Grumble Jones - An ASL Blog: KANSAS CITY 2025 MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT

March 2025 would be the tenth anniversary of my first March Madness Tournament in 2015. It still amazes me to realize that ten years have passed already. It feels like yesterday, when Bob Zinselmeyer and I sat down for my first March Madness match. I would finish that first tournament with a 2-2 record.

2015

As a player, I was still developing. Despite having played since 1978, I wasn't a tournament caliber player. I had just completed the Pegasus Bridge and Purple Heart Draw CG's with Chris Brackney (aka Big Kansas) and I had learned a great deal that would grow me as a player. Since those early days of relearning the game and forgetting bad practices, I still find myself learning. During this year's Round 3 game against Nathan Wegener, I learned that I was doing the Dash rules incorrectly. Dan Best and I have been playing that particular rule incorrectly for years. A quick convo with TD Paul Works would confirm Nathan's understanding of the rule. So, you are always learning in this game.

2016

March Madness 2016 was held at the Hollis Center and became my first introduction to this wonderful location. I met Jim Burris, Dave Mareske, Alex Key and Richard Burton for the first time. Jim and Richard would introduce me to defeat and my final game with Alex would go my way only after a 4-3-6 Panzerfaust took out a Pershing Tank and then his best leader was sniped by a head shot in the same combat sequence. I would end this tournament with a 1-2 record.

In August of 2016, I returned to Hollis for a KC Club games day. Dan Best and I would play test a scenario and then decide to begin playing a weekly game together over SKYPE. The "Our Saturday Game" series was born and as of today, Dan and I have now logged 705 games.

2016 Would be a very BIG Year indeed!!

2017

March Madness 2017 is my all-time favorite March Madness. It would be my first time to stay at Hollis with the gang and I would get it so many great games during this tournament. And it would be the one and only time in my ASL experience to play a game of ASL in a building that was on the map during the scenario being played...the Hollis Map of course and a really fun little scenario.

Dave Mareske and I would play two fantastic games and split the wins.

Richard Burton and I would play another of epic games as well!

Four giants of our game - Dave Ginnard, Rick Reinesch, Randy Schurtz and Paul Works.

I would play 8 games over the course of the tournament and go 4 for 4.

2018

Ahhh...2018...another really fun year at March Madness. Once again, I would stay at Hollis and have some great times with Mike Bistodeau, Dan Best, and Rick Reinesch. Late night strolling at the retreat following Day One's games was a particularly good memory. Good times!

2018 was the first year at the current Shawnee location. It was also my first time to meet and play against Burnie Hegdahl, the TD of the excellent Sioux City Tournament.

More giants of our game - Jim Burris, Jeff Ital, Dave Ginnard and Larry Zoet.

Dan would win his first Starter Kit Mini!!!

Fellow Tulsan, Gary Bradley sports the 2018 and in my opinion, the BEST March Madness Shirt in his match against Paul Works.

Two more of our ASL greats...Doug Kirk and Nathan Wegener playing a match in 2018.

I would play five games during the tournament and finish 3-2 overall.

2019

I often think of 2019 as the last good year. COVID first hit the news in November of 2019...but that seemed like a problem far...far away. We would live our lives like normal in 2019...not knowing it was the end of life as we knew it. As for ASL, Dan and I were busy playing a ton of ASL and working on new scenarios for March Madness packs. My Lump Holds the Line would find its way into the 2019 pack and remains my favorite personal design.

I would once again stay at Hollis for my third and final time. We had some terrific times here.

Scott Martin and I would have our first opportunity to play.

Ryan Ellet and I would get in two games during the tournament. Both games were great fun!!

Dan Best and Kevin Bradshaw review some errata.

I would play a total of 5 games and finish 3-2.

Another fantastic March Madness with my Hollis Retreat roomies.

2020

2020...the year that wasn't. I remember looking forward to the tournament and talking about it weekly with Dan...but then the county where the hotel is located began Covid Protocols and all events were cancelled. Just like that March Madness would vanish for the next three years.

2020 would end up being my best year of ASL ever up to that time with 92 games played. But of course we gave up so much during that year and I still have clothes marked with tiny red splotches from bleach that I used to clean doors at work twice a day.

2021

COVID continued to disrupt life and led to another March Madness cancellation. I would get my first Phizer shot in March during that very weekend and sadly a week after my father passed away on a ventilator...followed by my great uncle...a 101st Airborne veteran. Dark memories that scarcely fade with time.

The best moment of 2021 was my interview with the Two-half Squads. As a huge fan, this was just a wonderful experience for me.

2022

2022 holds a singular honor for me with the release of the Grumble Jones Pack. I was then and am now so deeply appreciative of the kind consideration that the Kansas City ASL Club has extended to me over the years. I am very proud to be a member at large of this great organization. And I have always hoped that my pack did not detract from the other great packs offered each year.

But, I would once again miss March Madness for the third straight year. I was unemployed and had gone up to Hollis in February for a games day. Unbeknownst to me I had been food poisoned the day before (bad onions at Burger Street in Tulsa) and had a hellish drive back to Tulsa in freezing cold temperatures (thank goodness for Pepto Bismal). My wife had also been food poisoned, and we spent a few days just lying in bed attempting to feel better. But then, when it was time to head up once again...I couldn't do it. The combination of being out of work and having just recovered from an illness left me wanting to sit on the sidelines.

2023

Finally, after a three-year hiatus, I once again returned to Kansas for another March Madness. I would thoroughly enjoy this tournament and finish tied for third place with Larry Zoet.

2023 would see the introduction of the club's March Madness Trophy. Some truly great names on this trophy and another Tulsan...Brian Routh graces its plaques.

2023 would see my first one on one game against Paul Works. We had previously played a couple 3 player games and were also teamed up for a win against Dan Best and Dave Mareske in MM50 The Wrong Choice.

Keven Adams and I would also get in an epic DASL match.

And I played well enough to sit across from Wes Vaughn. It wasn't my best game. I made a critical setup error and generally felt embarrassed the remainder of the game. You always want to play your best and not look stupid in these situations. I failed in that regard, but enjoyed the experience nonetheless.

I would finish at 2-2 for the tournament and have my best tournament finish to date.

2024

2024 would feel normal again to me. My first back-to-back march Madness in a few years. Things were slowly starting to feel like the old days. My wife would accompany me for the first time and my daughter and grandson were also coming to spend the weekend with my wife while I went head-to-head with my ASL buddies.

Richard Burton and I would play our fourth game against one another. They have all been great games!

James Treu and I would face off for the first time in a PTO game. This was the most fun game of the tournament and literally came down to the final Hand-to-Hand Melee with James' Japanese surviving for the win.

Randy Schurtz and I would play one another for the first time and my hapless Russians would put up a very poor showing in a somewhat brutal defeat. There was a moment of levity when Randy sent his Jagdpanzer through a building and it crashed through into the cellar as was knocked out. Things were that bad for me, that he really didn't need the Jagdpanzer...so it was a pretty humorous moment.

I had a great time in the evenings with my daughter and grandson. But on Saturday, after my game with Randy, I would have to drive my daughter back home to Illinois as she had developed a very serious eye infection. Scary moment and nothing fun about having to leave mid-tournament and drive to Illinois. But thank goodness everything worked out for the best.

I would finish this tournament at 2-2.

2025

Whew...we are almost at the end of this long retrospective of March Madness Past. At long last, we are at the 8th and final March Madness Tournament of the past decade. And I must be honest, I was somewhat hesitant to come this year. My competitive edge has fallen over the past year or so. I have found myself overly consumed with playing to win instead of playing for fun. In 2015, I had no illusions of glory, just a sincere desire to play the game and have fun. I found myself missing that part of my personality. Winning is of course desired, but it should not consume your game play, especially when you are a player of my lower level. I made the trip despite some negative emotions. and ended up having a great three games with three new opponents. I returned to Tulsa last night content with my game play. It had been a great tournament.

My Round 1 Game - Danish Crossroads (J248) against Kevin (KB) Bradshaw was an exciting and fun game. It came down to the final turn and my Germans were lucky to get the win. Kevin's Danes did a great job, but some bad morale checks at the end of the game against some heavy German firepower opened the window for a German win.

While this is a balanced scenario, it does feel dicey nonetheless.

This year's tournament was very well attended, and tables were at a premium on Saturday.

Round Two Pairings...

Rob Schmidt and I would play a Farmyard Affray (RPT24). I enjoyed this scenario, but Turn 1 would hurt Rob's attacking Canadians hard. His mortar would successfully Smoke one of my upper level MMG's. He had rate of fire and so went for smoke on the second MMG with my 8-1. BOXCARS and a broken mortar with no more smoke. Undaunted, Rob launched his attack through the grain. Then more disaster as my 8-1's MMG lashed out and KIA'd his best leader after another BOXCARS on the MC. This would also break the other units with that leader. After that, Rob struggled to rally and reform his attack. By the time the German reinforcements arrived, it was clear that the British were not going to be able to achieve the victory conditions and Rob gave the concession. Rob hung in there despite some very unfortunate circumstances and only called it when both his PIAT teams were broken and he had no way to stop my approaching MKIV.

The pairings for Round 3.

Dan Best, Lary Zoet and Wes Vaughn in conference with Richard Burton and Dennis Dowd in the background.

My Round 3 opponent would be Nathan Wegener. This would be our first opportunity to play one another. We played Taking Heads (AP59). PTO has never been my favorite and I would be the attacking Japanese going against a 50 CAL, 2 x MMG's, and 2 x Halftracks with 75's. I had 3 dismantled mortars and a 20L ATR. While we had a good game, we did have to review the rules on Dashing. Our understandings related to the destination hex were different. After conferring with TD Paul Works, Nathan's understanding as confirmed and I learned something new. Our game would go to the final turn, but my Japanese had suffered too many losses and gained too few buildings. Nathan would finish with 47 points to my 21 points.

I found this scenario to be a bit tough on the Japanese. The Filipino/Americans have very strong weapons. The 50 CAL did a number on me before I was to break the squad manning it. The Halftracks also dealt serious blows with a couple of critical hits. Were I to play this one again, I would attack through the huts as opposed to the Kunai. Not sure if the results would be any better...but would be worth a try.

Dave Kleinschmidt of the 2 Half Squads was in attendance for his first March Madness Tournament. He conducted interviews of the various attendees outside the conference room. I enjoyed my few minutes speaking with him and am very glad that he made the journey from Chicago. In this picture he is interviewing Rick Reinesch.

After my Round 3 game, I packed it up and headed home to Tulsa. I enjoyed a beautiful sunset as I drove through the hills of Eastern Kansas on the way to Coffeyville and then onto Tulsa. I would finish the tournament 2-1 and spent my drive home reflecting on the great time I had at this year's tournament!!

As always, The Kansas City ASL Club puts on an outstanding tournament. If you have never been...put it on your ASL bucket list for 2026. You will be glad that you did!

Here are some other shots from this year's tournament.