posted Sep 7th, 2006 - The first part of the DFV-Cup in Germany is complete, and the power structure has not changed in 4-way.

The German national 4-way team of the past years, EADS, once again rose to the occasion and successfully defended the top position against the young challengers of team Next Generation.

Team Next Generation consists of Markus Bastuck, Dieter Schwarz, Dr. Jörn Thiele, Max Thiele and Alexander Hau on camera. The team was also known as FSC Remscheid's 4-way team earlier this year. The new team name indicated the goals and plans for the near future.

EADS, with Olaf Biedermann (Center Inside), Jens Goennemann (Center Outside), Goran Meyer (Tail), Thomas Spielvogel (Point) and Marc "Euro" Ewert on camera, knew that this year's DFV-Cup competition would be a tough deal. FSC Remscheid/Next Generation had won the July meet of the Deutsche Sky Liga (DSL) by two points (195 - 193) and was eager to take over the 4-way control in Germany.

The NSL News story on July 24 had explained the very competitive situation in Germany in detail, including the history of both teams. The DFV-Cup 2006 this week also served as the qualification event for the status of the German national 4-way team for the 2007 season.

It did not happen, as the score show, and Next Generation will have to try again next year. EADS is a very experienced team with one of the longest-standing world meet veterans, Thomas "Spieli" Spielvogel, guiding the team in his own casual way.

EADS was well prepared and mentally ready for the challenge. The team had just competed at its 4th World Meet with the same line-up and had added even more competition experience to its already broad collection. It would have required a top performance by the challenger, but Next Generation was not quite ready.

Two teams members were physically not in the best shape. Jörn Thiele had to recover from a back surgery earlier this year. His brother Max Thiele had back problems during the competition this week. However, EADS did not leave the 4-way rival any chances and was already seven points ahead after four rounds.

Next Generation recovered, won rounds five and six by one point each and managed to go head-to-head with the EADS veterans between rounds five and ten. That was all the challenger could do. EADS was too strong and will represent Germany as the national team once again next year.

German DFV-Cup 2006	Rd.1	Rd.2	Rd.3	Rd.4	Rd.5	Rd.6	Rd.7	Rd.8	Rd.9	Rd.10	Total	Average
Team	10-O-N-16	11-B-J-Q	21-G-1	15-9-E	L-12-14	A-20-2	8-3-18	4-22-19	M-6-7	K-F-C-5	Total	Average
1. EADS	19	24	19	18	13	17	14	15	22	25	186	18.6
2. Next Generation	18	21	18	16	14	18	13	14	22	25	179	17.9
3. Bundeswehr	12	16	14	15	12	13	12	11	18	16	139	13.9
4. Chicas	14	16	13	12	11	12	10	11	15	17	131	13.1

The German Army team Bundeswehr took the 3rd place and held off the all-female team, Chicas. The German ladies, with Dr. Petra Bärenfänger, Sylvia Maier, Susa Serra, Marion Thomas and Markus Haas on camera, had already competed at three DSL meets this year and also at the Malevsky Cup 2006 in Russia.

The Chicas had hoped to find the first opportunity for a face-to-face competition with the German national team in the female category, Focus Remscheid. However, Susanne Fleig, Kristina Monsees, Birgit Powell, Katrin Schreyer and Wolfgang Hagedorn on camera attended only the World Meet 2006 where they finished with a very respectable 13.2 average in the 5th position.

The Chicas' 4th place at this week's DFV-Cup still qualifies the team as the national team in the female category for the 2007 season. The German Army competitors had to come up with the team's best meet average of the 2006 season (13.9) to hold off the Chicas (13.1) and win the bronze medals.

The DFV-Cup is not over yet. In fact, the most exciting part is probably still to come. Next Generation was not able to take over the top position in 4-way. However, there is still a second chance. EADS and Next Generation are prepared to challenge the German 8-way team of many years, FSC Remscheid.

The two 4-way teams have trained together and surely have the talent to get to the scoring level of the German national 8-way team. FSC Remscheid has to replace one team member, Andre Reinke, who retired after the World Meet 2006. Coach Mike Vetter will step in and fill the slot. The 8-way heat is on, and the NSL News update will follow very soon.