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 →
Timezone: GMT-6.
Tell us about yourself:
I´m from north Mexico. I´ve been playing VGC since 2010 but never attempted to a live tournament until 2013 (non-official). I´m also competitive and always try to improve my gameplay. I cannot participle in some live tournaments because most of the times I can´t afford the travel cost.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
Top 10 on the May International challenge in Mexico.
Top 25 on the Beta Competition in Mexico.
Winner of an official online tournament called “Mangalianza VG”.
Selected to participle on a Mexico-Chile international challenge.
Attempted and top some non-official live local VGC tournaments.
timezone: est
Tell us about yourself:
-Real name is Kyle Houston
-I’m king of Kentucky
-Currently 15 years old
-Can’t drive
-I’ve played pokemon since 2002.
-First live tournament I ever went to was 2013 st louis regionals
-Signed in to nuggetbridge in 2013 after nats
-I always go x-3 and bubble
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
–top 4 2013 st. louis seniors
-6-3 at nats 2014
Timezone: PDT/PST
Tell us about yourself: I’ve been playing Pokémon since Yellow version came out (I was ten or eleven years old at the time) and I’ve beaten at least one game in each generation since. I’ve participated in one real life tournament ever (it was a local PBR tournament at Gamestop and I had all of three hours to throw together a team), mostly because I’m usually broke. I’ll be starting my second year of college this fall (I’m an IT major) and I hope to have some fun. Btw, I hate using Showdown because I can never test a team with everyone just disconnecting within a turn or two.
time zone:gst mountain time
tell us about your self: I am a senior who lives in canada and cannot attend any events because i cannot go
notable accomplislments: i came second in canada in the june international challenge
Timezone: PST
About Myself: I am Nic L. which you should call me niclong66 in the forums. I am new to the VGC metagame. I am 17 years old who lives in fresno CA who would like to be part of the draft after VGC world championships in Washington DC in the middle of August. I would appreciate on being part of the VGC crew.
Time zone :mountain time canada
About my self: I can’t attend any events due to being Canadian
Acomplishments: Hmm 1724 on doubles PGL number 1 in Canada overall and im awesome.
Rinamite attends events and hes candian though
Some people find it hard to justify spending the money to go to a lot of events, or any for that matter. I for one would not have been able to attend nationals the past two years without earning money towards it. Some people have to decided what is really important for them at the time, and sometimes, as sad as it is, Competitive Pokemon has to play second fiddle to real life financial needs.
It’s really hard for most 10 year olds to convince their parents to travel around North America for Pokemon, though.
While I do end up attending Worlds again, there IS a reason why I only attended two regionals, and not up to my limit of 3 as most other top contenders are able to. in my case, I’m at least pretty close to the border to Washington State, so it is realistically possible for me to make a day trip down for Seattle regionals, or make a weekend trip for Salem. But anything else is a good 10 hr+ by car so I’d have to take plane trips which I’m not really in a position to afford. If you live in the Prarie Provinces, you’re pretty much out of luck without having to fly down to the States for events. Even being in Eastern Canada will often leave you a good 5-6 hours away from regionals at the best of times, thus once again requires a lot of flying if you want to compete.
gmt -4
Just your average Canadian girl
pls hire me
Timezone: bEaST
Tell us about yourself:
I’m the internet’s busiest VGC nerd
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
2014:
3rd place in Fort Wayne regionals
3rd place in Madison regionals
ended 35th or so in North America as far as CP goes
2013:
Top 32 nationals
Other:
Top Cut the 2014 Nugget Bridge Major
1st place at a GameStop tourney where I won Pokemon Battle Revolution
Not so Notable accomplishments (Optional):
2014:
6-3 at both Nationals and Missouri regionals
3rd place at a couple premier challenges
Welp. Here we go
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: Senior, Bubbles for worlds. A lot. PS name is Ninten876
Notable accomplishments (Optional): 3rd at Wisconsin. Bubbled every year for worlds.
Timezone: Eastern (GMT-5)
Tell us about yourself: I’m amazing at everything I do.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): I went 4-5 at US Nats last year with a mono-Electric team. Would have gone 5-4, were the rules for ties not so ridiculous and archaic.
Timezone: GMT -4 (Chile)
Tell us about yourself: Been playing since 2012 tough competetively speaking only from 2013. I’m a Instructor on Finance one of the most important universities in my country even when i’m just 27. I like to play with defensive teams but i’m willing to try more offensive stuff as well.
Notable Accomplishments:
1st Place Pokémon Day Chile 2014
Over 200 players.
11th place at Chile Nationals (Daniel Muñoz External
1st place on a local Tournament with 88 participants (External). I might make a report on this one since i made a creative team
Best Avatar Ever
Timezone: PST
About Myself: Contrary to what my name suggests, I am neither Jamaican nor a Pothead.
Notable Accomplishments:
-2014 NorCal Regional 8th Place
-2014 SoCal Regional 9th place
-2014 Utah Regional 33rd Place
-2014 Nationals 5-4
-San Bruno Premeir Challenge 3rd Place
-San Bruno Premier Challenge 2nd Place
-Hollister Premier Challenge 1st Place
-2014 International Challenge June 18th Place
-2014 Final CP: 159
-Watched Every Episode of Zoey 101
-Collected Every Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book
-Passed my driver’s license test with a mere 7 errors
-Skied down a Black Diamond Slope only falling twice
-Countless other non-Pokemon feats too long to list here
Timezone: GMT+2 (South Africa)
Tell us about yourself: Trying to make a living as an artist/karate instructor while juggling all the games I play. Basically I want to be the best I can be and I need international experience to even dream of achieving that.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): 2nd place South African nationals (only tournament I’ve been to).
Timezone: CET (Central European Time)
I’m 15 and from Germany. Like 90% of all Nugget Bridge users, I’ve been playing Pokémon for a very long time, Pokémon Ranger being my first ever game lol. After that, I bought every single Pokémon game and don’t regret anything about it. In terms of competetive playing, I started doing so last year before Nats, because I heard people talking about Worlds and I wanted to go there in my last year as a Senior. Turns out i make cut with a team I got the day before, but also, that I had a wrong move on my Tyranitar the whole day (I didn’t even use the move I had instead of the one I wanted one in the day so I just noticed it in Topcut when I needed that move lol). Well, after this, I really got into CP, trying to get better etc., and went to Nats this year again. I made Topcut again and i also lost my first match in Topcut again haha.
Tell us about yourself: hey
Besides Pokémon, I’m currently studying in the 11th class and am playing Basketball.
Well, that’s pretty much it, I think.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): VGC’13 Bochum (Seniors): 13th Place
VGC’14 Bochum (Masters): 14th Place
Timezone: CET (Central European Time)
Tell us about yourself:
I started play pokemon in 2003, competitively in 2013.
I’ m 16 years old italian player.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): I’ ve start recently play competitively but I have joined the italian national and I have reached the 37th position (record 6-3)
I’d like to start a petition to have andykins known as buttderpVGC, as he is already buttderp in my heart <3
Also 10/10 pls hire
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: I’m a Gamer, R&D Scientist, Martial Artist, Wife and Mom. I’ve probably been gaming for longer than you have been alive.
-Along with Pokemon (TCG and VGC), I enjoy playing Neopets, Fire Emblem, Okamiden, and Harvest Moon to name a few.
-I do not have flowing locks like Mancuso, Instead I currently opt for the Tinker Bell do.
-Most music I listen to is either J-pop, K-pop or J-rock with my Favorite bands being Nightmare, One OK Rock, Ikimonogakari and AKB48.
-I also love to read manga with Naruto being my favorite. Believe it!!
I pride myself in doing all the Pokemon Breeding for all the Heise Ninja. I may not be the best player on your team but I know I can hold my own.
Please take me into consideration.
Thank you for your time and effort.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): http://nuggetbridge.com/forums/user/6002-xackery/
Mom of Kirito and Sonic the Hedgehog (Wesker)
Timezone: Central
Tell Us About Yourself: I am a Pokemon fanatic that runs under 3 different Alts on Showdown, which are Ace2014, DirtyMike21, and Highwind02. I test anything and everything there is to test that I can think up. I’ve competed at the premier challenges in my area and I had a very strong start earlier in the year in the Nugget Bridge Circuit (fell off of that because my schedule picked up in school, but now will be wide open) I have been playing VGC since the years of 2010, but never really became serious until this season. I am excited for the chance to play on any team, and I am willing to do whatever the manager tells me to do, because they are there to help us become good players and do really good for our team.
Notable Accomplishments:
St. Paul Premier Challenge: 2-2 both times
Haven’t really gotten much of a chance to be notable yet. Would love to start here.
Timezone: GMT.
Tell us about yourself: I currently have the dubious honour of being the infamous Zog-kun’s flatmate. I taught him everything he knows and I hold sole responsibility for him not being an absolutely useless pseudo-human entity. No big deal though. I’m the best pokémon player in North Wales, not counting Zog, Koryo (he doesn’t have hair) and everyone better than me.
If you want to win, you will pick me. Also, as Zog’s flatmate I can spy on him and I am physically capable of punching him if I need to.
Disclaimer: Picking me does not guarantee victory but I can punch Zog.
Timezone: -8 Pacific USA
Myself: I’ve been battling competitively since Diamond/Pearl came out. I’ve faced/beaten some famous Youtubers/Marrilanders from that time(I’ll mention below). I didn’t play 5th gen until the end of its course, but I have been playing X/Y a lot and have nearly mastered the meta-game.
Went to my first VGC this fall and had a blast, finished 4-5 due to me making my team the day before =l.
Strategy and predictions is what will win a Pokemon battle, not just brute strength or luck. My old channel from several+ years ago is youtube.com/kingquilfishy if you wanna check it out. I was 12 at the time so I sound like a 7year old girl lol.
Accomplishments: Beaten(and Lost to too) Maxprotect, YukiJadenSurvives, Farmer16, Kimatchee, Mantank4ever, DalyTheEnigmatic, PhazeVideos, Yamborski, Dadidi, Marriland (On Showdown under diff name and not real team but still lol he’s my hero) etc.
Faced(Never Beat): Symphonyx64, Stevo188 etc.
Had over 110 Suscribers on Youtube at a point.
Timezone: Central US
About me: I have been around since St. Louis was a national instead of a regional. I have gone to several regionals and nationals, and have accumulated enough experience to have many bad habits. I rely on Greyson to keep me from playing anything too obnoxious. Everyone I drive to Regionals seems to do well, and it is exactly the opposite for Nationals.
I tend to play either bopper or 616 nearly every event it seems. I spend more time hanging out in the IRC chat and less time playing than I should, but I’ve met a lot of nice people so it works well.
I’m looking forward to being drafted in the 67th round of the NPA, but it will be disappointing when feathers’ ferrets are picked in the 66th round.
Accomplishments: HAHAHA No.
A T16, a few T32s. Also a few CP (T128s?) from international challenges.
Played all dittos in the Beta last winter. 4-0ed multiple players, which couldn’t have felt good for those players. Scarf mega aerodactyl is scary.
Timezone- PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)
Tell Us About Yourself: I am new to VGC this year but have been playing pokemon since the late 90’s! Pokemon Red was my first love. I was only able to make it out to one regional this year which was in Long Beach. I went 4-2 and was unable to finish the tournament due to other obligations (wife)… I am 24 years young and learning the game more and more each time I play. I have refered to watching lots of VGC content on YouTube and have learned from the likes of Cybertron and US Nats Champs Alex Ogloza. If you take a chance on me you will be getting someone who is really trying to make a name for himself in the VGC scene.
Accomplishments- There are a few.
4-2 at Long Beach Regionals
Have climbed fairly high up the Showdown VGC ladder. Ranked in the top 20 numerous times. Need Proof?
Username: elcagaduro
Was ranked top 10 in the U.S. in double battles on Battlespot during the winter season. I was silly and did not get proof of this however it was during the time were pokebank had just been released in Japan. The guy I took down to get me ranked in the top ten was ranked 13th in the world at the time in doubles battles. I was only using VGC pokemon. Sorry there is no proof but I would not make this stuff up.
(Timezone) GMT -4
. Im going into my sophomore year of high school and the masters division in VGC. I enjoy playing VGC, golf, basketball, and the violin and I always try to get better at everything I do.
(About Myself) I started playing VGC this year and attended Massachusetts Regionals to meet some VGC players and test my skills. I ended up getting 4th place in the seniors division
Timezone: central
About me: I’m Nico Villalobos, I’ve been around the vgc seen since 09 and have been playing consistently since then and getting better every year.
Achievements: Missouri reg 14- 2nd
Mass. Reg 14- 4th
Timezone: UTC +12 (New Zealand)
Tell us about yourself: I am a Uni student in good ole New Zealand, I have not had much experience with VGC, but have been trying to learn as much as I can. I unfortunately could not make the New Zealand VGC tournament this year due to exams 🙁 which brassed me off a bit, but oh well. So yeah 🙂 Give me a go, willing to learn and take advice, and would love the chance to play, could be a real wild card 🙂