It's a good car. Books and I make Mark answer a bunch of questions about cars. We're going to nationals.