Meet the Managers of the NPA and Player Registration
Sign ups have ended with 10 of the previous managers and 23 new users signing up to manage for this season of the National Pokémon Association. Only 6 spots were open and lots of thought was put into the managers chosen. It was tough to make the final calls, but these are the managers and teams that will be playing in this season.
Returning Managers
Zach, Fortree Brave Birds
Zach was the manager of the Brave Birds in the second season of the NPA. He has a large community presence, is a moderator on Nugget Bridge, and has organized many tournaments and kept track of their stats. He won three Regionals in 2013 and barely needed to attend US Nationals that year in order to clinch his Worlds invite. He is committed to victory and knows how to work hard to clutch out.
DrFidget, Goldenrod Gamblers
DrFidget has been a much-loved member of the community after being the only person to stream Worlds in 2010. He is also the organizer of The Lava Pool, a highly informative podcast about the Video Game Championships, usually featuring many powerful trainers sharing advice and strategy. In 2013, he placed 3rd and 7th at two different Regionals. The Gamblers finished 4-4 in NPA 2, and are hungry for an even better placing this season.
Ray, Hearthome Holy Spirits
The three-time World Champion Ray Rizzo. There is not enough space in this brief article to cover his Pokemon successes. In the first NPA, he managed the Cleveland Escavaliers, which finished seventh. Last season, he led the Holy Spirits to a 6-2 final record, losing in the Final Four to the Sunyshore Chargers. He is known for drafting star player DeagleBeagle every season. As always, expect the best.
PrettyLittleLiar, Sunyshore Chargers
PrettyLittleLiar experienced a brief stint as a player in the first NPA before returning as a manager in NPA 2, leading the Sunyshore Chargers to a 6-2 finish in the regular season and 2nd place overall. He has placed at Worlds himself, losing in the Top 4 in 2011 to eventual champion Ray Rizzo. He is an active poster, player, and threat.
Huy, Castelia Cones
Huy has had an incredibly strong presence in the online competitive Pokemon community since the early 2000s. He has also been mighty on the battlefield, with back-to-back Top 8 finishes at Worlds in 2009 and 2010. In the original NPA, the team he co-managed with Darnell Washington, the Chicago Afrobulls, reached the finals, losing to the Sacramento Slakings 2-3. His team, the Cones, went 4-4 last NPA season with a strong comeback at the end of the season. Expect big business from this manager.
Tan, Celestic Stars
Tan has been a member of the VGC community since 2012. The Stars have been known to flood the forum with not only their team spirit but also their good cheer. In NPA 2, he led the stars to a mediocre 4-4 finish. However, the Stars were the only team to take a week away from the Seafoam Islanders all tournament. If they can recreate that success, Tan’s Stars will definitely be a top tier team.
TalkingLion, Fuchsia Ninjas
TalkingLion returns to manage the Fuschia Ninjas, which made the Final Four in NPA 2 with a 4-4 record losing to eventual champions, the Seafoam Islanders. TalkingLion has been a member of the VGC community since 2011 with several high placings in offline tournaments in both the Senior division and the Masters division. He is active as a moderator on Pokemon Showdown and although one of the youngest managers, has shown he knows how to lead.
feathers, Fallarbor Flames
feathers returns to manage the Flames for NPA 3! The Flames finished 3-5 in NPA 2 with strong team players like Fish, gene, and PROFESSORLABCOAT. feathers is a powerful player herself, with an undefeated Swiss run at Oregon Regionals in 2013. She is one of the artists who regularly creates artwork for Nugget Bridge and also the only Canadian manager.
theamericandream38, Seafoam Islanders
theamericandream38 is the player who perhaps has had the most success in the NPA. In the first NPA, he played for the winning team, the Sacramento Slakings. In NPA 2, he led the Seafoam Islanders to a nearly undefeated victory. theamericandream38 and his Islanders are definitely the team to beat this season.
makiri, Mistralton Jets
Like Huy, makiri has been integral to the online Pokemon community for many years. He has had many first place Regional finishes and played in the World Championships. Last NPA season, he managed the Jets and in the eyes of many “won” the draft, emerging with an extremely powerful roster. Although the Jets had a mediocre performance in NPA 2, ending the season at 4-4, Makiri has led several teams in Pokemon tournaments to victory, as well as being a winning player on the Sacramento Slakings in the first NPA. You can never count him out!
And the Newcomers
benjitheGREAT, Goldenrod Rollouts
benjitheGREAT, while a relatively unknown player until the start of the 2011 season, has picked up considerably since, winning multiple Regionals in 2013 and 2014. He is replacing Smith as the manager of the Goldenrod Rollouts. Last season in the NPA, benjitheGREAT went 6-2 playing for the Stars and has shown he knows how a successful team runs in the league.
CT MikotoMisaka, Lavarre Pixies*
CT MikotoMisaka, although sometimes partaking in the oft-forgotten Trading Card Game section of official Pokemon tournaments, has been a longtime member of the online Pokemon community. He joins his Sacramento Slakings teammates makiri and theamericandream38 in the ranks of managers for NPA 3. He played for the Mossdeep Rockets in NPA 2, but otherwise has won every Pokemon team tournament he has participated in.
jio, Lilycove Cruisers*
Jio began his VGC career in 2011. Although he was unable to attend Regionals for the first year, he continues to be an active teambuilder and breeder for many high-level players. When he finally attended a Regional in 2012, he placed Top 8. He is one of the most powerful trainers active in the breeding scene.
Dubulous, Viridian Forest Hornets*
Dubs managed in the first NPA, but took a year off before returning to the scene. His team, the Golden State Wartortles, reached the Final Four before losing 3-2 to the eventual champions, the Sacramento Slaking. He has been a member of the competitive Pokémon community since around 2009.
Alaka, Olivine City Splashes*
Alaka is the second manager to return from the original NPA to manage in NPA 3 without managing last season. He led the Orlando Magikarp to a 5th place finish out of the 8 teams present, drafting a strong roster featuring current Regional champion mattj and first NPA 2 draft pick skarm. Alaka has shown intelligence in both managing and operating a team, and he will not disappoint this season.
Dim, Ever Grande Elite*
Dim has been an active user in the VGC community since 2010, and achieved success in the Senior division in 2012 by winning the World Championships. He didn’t stop there, with high finishes at Regionals, US Nationals, and especially at Worlds in 2013, barely losing in the last round to Cybertron who would go on to make Top 4. Dim continues to be a strong player in the 2014 season, and has clinched his Worlds invite.
Thank you again to everyone who took the time to sign up, sorry if you missed the cut.
*These are new teams and their logos are currently being worked on.
Player Sign-ups
To sign up as a player you must post the following in the comments thread:
Timezone:
Tell us about yourself:
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
Now, signing up won’t put you on a team by itself. The NPA draft will take place at some point after the 2014 Pokémon World Championships. The registrations will make up the pool of players that the managers will bid on. You can keep an eye out for managers doing try out sessions in this thread, but please keep in mind that spots are limited and not everyone will be drafted! We will be working to ensure the NPA is as entertaining for spectators as well as the participants themselves. Sign ups will last until August 17th! We look forward to seeing who will sign up this season to be drafted onto one of these 16 teams!
Related Posts
Nugget Bridge Update →
GS Cup Announced as Pokémon’s 2016 Ruleset →
2016 Pokémon World Championships Date & Location Surfaces →
Notable accomplishments only pls
jk
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: Been playing VGC since 2011, started competing this year
Notable accomplishments (Optional): 59th in North America in June IC, Made it to Day 2 at American Nationals (35th place)
Alright, feel free to PM me on here if you want a shot. Ill also be in DC for worlds, so if you want to put yourself out there, in person could be effective. Who knows, maybe you could represent the sweet Miltank Mascot.
and…
No way me too!
Timezone: BST
Tell us about yourself: My first year in VGC and from Scotland
Notable accomplishments: Camer 144 in the May international challenge and 231 in the June international challenge both in the juniors division and come in the top 20 in the UK for both completions
Signing up.
Timezone: Pacific
About Self: Sole Canadian Representative of Worlds 13′, and Worlds 14′ (unless someone makes it through LCQ)
Accomplishments: Went 9-1 in NPA Season 2
Do you have what it takes to be the next benjitheGREAT, and add another mark onto my loss tally?
Timezone: United Kingdom(GMT)
Tell us about yourself: I Sometimes do well in tournaments. I represent Scotland Proudly.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
10th 2011 World Championships(Juniors)
2nd 2012 Germany National Championships(Seniors)
Top 8 2013 Nuggetbridge Major
4th 2013 Germany National Championships(Seniors)
6th 2013 UK national Championships(Drop/Seniors)
6th 2013 World Championships(Seniors)
2nd Mancester 6 Tournament
1st 2014 Italy National(Seniors)
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: kaw kaw motheryamser
Notable accomplishments: I actually showed up to a regional this year
Timezone: GMT
Tell us about yourself: I’m started playing competitive when BW2 came out, I’m Portuguese and I can’t afford to travel Europe to participate in the live tournaments. Although I don’t really comment in the forums I read all the reports and articles.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): As i said i never went to an official live tournament. I peaked at ~1780 in the may international and went 17-3 first day
Just give me a chance 😀
Timezone: EST time best time
Tell us about yourself: I do running, ultimate frisbee, and songwriting in my spare time. I also used lapras before it was cool
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
Premier Challenge Master (won Penn State, Pittsburgh, and Ashtabula; top cut Columbus and Sandusky)
Timezone: GMT
About me: I have been playing competitively since 2012 and have been on a mission to improve since then. I am usually trying to find odd ways to run ‘mons with good success, as evident with my Lapras at Germany and UK nats this year. I’ll be found scouring the Battle Spot rather than PS but recently I’ve gone on a 31-0 run with my current team as I always do better after nationals. Some people say I’m under-rated but I think I’m just not known enough to warrant a better reputation which is why I am determined to succeed in the NPA.
I am consistently in the upper-end of finishes both at live tournaments and in Wifi tournaments.
All round good person who wants to improve even more….and has good team prescence. OH and I’m a Scrub with a strong Ice-Type. If you want to take a small gamble on me then I can’t make promises that I’ll be MVP every week, I can promise that I will do my hardest and be around for training and even if not in the lineup to play I will be around to support and help my team mates in any way I can.
Accomplishments:
-2012 UK Nationals (5th) Single Elim
-2013 UK Nationals (18th) 7-2
-2014 UK Nationals (19th) 7-1
-Manchester #5 Winner
-Manchester #6 Top8 (Beaten by winner Zog)
-Cute Lapras user 2014
-Most likely to say “Dinkelburg” 2013
GLHF Everyone!
Timezone: EDT
Tell us about yourself: I am in the senior division and have been playing since the beginning of the 2012 season. I am part of Team Magma and am hoping to have a good showing at LCQ.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
VGC 2012 (Seniors)
6th place RI Regs
23rd place Philly Regs
87th place Nationals (4-4)
VGC 2013 (Seniors)
30th place Philly Regs
13th place MA regs
55th place Nationals (5-3)
VGC 2014 (Seniors)
9th place Philly Regs
9th place MA Regs
The Flames are looking for CHAMPIONS and CANADIANS.
Drop me a PM, convince me you want to play for the BEST TEAM. Better yet, come introduce yourself to me at the World Championships this year in DC! We may have gone 3-5 last year, but we had a great time doing it, and this time we’re going ALL THE WAY!
Banner courtesy of PROFESSORLABCOAT
Anyone who wants to make a splash in this years NPA, join me at #splashes
Timezone: CST
I like brightpowder. And chess. Chess is good. Gonna be a freshman in college. I like my waffles microwaved and my food can’t touch. Enfuego you better pick me up again -_-
Things to brag about:
Madison Regionals 2012 (4th)
Madison Regionals 2013 (Top 8)
Madison Regionals 2014 (2nd)
(Does this make me the most consistent midwest player?^)
Nationals 2012 (3rd)
Nationals 2013 (55th? 65th?)
Nationals 2014 (9th) Yams the bubble.
Worlds 2012 (11th)
Hit 1690’s or something up there on showdown ladder with some random alt.
Timezone: JST
Tell us about yourself: If anyone has HP fighting cresselia, please let me know @ryokonVGC
Notable accomplishments (Optional): Nats 2014 multi battle team Boku 1st place
Timezone: EST (GMT-5)
Tell us about yourself: Hi! I am Unreality and I like making friends. You may recognize me as the manager of the New York Scraftys and the Mossdeep Rockets, two great* teams in NPA history. This year, I’d like to take a step down and play while also working for the NPA News. If you don’t pick me, I’ll slam you so hard in NPA news it’ll make your head spin!
Notable Accomplishments: I made it to the top 2 of the Nugget Bridge Major with Cloyster, Nidoking, Dragonite, and Virizion. I am the creator of teams TGTP, Electric Bug, and SEXAMEGA. I used Tornadus-T seriously in 2013. Once I misled Scott, Huy, Makiri and others to believe that there were cupcakes at Worlds in 2011. I have been mistaken for Aaron “Cybertron” Zheng. I almost made Aaron “Cybertron” Zheng cry by exploding a washing machine. Aaron “Cybertron” Zheng has tried to eat my cat. I defended America’s honor in 2011 in a multi battle with Aaron “Cybertron” Zheng against Santa Ito and Shota Yamamoto. I am the owner of the most liked post on Nugget Bridge. I am one of two 2013 Triples World Champions. I once pulled an all-nighter with Rushan and Lucien LaChance and JRank. I bake cookies and bring them to events. I have “accidentally” killed Scott many times in League of Legends.
Timezone: EDT
Tell us about yourself:
– Second most handsome editor on the site, after Evan Latt
– My playstyle tends to be based on disrupting the opponent’s tactics
– theme song: Radiohead – Paranoid Android
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
– Top 8 VA Regionals 13 and 14
– Top 16 in the inaugural Nugget Bridge Major
– 3rd place at an NYC area (kind of) PC despite my use of Weakness Policy Shedinja
– scored the game-winning goal of the 2014 Schafer Cup
Timezone: PST
Tell us about yourself: I have been playing Pokemon since RBY and have been playing competitively since emerald. I have been doing vgc since 2009.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): Seattle 2009 winner and placed top 16 in Seattle 2011.
Hey Benji has a great signature! I hope all of Nuggetbridge adopts it
I’ll be doing try outs a little differently. If you wanna try out, go ahead and shoot me a pm here on the site. I would like to know more about you, so tell me whatever you want! However, I also want battle videos and replays. you can send me up to 10 replays (I still prefer less). And at LEAST ONE video will have to be a battle you LOST. Below the number or the link of the battle video, you must explain why you lost and what you would do differently. If I can’t see you at your worst, I refuse to see you at your best.
Other suggestions:
– Come check us out at #celesticstars
– Put “Hey come check us out at #celesticstars” as your signature, status update, T-shirt, etc..
– Post a picture with a delicious iced coffee! We only brew the best coffee for the best YOU!
– Like every single one of my posts (gotta get that 4:1 ratio)
– If you are going to worlds, INTRODUCE YOURSELF. If you wanna be a Star of the NPA, I gotta know you more first!
I wish you all luck in the incoming draft and all your future endeavors,
Tan
– Manager of the Celestic Stars
Timezone: Texas Time (CST)
Tell us about yourself:
Hello my name is Aaron Grubbs and I have been playing VGC since 2009 in the juniors division and since the dawn of the newly created seniors division in VGC 2011. I am also a player who has play in all three of juniors, seniors, and masters, and I am currently in my first season in masters. I am a player who is consistently willing to play online and is always willing to get better at the game, and I am committed to it. I have excellent VGC experience and can play many metagames, I am a reliable responsible player who is committed to helping others who are in need. Outside of Pokemon I play basketball and has quite a knack for it, I also do a little bit of fishing in my past time for fun and other outdoor activities. I am also going to be a junior in high school enrolled at a standard high school.
If you draft me, I won’t disappoint. I’ve been playing this game for seven years now and is committed to it. I will play my best and have not look back, only look back on what I can improve on. Please draft me, I feel like I deserve something to satisfy.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
I have my ups and downs, but here are all of my best finishes in VGC:
Juniors:
2010 Top 4 Dallas Regionals
2010 Top 4 USA Nationals
2010 Top 8 Hawaiian Worlds
Seniors:
2012 Winner Houston Regionals
2012 Top 32 USA Nationals
2013 Winner St. Louis Regionals
2013 Top 16 USA Nationals
Qualified for the 2013 World Championships through LCQ Top 4
Masters
2014 Top 16 Houston Regionals
2014 Top 32 St. Louis Regionals
2014 Winner Texas States
2014 Top 8 Kansas City Regionals
2014 Winner Corpus Christi Premier Challenge
2014 USA Nationals 71st place, 6-3 record, barely missing day 2
Two time WCS qualifier
Qualified for the 2014 NB Invitational
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: Idk
Time zone : Est
About myself : I started playing competively right after vgc13 worlds and I am really instrested in playing with high level players here.
Accomplishments : I never went to a live event yet but lcqs will be my first event. My online accomplishments in clude comming 3rd in dodrio cup and 18 in US in june international.
Timezone: Central (GMT)
Tell us about yourself: When I saw her walking down the sreeEe33eet she looked so fine, I just had to speeEe33eeaak.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): Top cut at Houston 2013, Top cut at Nationals 2014, shook Justin Flynn’s hand, and recemtly got some college girl digits.
Timezone: GMT+1 (Since I noticed I like to point that out, I´m German… xD)
Tell us about yourself: Aside from meditating on which occasions a certain emoticon is appropriate (which, you might have noticed, is quite frequently in my records..^^), I play Pokemon, I guess…^^ I somehow managed to be relatively well-known in Germany, decently known in the European community and I´m part of Team Magma so I guess that passes off as “decent online presence”.
Notable accomplishments: If my 3 paragraphs of self-introductory awesomeness that hardly revealed anything at all haven´t blown you away, wait until you read this:
-I was one out of 2 non-japanese players in the Top 50 of the recent Eevee Friendly, making me the best Eeveelution trainer outside of Japan (in Rotation): I dare you to come and mess with me. xD
-If I´m not busy dominating Eeveelution-based metagames, I like to dive into the realm of Legendaries: Apparently I know my stuff in Single Battles with Legendaries, too, since I placed 36th worldwide in the April Friendly – not so glorious in Double Battles, though, but we don´t wanna go into detail with that, right?
-I got 38th in the IC June with Mega-Gardy and Electrode – two giant threats
Oh, and I was in Top 16 for about an hour last year at MIlan with a team that made me known as the “Seismitoad guy” in Germany and I placed Top 8 in Milan this year with, what a coincidence, rain.^^ This was enough to get qualified for Worlds this year and I intend to attend so we´ll see how that goes, huh? Who cares about that if it doesn´t even feature Eeveelutions, though, right? xD
(I really hope you didn´t take that last section seriously… The achievements are all true, though^^ Gotta give “decent in VGC” some shape since I´m not exactly a star player. I hate listing achievements without sarcasm, though, so to make the feeling of light self-celebration that this section has to it acceptable for a person like me, I figured that was the best way to roll with it: Not taking it too seriously since I don´t think all of this stuff is too amazing, really…)
Timezone: BST / GMT
Tell us about yourself: Member of NPA 2 winning team Seafoam Islanders. 9th place at Worlds 2013. Top cut UK (2014, 2013), German (2013) and Italian (2013) Nationals.
Timezone: PST
Tell us about yourself: Hello, I am Raphael, owner of a terribly uncreative username. I’ve only started playing VGC this gen, but I’ve played Pokemon competitively since ADV, sticking to singles only. I remember being in the top 5 or so of DPP UU for a little bit but other than that my singles career has been mediocre. I am an avid sports fan (used to play a little bit also, and also used to run a lot, but now I’m a fatty) and used to play poker a lot as well. Tiny person with a baby face and I swear to god I don’t belong in the Junior division.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
– 2nd place BC Premier Challenge #1 (48 participants)
– 5th place BC Premier Challenge #2 (38 participants)
– Finished 8th in Canada in June International Challenge. So if you’re drafting based on Canadianness, you’ve got the 8th best guy
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: I’ve been playing since last year’s Winter Regionals and have had a great time learning the game and getting better throughout the season.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
– 9-0 in Swiss at Virginia Regionals (9th Place)
– 7th in Sturbridge, Mass Regionals
– Top 32’d other 2 regionals I played in (Philly & Madison)
– Won a couple of premier challenges (BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY BEAT “THE” RYUZAKI_VGC)
Timezone: EDT
Tell us about yourself: Hey, I’m Sam. Started playing this year, couldn’t make it out to any events because of a combination of lack of funding and 2 counts of flat tires. -Gonna be a high school senior
-Future Eagle Scout
Notable accomplishments (Optional): 32nd June International Challenge NA
Timezone: PST
Tell us about yourself: I hate it when people say gg on PS! when it clearly wasn’t a gg.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): Played twice in the second NPA
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: I’ve been playing the VGC format since 2008 before I knew that there was even a community along with it. Shortly being a win away from worlds that year (no nats for vgc, 2 regionals, 128 man single elim), I made a smogon account so I’ve been around quite some time. Don’t really have the success to go along with the years as it took me a few more years to learn about RNG and IVs (maybe even EVs). Played on netbattle, PO, and now PS. Seen skarmbliss come and go. The swiss format helped me out greatly, as I didn’t participate last year (13) as I felt the metagame was just getting stale and boring (addition of move tutors is meh). New year, new me, so I was finally able to get some official placements with some solid runs this year. It would be pretty cool to be picked for something this big.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
participated in some NYC grassroots, top cut them all
copy pasta’d from my sig
2014 West Babylon PC 1st, MA 8th, VA 25th