Pitt-Johnstown’s Frisbee players headed into last weekend’s 50-team tournament undefeated and ranked eighth in USA Ultimate’s Division III standings.

The Flood finished their pool stage Saturday, losing all four games. Their ranking will drop due to their performance last weekend.

Pitt-Johnstown lost their first game against Stevens Tech in a close 12-10 finish.

They lost to Bowdoin in their next game. Bowdoin went on to win the pool, acheiving a 4-0 record for the day.

They lost one more game, before they forfeited their final game.

The Flood opened their season winning a tournament Feb. 26 at West Virginia University.

The team won all four of their pool games, advancing into an elimination bracket.

Two of their pool-game wins came against Division I teams– West Virginia University and Kentucky State University.

They also won a tough game against Liberty University 11-7.

During the elimination stage, the Flood played Liberty and West Virginia again.

They came back from a three-point deficit to beat Liberty 13-11, advancing to the final.

They won their final game against West Virginia, after West Virginia upset Kentucky State earlier in the day.

They beat West Virginia 15-8.

Last weekend’s tournament design was similar to their previous tournament, but on a larger scale.

The 50 teams were separated into 10 pools, five teams per pool, competing on three fields.

The tournament was a last minute replacement, after another large-scale tournament in Washington, D.C., was canceled due to poor field conditions.

Captain Ben Wojnorowski said the players were excited for the latest tournament, hoping their test their skills and compete against tough competition in Mercer County, N.J.

“This is the biggest tournament we’ve ever been to.”

The team played four pool games Saturday, playing each team within their pool.

The top two teams in each pool advanced into a double-elimination bracket.

He said he has not heard about three of the teams in the pool, and is not too concerned about them.

He said their toughest pool competition would be their game against Stevens Tech from Hoboken, N.J.

“Stevens Tech is pretty good,” he said. “They were really good last year.”

Wojnorowski said Stevens Tech players are athletic and tall, giving them a natural advantage over opponents.

Wojnorowski said there were rivals in other pools as well.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Messiah and Dickinson attended the tournament.

Wojnorowski said they took 13 players to the tournament, along with two cheerleaders, who are women players who play in the fall season, but are unable to compete in spring tournaments.

He said they could not bring their full line-up, but tried to make do with what they had.

Two players could not go to the tournament because of their Sigma Tau Gamma pledge process.

Wojnorowski said he is enthusiastic about this season because of the work they put in at practice.

He said they maintain focus well and increased their conditioning.  Their recent wins have improved their confidence, he said.

“This is the most conditioned we have ever been,” he said. “Expectations are high this year because we’ve played so well.”

Senior Ryan Vaughan said he has no doubts moving forward.

“We’re looking for our first national bid ever,” he said. “We’re going to nationals. We are going to win nationals.”

Wojnorowski said another contributing factor to their success thus far is due to good chemistry.

He said, in the past, tempers flared among teammates over issues small and large, but, so far, everyone has worked well together.

“There’s been nothing this year,” he said. “No one’s leaving practice angry.”

Wojnorowski said their large number of seniors, five, in all, allows their on-field chemistry to produce good results.

“Everything has been smooth this year.”

Wojnorowski said the players are highly committed this year.

The seniors graduating this semester have already decided they will not walk during the graduation ceremony because it coincides with their regional tournament.

Before regionals, the team will have to compete April 12 and 13 in a sectional tournament, but Wojnorowski said they are confident about breezing through sectionals.

Senior Co-Captain Andrew Barchowsky said he has similar observations about the team’s performance as a whole.

“Our team has looked the best it has since I’ve been here,” he said. “Basically, our mojo is off the charts right now.”