posted Nov 5th, 2015 - The situation in the AA/Intermediate Class competition at the USPA Nationals 2015 was very similar compared to the AAA/Advanced Class.

The teams in the first two places, Skydive Midwest NEXT and Ragnarok, had safely distanced themselves from the other teams early enough.

The Midwest Skydiving League team also dominated the competition with Ragnarok for the USPA gold medals.

The real battle took place between the second Air Force Academy team, Allegiance, and Southern Mix of the Southern Skydiving League.

Northern California Skydiving League team 4Mative, competing under Team Name at the NCSL meets this year, was also within striking distance for the bronze medals.

USPA Nationals 2015		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Intermediate	22,K,F	B,11,21	D,Q,H,13	8,1	P,15,J	L,O,N,C	20,4	19,2	18,14	6,7	Total	Avg
1	Skydive Midwest Next	13	14	15	12	15	21	12	12	9	15	138	13.8
2	Ragnarok	14	12	15	11	15	17	12	12	11	14	133	13.3
3	Air Force Allegiance	13	8	12	11	12	18	10	11	9	15	119	11.9
4	Southern Mix	13	12	12	11	12	17	9	11	9	13	119	11.9
5	4Mative/Team Name	13	8	14	8	13	14	9	11	9	13	112	11.2

The Air Force team won the extra round by a point over Southern Mix (23 - 22) and the second set of medals for new coach Andy Honigbaum.

The jump-off between these two teams had its own story, as well. Southern Skydiving League team Southern Mix had started the 2015 season with different lineups at the first two meets (5.3 - 8.5).

Jeana Billings, Jolene Dressel and Glenn Lambert then connected with Paraclete's John D'Annunzio and had him in the outside center slot at the August meet (9.7).

Southern Mix was happy and made plans for the USPA Nationals with the same lineup.

The 11.9 average in Eloy lifted the team into the bronze medal position and created the jump-off situation. The opponent's coach, Andy Honigbaum, knew Southern Mix's player coach very well.

He and John D'Annunzio were Paraclete XP team mates in 4-way and 8-way between 2008 and 2011. Andy Honigbaum won this special duel and denied Southern Mix the bronze medals.

Skydive Midwest NEXT, USPA gold medalist in the Intermediate Class, was no big surprise for the league fans, as well. The Midwest Skydiving League team had attended all three MWSL meets this year (11.5 - 11.8 - 14.3) and shown the team's potential in the seven rounds of the September meet. The 13.8 average over ten rounds in Eloy and the gold medals are the well-deserved rewards at the end of the team's first year.

Ragnarok in 2nd place was also a well-known name after the team's 7th place at the USPA Nationals 2014, a 16.6 indoor average at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship 2015 and a 13.0 outdoor average over eight rounds at the June meet of the Carolina Skydiving League, with Carolina Turbo XP member Doug Barron in the lineup. Former CASL Director Chris Halsan was back with Ragnarok for the USPA Nationals to give NEXT a good race for the Intermediate Class gold medals.

Four of the five top teams in this category had sharpened their competition skills at regional league meets earlier this year before the USPA Nationals. It worked out well for them...