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: Eastern (GMT – 5)
Tell us about yourself: I’ve been playing pokemon since I was a kid, much like everyone here. I got into it competitively in 2013 when Simon (who was my roommate at the time) built me a team and invited me to go to nats with him. Nats ’13 was my first event, and I started out okay (3-0? 2-1? something like that) but found out pokemon is actually hard and ended up 5-4 or something. I’ve been to all the east coast tournaments this year (Philly/Virginia/Mass) and had a blast. I also played in Nats ’14, although I did not do too well. I understand the game on a mental level, since I’ve been to a few tournaments now, but I just need help executing. I thoroughly enjoy playing pokemon competitively now and I look forward to all the tournaments all year. Will also be attending my first worlds and
playinglosing in the LCQ this year.Notable accomplishments (Optional): Nothing particularly notable, ended up finishing like top 64 in most of the regionals I went to this year.
Unless you count 4-0’ing the fanfic man himself AARON CYBERTRON ZHENG in Mass.
no one draft gene or skarm
Timezone: UTC/GMT -04:00
Tell us about yourself: Im from Chile, South America, a country that has a metagame totally different to what you see in other parts of the world, and I think it might encourage the team that choose me.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
Time Zone:CST
Accomplishments:Over 300 tournament wins
About me: I am a 306 time league tournament champion.Im 15 years old and have played every pokemon game.Thanks
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: I am the worst mod.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
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Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: I play pokemon. I am good at pokemon. I have beaten good people before. I breed for lots of people. I make them happy. I am good at english too.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): accomplishments what are those
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: I used to be alright until I grew up and became workingmantrain
Notable accomplishments (Optional): I beat Team Trista at cornhole this year.
Timezone: PST
Tell us about yourself: Smaller and whiter than resident NuggetBridge little white girl Angel Miranda
Notable Accomplishments: Ex-husband of Brendan “Not CT Babbytron” Zheng, local float stone peddler, avid Aussie basher, and strong believer in the fact that seniors are trash.
Timezone: PST
Tell us about yourself: Been playing VGC since 2010
Notable accomplishments:
Top 4 Pleasanton 2012 (seniors)
17th place 5-2 Pleasanton 2014 season (masters)
Top 8 Long Beach 2014 (masters)
Top 16 Major 2014
respectable x-3 finishes in 2012, 2013, 2014 at Nats
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: I played vgc in 2011 and then picked back up on it again in 2014. I don’t have the money to be able to attend a whole lot of tournaments so I’ve only been to one regional each year that I played. I’m also the captain of the Azalea Azumarills in the NPSCS (the mini mini NPA); I didn’t know if that was worth noting in the accomplishment section or not lol
Notable accomplishments:
–Top 8 at 2011 Georgia Regional (seniors), being one game away from a nationals stipend kind of sucks but kiwidawg’s team was a hard-counter to mine and she made it look easy
–35th at 2014 Florida Regional (masters), being one game away from top cut and ultimately losing to timer was nearly as upsetting as my 2011 run but I met some really cool people there like Zach and Simon and even played Zach in swiss so that was fun
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: I’m a pretty easy going guy that is comfortable working in a team setting doing any kind of task, whether it be battling or even helping with test battles. University attendee and smart enough to realize that the people that will actually be drafted don’t even have to take this seriously because they are already known and known to be good. (Just for the record, you know I’m only gonna cost $1).
I’m not critically acclaimed, but I can listen and work with the team and not be a hassle, and even just be a support if needed. And if I don’t turn out to do well, you can always cut me…
Notable accomplishments: Ray Rizzo teased my sister at Orlando Regionals this past Winter.
TLDR: When you’re using a $1 pick, get me and I’ll be a team player, and not obnoxious.
Eh, yams it. Don’t wanna waste any more thinking on this, I’m in.
Timezone: Central Europe
Tell us about yourself: I’m washed up. I don’t get better, just older. My team is the Seafoam Islanders. If you try to draft me away from my team, do it at your own risk. I might be just as useful as an ill-traded Kangaskhan with “lolreturn”. There are many good players out there, please give them a fair chance.
Notable accomplishments:
~ Naturally, I’m a defending NPA champion. I also happen to have no experience in not winning these team events, and it better stay that way for us all to be better off.
~ Current online/inofficial season: top 8 Major, useless at Lives, playing/-ed in the Invitational. Not gonna edit my result, you’ll have to look it up yourselves.
~ Current offline/official season: I’m a proud (and salty) x-2 martyr. Dear players from Assago and Indianapolis, a fair number of you wouldn’t have gotten this far without my sacrifice.
Yes, I sure am in an intimate relationship with irony, sarcasm and cynicism. Love it or hate it, love me or hate me. (And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Timezone: EST
Tell us about yourself: In the words of Chuppa, “dunno if I had played you before but” “you know your sh*t”
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
Nugget Bridge Major 2014 Flight 2: No. 40 (5-3) <– First ever VGC tourney
Beta Competition Masters Division: 1744 pts. No. 84 (29-12)
2014 International Challenge May Masters Division: 1707 pts. No. 419 (36-20)
Massachusetts Regional 2014: No. 20 (6-2)
Timezone: CST
Tell us about yourself:
Notable accomplishments (Optional): 10th US Nationals 2014, 20th NA CP 2014 (not counting 2013 seniors worlds winners who got millions of cp)
Timezone: GMT+10 – Victoria, Australia
Tell us about yourself:
I’m Jordan, I’m 21 years old and I am busy whittling away my life working in a supermarket, even though I have an I.T Diploma. This year was my first serious year playing Pokemon competitively, as it is only the second year where VGC has been run in Australia. I’m nowhere near being a famous name, but I’m hoping to compete in more online tournaments and such in order to build some sort of a reputation.
Notable Accomplishments:
While not nearly as impressive as some of the others here, these are notable for myself as it was my first year of competition:
-Placed within the top 70 at Melbourne Regionals, after being eliminated by the defending Regional Champion
-Placed 129th at VGC Australian Nationals, after shattering my dream run with a pair of consecutive losses that pushed me far far away from top cut, finishing with a 5-4 record
yeah whatever
Timezone: EDT
Tell us about yourself: I write articles and provide color commentary for the VGC website nuggetbridge.com. I’m much better at explaining Pokemon than I am at actually playing it. I like boring Pokemon and RBY starters. I enjoy long walks on the beach, complaining about life in the Midwest, and instigating arguments on the internet with people I think are working against VGC’s growth. I some day hope to find a PokeDad of my very own.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): I have lost to a Dragonite in a Regional for two consecutive years. I nearly always finish within a couple spots in either direction of the top cut cut-off in Swiss tournaments. In every team event I’ve ever played in I’ve either gone about .500 or undefeated, but never anything meaningfully inbetween. I am probably going to use Blastoise or Rain in every game.
Timezone: Central Time
Tell us about yourself: My name is Daniel and have 20 years old. I’m from México City and i’ve been playing Pokémon all my life but just untill 2011 i played in competitions, aaand just untill this season i started playing VGC. I’m undergraduate of Economics in the National University of México and have lots of free time to play VGC. I’m also amateur soccer and table tennis player.
Notable accomplishments (Optional):
The only brave enough that after seeing all those real accomplishments it’s gonna sign-up anyway.
Top 32 in the largest VGC Premier Challenge in the world this season (México City).
Timezone: GMT +10
Tell us about yourself:
Hey everyone, my name is James Katsaros (Age 17) and I’ve been playing VGC for about 6 months now and i am loving it. I love using electric types in the meta and try to bring them within my teams and catch people off guard.My name on showdown is also ‘ChosenFuture’ and i am usually contactable in the VGC chat
Notable accomplishments:
This year was my first year of playing competitively and i felt that i did well.
Melbourne Regionals: Top 8 (losing to eventual winner)
Australian 2014 Nationals: Top 8 (losing to eventual winner)
I hope to be drafted into the tournament and hope to be a worthy asset in any team.
Is this on simulator or ds?
3DS.
Timezone: GMT -4
Tell us about yourself: a chilean guy, 2 years playing vgc, a bit kind and shy, plant pokémon lover.
Notable accomplishments (Optional): 2nd place in the nationals in my country, n° 81 in the may international challenge (1790), n° 111 in the june international challenge (1749), beat babbytron in the friendly south america vs usa ( a bit haxed).
Timezone: PT
Tell us about yourself: My approach to the game of Pokemon is very mathematical in that I try to maximize the odds of the game ending with either me or my opponent feeling embarrassed about the result. I’m coming into this NPA draft with the goal of transitioning to a style that favours consistent winning over consistent silliness.
Timezone: PDT
Tell us about yourself: I’m an #imouto, weaaboo, NEET, and whatever you want me to be
Notable accomplishments (Optional): I’ve done hundreds of Air Cutter and Facade Kangakhan damage calculations for fun. I also made Top Cut in the third Nugget Bridge Major but I don’t really think anyone cares about that. If you also want someone to stir unnecessary drama from stuff I say on my blog, I’m your man.
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time
About me: I got into competitive Pokemon last year. The reason I got into it was because I couldn’t beat Wolfe or Ray in the downloadable tournament in the PWT in BW2 so I started EV training and breeding to beat them. I really started getting into competitive Pokemon in February of this year when I discovered showdown. I’ve improved a lot this year and have beaten some good players in the summer scramble and on showdown.
Accomplishments: captain for the mini NPA minor leagues 5-3 at Mass Spring Regionals.
Timezone:
Central Time (GMT -5) as of August 12
Tell us about yourself:
I like Victini, long walks in the wrong direction on moving sidewalks, and wasting my nights away watching American Dad and circlejerking with Seaco on PS chat.
Also a student at Auburn University, MangoSol you and any other Bammers can go yams yourself <3
2014 was my first season of VGC and I believe I’ve grown immensely as a player. I let some bad luck and poor teambuilding get me down midseason but nothing a little time and practice can’t fix amirite
Proud Pikachu 3DS owner and user and lover (don’t ask)
Brings plushes to every tournament but never takes them out of his backpack and idk why
Notable accomplishments (Required):
2014 Philadelphia Regionals Top 32
2014 Philadelphia Regionals got smashed by Human using Garchomp/Charizard before it was cool but after he asked me where his Gamecube controller plugged in
Slipping random spongebob references into everyday life Champion
2014 Orlando Regionals King of Salt (dropped at 5-1 to catch a flight back to college)
2014 Orlando Regionals won a match 0-0 because Rough Skin activates before damage is dealt (lol @ physical aegislash)
Nugget Bridge Major 3 Top Cut
Applied to all 8 ivy league schools and only got into one because my dad went there
2014 Athens Regionals Top 64
Ate a bowl of nails for breakfast without any milk
Orlando Premier Challenge Runner-Up
Only time I’ve used Smeargle was to breed Ice Punch onto Scrafty
2014 Nationals 5-4
2014 Nationals same record as YouTube sensation Aaron Cybertron Zheng
Better than Andykins at MK8
2014 Nationals Beat Seaco
2014 Nationals Cards Against Humanity in Darkeness’s hotel room Champion
Best VGC player in my house (if you don’t count my dog)
Won one of those PS chat tournaments because 3 of my 4 opponents forfeited on turn 1
Timezone: GMT+1
Tell us about yourself: I have a (bad) sense of humor, I only started playing VGC since February and my goal in life is to make Gallade useful in VGC
Notable accomplishments (Optional): Germany 2014: 5-3, 81th place.
I once got in the top 500 of the Showdown VGC ladder.
8th place in the May International Challenge of my country.
Timezone: EST
About Me: I have a few names that I go by in various situations and settings, but I prefer demhaha the best. Despite being a relative unknown in the VGC community, I am hometown friends with Werford and have learned a lot as his protégé. I began my competitive career this season, starting with the 2013 Fall Regional in Philadelphia, though I’ve been playing Pokémon since the release of RBY. I play Pokémon strictly for fun, but that doesn’t mean I slouch in my team building and battling. That’s part of the fun, after all! Being able to travel around the East Coast, meeting new people, and learning more about the meta has been an absolute thrill for me. Though I may not be the best or most knowledgeable trainer up for draft, I have a desire to learn as much as possible alongside VGC’s most acclaimed trainers.
Also, I make straight A’s in my English studies at Stony Brook University and have long, beautiful hair.
Accomplishments: My best showing at an Offline Tournament was a 64th place finish at the 2014 Spring Regional in Massachusetts. I was also the MVP of CAR RAMROD in the Dodrio Cup and finished Top 8 in a Nugget Bridge Live Tournament once.
P.S. I will be at the Pokémon World Championships and would love to meet managers and fellow trainers alike.
Timezone: UTC+9 Japan
Tell us about yourself: I am a Pokemon veteran, as I have played most of the Pokemon games. I started VGC this year, and have had lots of practice in my short time. I work hard, try my best, (insert other mushy stuff here), and keep a positive attitude, even when I lose. I am currently in my final year of senior, and I think I am ready to step up my game.
Achievements: Think I will opt out.
Timezone: UTC-8 (Pacific)
Tell us about yourself: I have been playing this game competitively for seven (7) years now and am a co-founder of the site. I’m a good team presense and a good guy. If people mess with our team I could ban as long as the other admins don’t notice. This makes me valuable I think. Will likely not be useful to teambuild with. Will be incredibly reliable on finishing games if you are forced to put me in a slot.
Achievements: lol