NCDA – National Collegiate Dodgeball Association

Michigan Region 2025-26 Season Recap, and a Look Forward

Another dodgeball season has come and gone in the Michigan region. While some new stars entered the scene and exciting storylines emerged, the bigger picture remained largely unchanged: Michigan State University continues to sit atop the totem pole in Michigan, and the entire country for that matter.

2025-26: Spartans Reign Supreme

The Spartans snagged their third national title in four years this April, with a dominant undefeated season. This came after winning yet another Michigan Dodgeball Cup, and for good measure, claiming the top two spots on the 2026 All-American Team (Matt Barriball and Alex Edson).

The Spartans had a strong regular season, with a 4-0 record vs. GVSU, and 2 wins against another title contender in Kent State. Beyond those matches, MSU was rarely tested, making the inevitable matchup vs. Ohio State even more highly anticipated than a normal 1 v 2 matchup might be. Good news for dodgeball fans: we got that matchup twice at Nationals (Day 1 for seeding and Day 2 in the title game). Good news for those in East Lansing: they won both contests convincingly.

Central Region 2026 Season Recap

Compared to previous seasons, the Central region made leaps and bounds in terms of progress and growth. Not only did rookie team Iowa host their first official tournament, they also sent ambassadors to this years national tournament in Athens, OH, AND they hosted the first ever Central Region Cup. The number of teams currently in the Central region–six official and four prospective–makes them the second largest region in the league, right behind the Ohio region with eight teams.

South 2026 Recap

New heights and standout developments highlighted the 2026 campaign for the South. Northern Kentucky continued their steady rise since their league debut in 2023, North Georgia resurged with an exciting, young team, Georgia Southern showed up despite roster issues, and Alabama displayed a respectable first-year performance. Prospective teams in the region make the South something to watch closely in the 2026-2027 season.

East Coast 2026 Recap

Virginia’s record-setting season headlined a strong year for the East Coast. The Cavaliers established themselves as a contender, while James Madison once again proved capable of competing with anyone in the country despite a roster in transition. Maryland’s final record may not reflect it, but the Terrapins showed significant growth late in the season. The region enters 2027 with as much momentum as it has had in years, with the gap between the East Coast’s top and bottom teams continuing to shrink.

Michigan State Survives Gauntlet to Claim 2026 National Championship

After a season defined by parity, rivalries, and rising contenders, Nationals 2026 delivered exactly the kind of chaos and dominance fans and players alike hoped for. From overtime thrillers and bracket upsets to statement wins from emerging programs, the weekend showcased the growing depth of collegiate dodgeball. But when the dust settled, one constant remained: Michigan State standing atop the sport once again, completing another undefeated championship run and reaffirming their place as the nation’s gold standard.

2026 Women’s Nationals Recap

Each year nationals gives teams the chance to fight harder than any other game to come out on top. It also gives teams who haven’t experienced many games or every team the opportunity to show off their skills and hard work. This year, in the third annual Women’s National Dodgeball tournament in Akron, Ohio, 58 players formed eight teams across 9 school to battle for the trophy.

All photos included were taken by Kate Douglas (me).

Who to Watch for Each Top-Ten Team

Every Nationals, unsung heroes define the tournament. Think back to even last year, when Ty Keller made an incredible catch in the latest moments of the championship game to push the Redhawks to their first title. This year’s field is wide-open, meaning new faces are sure to emerge.

Nationals 2026 Preview

ATHENS, OH. — From undefeated runs and statistical dominance to rebuilding years and late-season surges, every team in this 20-squad field brings a unique storyline into Saturday play. With seeding, pride, and survival on the line, the opening slate promises high-stakes matchups that will shape the bracket—and possibly redefine the balance of power across the NCDA. At the top, blue bloods and reigning powers collide with hungry challengers and breakthrough programs, all converging in Athens with vastly different paths—but the same ultimate goal. Ohio State and Michigan State headline the field as dominant forces on a collision course, while upstarts like Kent State, Nebraska, and Virginia look to prove their regular season success translates when it matters most. Meanwhile, perennial contenders such as Grand Valley State and Miami aim to reassert their place at the summit and fend off one of the deepest and most dangerous fields in years.

2026 Women’s Nationals Preview

When the average person hears the word “dodgeball,” they often think back to elementary school or maybe even middle and high school when they were forced to play during gym class. While the gist is the same, the WNCDA takes it to a whole new level; it’s no longer just “throw the ball!” or “hit your classmate!” This sport requires teams as little as four and as large as nine to jive well while on the court, encourage each others strengths, and support each others weaknesses–which can be challenging amidst the intensity of the game. The teams may seem small, but the desire to win is huge. And regardless of the experience of the players or age of the team, this game is for anyone who loves competition and working hard as a team.

BluGold Invitational II Recap

The Central region wrapped up their 2026 season with the BluGold Invitational II on Saturday, March 28th where they were joined by rivals UW-Platteville (and alumni), UW-Stout and some newer faces Winona State University (WSU), UW-La Crosse (UWL), River Falls (UWRF), and Steven’s Point (UWSP). These events have opened the door for new teams to check out what college dodgeball is like, and it gives the rather secluded central region the opportunity to play people outside the already established teams. Let’s check out how each team did!

Blugold Invitational II Preview

UW-Eau Claire will be hosting their second tournament of the season on Saturday, March 28th, which will be the last central region event of the season. Those expected to attend are close rivals, UW-Platteville, with less than a week of rest from the last tournament they played in, and a large mixed team consisting of players from several schools–UW-Stout, UW-La Crosse, UW-Steven’s Point, UW-River Falls, and Winona State University. These teams are potential candidates for future growth in the central region, and these nearby tournaments allow them to get a feel for the league and hopefully feel encouraged to form their own teams. This tournament will bring the central region season to a close, so let’s see what these teams and players have left in them before nationals.

Central Region Cup Recap

It was an exciting weekend for the Central Region as March 7th was the first official Central Region Cup! UNL, UIUC,UWP, and Iowa met up in Iowa City at the University of Iowa to compete for the Central Region Championship. Each game was intense, and each team fought hard for every point scored. In the end, UNL came out on top with an incredible 3-0 record, making their overall win-loss 13-0! Let’s see how each team did.

South Dodgeball Cup Recap

The 2026 South Dodgeball Cup saw a rematch of the 2025 Cup in the title game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the North Georgia Nighthawks. In an overtime thriller, Northern Kentucky prevailed 4-3 to repeat as South champions. Here’s how each team performed.

Central Region Cup Preview

The incredible growth of the central region reaches its peak as we head into the Central Dodgeball Cup tournament this Saturday, March 7th, 2026 at the University of Iowa. These teams last saw each other two weeks prior at the Zanderthon Throw-Down X where Nebraska (UNL) came out on top. This time, the stakes are higher as each team fights for their place as champions.

Zanderthon Throw-Down X Recap

The annual Zanderthon Throw-Down took place on February 21st at the University of Wisconsin Platteville. This event had the following teams represented: Platteville, Illinois, Stout, Eau Claire, Nebraska, Winona State, River Falls, La Crosse, Stevens Point, Iowa, and UWP alumni. This was one the biggest events ever held in the central region. In previous years, the Zanderthon Throw-Down was just between UWP and UNL and just last year it was UWP vs UIUC. It show cased a total of ten teams. Six current member teams and four upcoming teams with the potential of joining the league this semester.

We also had two women’s matches on the day and added another team to the women’s standings with UNL having their first official match as a club! There were a lot of exciting matches with a few overtimes. Let’s take a look at the results and hear some thoughts from players on the day. Pictures below were taken by Emily Diekmann.