Shockwave is a long time member of the grifball community and played this season with Spawn Bonk!! in the Amateur League. Spawn Bonk!! finished their season with a record of 11-2, losing to the Apocalypse Ponies.

1. How long have you been involved with the sport of Grifball?
I got into Grifball following the first Double Experience Weekend. I started to play customs with my friends and I found that I was doing really well. I had heard during the time that Grifball was in matchmaking for the first time, that there was a league I could join. I decided to look it up and was immediately interested. I spent most of GBSL08 away from the site, but one day I decided to get more into it. I joined Bacardi and Cola after the 1st Round of the playoffs as a tank. I have been very active on the site and in the community since April 2008 (GBSL08).

2. What kind of player are you?
I like to think of myself as a tank/defender. I originally started out jumping over people’s heads as a ball carrier in matchmaking, and thought I would be a runner. When I joined Bacardi and Cola, who already had an established runner, I switched over to a tank. I have been a tank ever since. My tanking style fluctuates between very aggressive or very patient depending on what mood I am in and who I am playing. I also noticed my matchmaking-style approach to defense has caught a lot of league players off guard and I am constantly finding myself leading games in bomb stops.

3. If you could change one thing about Grifball or its community, what would that be?
I like the community exactly the way it is. Sure, there are people that some of us don’t like, but I think that those kind of people are essential for the functioning of a communtiy. You can also argue that some people don’t get the respect they deserve, but no community is ever perfect.

4. Is there a player/team that has inspired your style of play?
I don’t think there are any particular people who I intentionally copied their style of play. However, I have noticed that I do many things in common with x Zeg x, Madklowndisease and I CITI I. The Klown part probably comes from playing with him for a full season and being good friends throughout the process.

5. Name one player who always gives you fits when you play against them. What makes them so difficult?
I can never figure out how to counter Penguinocalypse. I constantly find myself getting embarrassed by him, and sometimes even his wife, Jen. I wish someone would give me tips on how to figure him out. The man excels in all aspects of the game, and it is very frustrating.

6. Name one player you think is underrated by most. Why?
AJ Cena is very underrated. As mentioned by others, people constantly look at the games he has partaken in and say it was host. However, I rarely see AJ pull host and most of his results come from skill and good connection. He has been around the game for a long time and was able to pick up on what others were doing. I think the lack of respect for him as a player comes from his high-pitched voice and his past actions.

7. Name one player you think is overrated by most. Why?
I CITI I. He is an AMAZING tank, don’t get me wrong, but I think I find he gets too much credit. Yes, he probably has the most patience in the game, but I think from playing on a team with him, it can actually sometimes get a little annoying. It may just be my play style to want to constantly be pushing forward, but I sometimes found him trailing behind, getting kills, but taking his time. He is a great tank, but just doesn’t fit the mold of the player I would want on my side of the field.

8. Besides Grifball, what other games/sports do you play?
I am a Varsity swimmer, Varsity tennis player and a Junior Varsity hockey player (I am only a freshman). I am a 2 minute walk from the beach and have a pool in my backyard, so when not in season, I do most of my swimming there. I mainly play tennis over the summer, when it is tennis season, but when I was little I used to take private tennis lessons. I have been addicted to the sport of hockey my entire life and always have enjoyed playing goalie, Go Stars!. Other video games I like include the Madden series and the NHL series.

9. In your opinion, do stats matter in Grifball?
Stats do matter, but not in the way most people think. I don’t generally judge a player completely off stats, but if the person is consistently going negative, I know his runner will generally not follow him in for the score and focus my attention elsewhere. I don’t think how well a player actually plays can be based off stats, but I think you can use stats for certain situations.

10. If you could offer words of advice to rookie players, what would they be?
Be respectful on the forums and be active. If you want to have a chance in this game, you need to be respected. Without respect, you will never get onto the teams you want and thus, you will never make a big impact. Play as many Grifball customs as you can. The more you play, the more you will learn and the better you will get. Also, try to get into games with experienced players and try to make a name for yourself.