posted Aug 6th, 2022 - The combined AA Class leaderboard of the Pre-Nationals 2022 is complete, after Air Raid XP and Anion Flux XP both got their InTime evaluation and scores for the ten rounds. The NSL News update on August 3rd had provided some information of the both teams' situation while they were waiting for the judging.

Air Raid XP, with Jeana Billings replacing Calvin Falk in the Outside Center slot, finished actually closer to USPA medal contender Spaceland Toxic than expected with their world champion substitute. Any 10+ average has brought AA/Intermediate Class teams into medal contention at USPA Nationals in the past.

The results of the Pre-Nationals are very promising, while the situation is still challenging for Air Raid XP. It will be impossible to find a substitute of Jeana Billings' caliber easily for the national championships. XPG4's Outside Center has also been coaching Air Raid XP.

However, the search for an adequate substitute becomes a little bit easier considering the required performance level, if Air Raid XP decide to replace Jeana Billings with a substitute player-coach. Any AA/Intermediate Class team does not need a world champion in the lineup to compensate for a missing team member on the team's actual performance level.

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Pre-Nationals 2022		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	AA Class	14,B,E		18,11		M,7,19		H,P,9		21,A,22		O,D,6		K,N,13		Q,8,L		20,4		15,G,1		Total	Avg
1	Spaceland Toxic	13		9		12	-2	16		9	-1	11	-2	9	-2	12		10		9	-1	110	11.0
2	Air Raid XP	9		8	-1	11	-1	13	-3	9	-1	14	-1	13		9	-2	7		9		102	10.2
3	Anion Flux XP	9		6		9		10	-2	8		7	-3	10		7	-1	7		8		81	8.1
3	49 1/2 Finger Death Punch	7	-1	7		12		15	-1	9		9		7		6	-3	7		2	-2	81	8.1
5	Plug N Play	5		5		10		11	-1	6	-1	5	-2	7		7		3	-2	6		65	6.5

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Air Raid XP - Anion Flux XP at the Pre-Nationals 2022

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There are usually highly experienced AAA Class competitors around who have no plans with any AAA Class teams and are ready to step in just for the AA/Intermediate Class competition, and possibly for a few training jumps before Round 1. All they have to do is secure the performance level that the team has been on before the unexpected loss of a team member.

It's still not easy to find them. They cannot have any other 4-way commitments, as the USPA rules allow a competitor to register only for one 4-way event, even if the teams sign up for different categories. It would probably not be too difficult for Jeana Billings to compete for XPG4 and Air Raid XP both, while it is not an option at USPA Nationals.

It becomes even more difficult for Air Raid XP to find a replacement for Calvin Falk if the candidate is not an experienced AAA Class competitor, or at least a former AA/Intermediate Class competitor on USPA medal level. The results with Jeana Billings in the lineup and the perspective of competing for USPA medal positions have probably sparked the team's motivation even more. Air Raid XP is probably looking into all options. There is not much time for training left, and a substitute on the team's level before Jeana Billings may not get enough practice to maintain the current level of potential medal contention. However, Calvin Falk plans to be back soon anyway, and the team is only in its first year.

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USPA Nationals 2021		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Intermediate Top 10	L,2,M		K,13,8		14,E,H		4,9		P,15,C		20,1		22,11		21,Q,D		A,J,18		B,6,F		G,7,O		Total	Avg
1	Kaos Theory XP	15		14		11		15		14		10	-2	10	-1	15		15		19	-1	-		138	13.8
2	Dallas Dynasty	13	-1	13	-1	13		15		13	-1	11		10	-1	15	-1	13	-1	21		-		137	13.7
3	Air Force Atlas	13	-4	12	-2	11	-2	14	-2	12	-1	10	-1	6	-3	16		15		18		14	-1	127	12.7
4	SDC Rhebellion XP	15		11	-1	13		12		13	-1	10		8	-1	13		12	-1	20		13	-3	127	12.7
5	Air Force Stallions	14		12		13		9		12		9		8		12		9		17		-		115	11.5
6	Perris Fall Risk	11		6		11		10		9		7		8		11		7		14		-		94	9.4
7	Combat Turkeys	10		8		7		10		8		7		7		10		10		14		-		91	9.1
7	CK PetriCKor	8		10		9		9		8		8		7		8		10		14		-		91	9.1
9	Hammer-Hammer	9		9		8		6		9		7		7		10		8		13		-		86	8.6
9	Cinnamon Roll Fight Club	10		6		9		9		8		6		7		9		10		12		-		86	8.6

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Medal contention at the USPA Nationals 2022 means most likely only competition for silver and bronze medals. The fact that SDC Rhebellion XP plan to be back on the AA/Intermediate Class leaderboard excludes all other teams in this category from realistic chances to win this year, unless Dallas Dynasty return in the AA/Intermediate Class, as well.

Last year's silver medalists from Texas, after a 1-point battle with Kaos Theory XP, moved up to AAA/Advanced Class competition at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship 2022 and have trained the complete FAI/ISC dive pool. This still does not exclude the option for Dallas Dynasty to compete again in the AA/Intermediate Class.

Only the winner, Kaos Theory XP is not eligible for USPA Medals in the same category, and some of the team members have moved on to new challenges anyway. Anna Brunner is the current Inside Center for XPG4 and will try to win world championship gold medals in 4-way Women this year. Her former team mate Carl Kallgren is in the Point slot for the new SDC Rhythm XP lineup. Charlie Mcgee is now on camera for Rhythm.

There is possibly another interesting option for Air Raid XP, as Kaos Theory XP members Jason McClure and Preston James might not have any USPA commitments this year, after their team disbanded. One of them would still be allowed to compete with any team in the same category, according to the USPA rules. The NSL News will follow the development...