I love college dodgeball and writing. I went to Western for the journalism program and ended up discovering an even greater passion for this truly crazy sport. I've often found that when I combine these two loves, magical things happen. That's why I've written columns about dodgeball, class stories about dodgeball, this blog about dodgeball...hell, I even wrote my personal statement for law school about running Western's team. It's like bragging about your new baby - you can't help doing something when you care so much about it.

I care about writing and dodgeball, and I'd like to think people somewhat enjoy the finished product when those two worlds collide. With that being said, I'd like to announce my plans for dodgeball after graduation...drumroll please...I'm writing a book about my college dodgeball experience. Something akin to a memoir with some of my personality to spice it up. My goal is to have it published in five years. Will I achieve that goal? Maybe. But much like my time in the NCDA, I'd rather set the bar high and fail miserably then accomplish something irrelevant. So I'm going for the big time. Keep an eye on Amazon. My Life as a Dodgeball God is coming soon!

Last night, my team played the new-look UofL Cardinals and won 9-1. On a night when I could have handed any of my players the MVP trophy, I knew the real star wasn't wearing the white and red. He was donned in black and covered in sweat with a hand shaking from a grippy throw overload. His Cardinals didn't walk out victorious, but UofL captain Ben Sobczyk left that building the biggest winner.

Let me explain. Ben left WKU last year right when our team was establishing its place in the NCDA. He still loved the game and wanted to remain involved, but the only option at UofL involved reviving a program that had been completely abandoned. He would be starting at the same place I had during my sophomore year- not somewhere I wished my former alternate captain to be. It would take an immeasurable amount of work, several tough losses and a ton of roster turnover, but it could be done. If anyone could do it, I knew Ben could.

It became apparent last fall that Ben's team was coming together slowly and wouldn't be able to play many games this season. Together, we set a goal to have one game in the spring to help his fledging team get some momentum. After working it out with Elizabethtown High School, we decided that game would be the Clash of the Commonwealth, a new rivalry to help raise money for the school's Project Graduation. After much worry and hype, the day arrived and everything was set.

Ben brought about 11 players with him. We gave him 6 volunteer players to make it 17 total. Not too shabby for a team playing its first game to have a bench! Ben was nervous before the game about how his team would play. I told him both teams were going to have fun and that this would be great experience for his young team. Yes, we walked away the victors with a 9-1 win. But I was a little jealous of Ben. He learned a lot about his team last night. And ask any captain who's worked to build his team and they'll tell you- the most exciting part is watching the pieces come together.

It's not about having your team master the grippy throw or become human vacuum cleaners during the first season. Keeping the score close during games would be nice but it's not that crucial, either. For any captain, it's about watching your players learn how to play the game. That means adopting common strategy like cross-court throws and developing better court awareness. It's the little things like blocking for a defenseless teammate or grabbing a ball before it rolls into enemy territory. When your team starts to master the nuances of the game, that's when you feel rewarded as a captain.

It takes five minutes to teach a new player the grippy throw. Helping them develop into a mature dodgeball player is a much more involved process. It takes time, wisdom and patience. Those are three things I know Ben has plenty of. He'll work with his team to develop UofL's signature style and shape his players into seasoned vets that can throw less but stay in the game longer. It took me three years, but I finally did it.

The game tape from Clash of the Commonwealth will be on YouTube soon. I told Ben (and I don't think he believes me), but he's got some talent on that squad. With a core group of 7 guys coming back next year, two of which will be solid alternate captains, all Ben has to do is find some recruits that will love the game like he does. Last night was a great tune-up for my team before Nationals. That's about it. But Ben got to see his team grow, figure out who shares his passion for college dodgeball and lay some groundwork for an exciting second season of UofL Dodgeball.

Now you see why I'm a little jealous?

Hello fellow dodgeballers-