posted Sep 1st, 2011 - The NSL News story on 30 August 2011 provided a preview of the German Nationals 2011 where World Cup bronze medalist in 4way, Paratec-Saar, has to defend the national title.

The article introduced the top contenders and explained that the German national team would be challenged due to a missing team member. Substitute Petra van Overveld, borrowed for a meet from ISB Air, is doing a fantastic job filling in at the Point slot in 4way, as well as the open slot in 8way. Her team for a meet is currently in 1st place in both events.

The 10-point lead after seven rounds looks like a dominating Paratec-Saar performance. However, a closer look shows that the national team was only significantly better in Round 2 where the speed lovers took advantage of a very fast sequence. The three challengers were able to be keep close in all other rounds. In fact, Paratec-Saar has won only two of the first six rounds. The scores of Round 7 are not complete yet.

German Nationals 2011		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	1,8,21	N,H,F,9	B,5,O,16	A,19,13	7,J,2	3,20,18	L,15,12	Total	Avg
1	Paratec-Saar	14	37	21	14	17	15	15	133	19.0
2	Final Four DeLand	14	30	20	15	18	13	13	123	17.6
3	Dynamite	14	31	18	14	19	12	14	122	17.4
4	Mixed Fource Remscheid	12	31	20	15	18	13	-	109	18.2
5	Usual Suspects	12	26	16	14	16	10	-	94	15.7

The NSL News had expected a similar situation, except that one of the top teams has fallen out of medal contention by now. Plan D, aka Usual Suspects, with NMP-PCH Hayabusa Point Dennis Praet in the lineup, showed the potential in Round 4. Other than that, the pickup team was not able to keep up with the other top contenders.

Paratec-Saar has a solid lead after Round 7, which will probably still be there tomorrow morning, even if Mixed Fource Remscheid ties or beats the highscore for the round. It still seems to be too early to call it a meet. There is another fast round coming up at the end of the competition, and the lead can still vanish just as quickly as it came in Round 2. The Top 4 teams have been very close so far except in Round 2. FSC Remscheid President Klaus Mathies said that he still sees a chance for his team at this meet. Almost all of the team members in the Top 4 teams are or have been Remscheid club members at times.

The NSL News invited Solly Williams for an NSL Talk, and the Paratec-Saar coach accepted on a short notice. It was a great timing since the conversation took place before the second day in the 4way Open Class had begun. Only the scores until Round 5 were posted at that time.

Paratec-Saar members had brought to the attention of the NSL News at the World Cup 2011 that the 2011 season is actually a very special anniversary for the German team. The bronze medal lineup has been together for ten years now.

Solly Williams contributes much of his success with the team to this continuity. He explained in the NSL Talk how much it means to keep a lineup together for a long time. He thinks that even only three members of a 4way team have a higher value than the mathematical 75% share.

The team sent a book with the NSL News from Germany to DeLand, which honors Solly Williams' long time work with this lineup, from the very beginnings to the World Cup bronze medals this year. The coach has been in touch with the team throughout the World Cup and the preparations for the German Nationals, including the selection of the substitute for Dieter Schwarz. It turned out to be a great choice - so far. Three more rounds are still to come in Kassel-Calden. By the way: Solly Williams had a good reason to stay at home. His wife Michelle delivered their second baby last week. Congratulations, Solly and Michelle.