posted May 31st, 2007 - The preview of the Midwest Skydiving League teams is not complete yet, and the first meet is already coming up this weekend. The information of the remaining teams that MWSL Director Alan Butt already knows about at this point will now conclude the MWSL preview right in time.

The first story on May 15 provided an overview of all teams and introduced the 2007 line-up of Skydive Chicago's Furies. The follow-up story on May 23 introduced Chicagoland Skydiving Center's team Rhythm and discussed the expected AAA Class competition in the Midwest. MWSL Director Alan Butt had additional information of four more teams and provided the details for the NSL News.

SDC Quattro (AA Class)

A new and promising team has emerged at Skydive Chicago, SDC Quattro. Three members won USPA bronze medals in the AA/Intermediate Class with the Furies 2006 line-up: Lisa DeSimone (Center Inside), Shannon Sweet (Tail) and Charles Lane (Camera). This 3-way provides a strong foundation for the new team.

The other two members are Keith Fenech (Center Outside) and Todd DeSimone (Point). They competed with the MWSL 2006 team SDC Cohesion. All five team members bring with them a wealth of competitive experience and are planning on making a run for a set of USPA medals in the AA/Intermediate Class this year.

The team already started its training in the windtunnel in January this year. Airspeed Odyssey's Andy Delk has primarily coached SDC Quattro in Arizona.

CSC False Religion (AA Class)

Another new MWSL team for the 2007 season will probably offer SDC Quattro strong opposition in the AA Class competition. False Religion is composed of a group of experienced skydivers, but with very little recent 4-way experience. Valerie Long (Point), Andy Boyd (Center Inside), Alan Butt (Center Outside), Paul Desruisseaux (Tail) have Kevin Naftzger in the video slot, who is one of the most experienced videographers in the Midwest. He has filmed MWSL teams DefCon4, Rubicon, Grounds4Divorce and Steel Breeze in the past among several others.

MWSL Director and team member Alan Butt said that his team's Point, Valerie Long, "is battling a serious addiction to vertical windtunnels". She has over 900 jumps and has jumped with former MWSL team High Maintenance. Alan Butt added that "she won the Point slot by threatening Andy Boyd with physical violence if he didn’t agree."

Andy Boyd is a long time fixture in Chicago's skydiving area with over 5,000 skydives. Alan Butt comments that "he is easily intimidated by women who list fighting as a hobby on their resumes." That's probably the reason why he gave up the Point slot and ended up as Center Inside...

Alan Butt, who last competed five years ago with CSC DefCon4 has been Director of the Midwest Skydiving League since 2002. His team mates report that he is sensitive to accusations that he was only able to make the False Religion roster by threatening to ban the other three from competing if they didn’t let him on the team.

Paul Desruisseaux, the newest member of the team, has over 1,000 jumps. He is a tandem master at Skydive Chicago and coaches high school water polo and swim teams. This will be the first season on a 4-way team for the new Tail. Susan Crowe, like her peer Shane Eggenberger, has decided to shift from the performance side of 4-way to the video slot for the first time. She is still training with an 8-way team in Perris.

Alan Butt said jokingly that he is confident of a successful season, partly due to the skill of his teammates, some extensive Airspeed windtunnel training by three of the four team members, but mostly due to the fact that he runs the league and therefore controls the judging...

False Religion is still looking forward to their first jump together due to a combination of schedule conflicts and poor midwestern weather conditions this spring.

SDC Chasing Amy (AA Class)

Skydive Chicago's Chasing Amy is competing in the team's 3rd NSL season. Jim Bloomingdale (Center Outside) and Amy Jo Gladfelter (Center Inside) are returning from the 2006 season. Trudianne "Tru" Temple (Point), Heather Matousek (Tail), Dana Kurtz (Alternate) and Shane Eggenberger (Camera) have joined the team for the 2007 season. Chasing Amy plans to compete in the AA Class on the road to the USPA Nationals 2007. The team is focused on learning, improving, and having fun.

Jim Bloomingdale has four years of skydiving experience and over 300 jumps. He spends his free time acting and directing local theatre. Amy Jo Gladfelter has been skydiving for three years and has 350 jumps. She directs outreach programs on the west side of Chicago.

Tru Temple has been skydiving for only nine months and has over 200 jumps. Tru is a professional bagpiper and a hot glass artist. Heather Matousek has been skydiving for five years with 650 jumps. She teaches fifth graders English as a second language.

Dana Kurtz has two years of skydiving experience and over 150 jumps. Dana is dedicated to kicking butt in the courtroom advancing civil rights. Shane Eggenberger has five years of skydiving experience and 850 jumps. Shane has three years of 4-way competition experience and now takes on the videographer slot.

Just4Fun (AA Class)

The 2007 season will be the 4th year for three of the team members: Chris Whittet (Center Outside), John Lindstrom (Center Inside) and Brian Ladow (Tail). Last year's Point, Dan Raymond, is returning in the same slot. Tim Shue will film Just4Fun, as he did last year.

The team name is still identical with the goal: have fun while competing. The team members confirmed that they have been quite successful so far. They added that sponsors will be considered on the basis of how much beer for the team and wine coolers for the cheerleaders can be provided...

SDC On The Fly (Rookie Class)

The new team starts with the easiest dive pool in the Rookie Class. The line-up consists of Kim Allen (Center Outside), Richard Martin (Tail), Sara Miller (Point), Betsy Smith (Center Inside) and Pete Jabczynski (Camera). The individual jump numbers range from less than 100 to a few thousand.

On the Fly considers to move up into the A Class this year once the team members feel confident and familiar with the 16 Random Formations. The training plan for 2007 includes 200 jumps at Skydive Chicago. The team already completed a windtunnel training camp in April this year.

SDC On the Fly has a not-so-series long-term goal, which is "to crush Airspeed". For now, the team members are just enjoying jumping together and building team skills and individual flying skills.

Secret MWSL keys to success

False Religion members Valerie Long and Alan Butt unexpectedly met up with the whole line-up of SDC Quattro in Eloy last month at one of Airspeed's highly successful 2-on-2 windtunnel training camps. In addition to enjoying fun flying and great coaching, the six Chicago area competitors were also lucky enough to get a photograph of Airspeed's insider secrets to winning 4-way, made public at that occasion for the first time.

Only time will tell how successfully Quattro, False Religion and the other MWSL teams will incorporate these keys to success into their training. The MWSL community and the NSL audience will get some idea this weekend at Meet 1 at Sky Knights SPC in East Troy, Wisconsin.