KC Grumbler Invitational Tournament 2025

Monday, September 1, 2025

KC Grumbler Invitational Tournament 2025

Labor Day weekend is fast becoming the setting for an annual Grumbler Invitational Tournament. For the second year, we hosted the Grumbler. This year, the Grumbler was moved from Tulsa to the Hollis Renewal Center, which is the home of the Kansas City ASL Club. It is in this wonderfully secluded nature center that the club hosts its monthly game days and assorted other activities. Many of you have seen the Hollis Center Map that came in the March Madness 2017 scenario pack.

There are currently four scenarios that take place on the custom Hollis map. If you don't already own this pack, make a point to grab a copy. It's a great pack with some really unique scenarios related to partisan operations.

Learn more about the Hollis Renewal Center at its website.

https://holliscenter.org/

I've been blessed to spend some great times at the Hollis Renewal Center over the years. This year, I spent some additional time walking the property during games. Had a wonderful time!

The event would take place in the Hollis Retreat Welcome Center.

Great outdoor deck, where players would relax while their opponents set up their defenses for each round.

The Hollis grounds are really beautiful and secluded in a small valley, which is just a couple miles from the Kansas Speedway.

Those of you familiar with the Hollis Center map from the Partisan Pack will surely recognize the bridge!!!

Arrow points to the bridge and the building in the square is the Welcome Center building where the Grumbler took place.

Hollis has a ton of trails from easy to challenging.

I believe this truck speaks for all of us!!!

Schedule of Events for the three-round tournament.

Various prizes are awarded for various activities during the Round 1 & 2 Games. Players also receive a Gold Battle Star for each of their victories.

Each player also received some SWAG - 8 Chessex Dice, a Dice Bag, some WWII stickers, bag of peanuts, a Little Debbie Oatmeal Sandwich, and a M1 Garand Pen from the WWII Museum Store in New Orleans.

Paul Works and I play SP243 Konrad Three in Round One.

Nathan Wegener and Tom Meier in the foreground and Dan Best and Randy Shurtz in the background play their Round One games.

Nathan Wegener and I played RPT157 Ozarks and Frundsbergers in Round Two.

Dave Mareske and Randy Shurtz play their Round 2 game in front of the fireplace.

Richard Burton and Paul Works play their Round Two game.

Dan Best and Tom Meier play their Round 2 game.

Tom Meier and I play RPT177 Tirailleurs and Antiques in Round Three.

Dave Mareske and Nathan Wegener play for the Championship.

Paul Works and Randy Shurtz play their Round 3 game.

Dave and Nathan battle for the Grumbler Grenade! In the background Dan Best and Richard Burton battle for the Schatzgraber Polar Bear Award.

Dave Mareske would win and maintain his title as Grumbler Champion. Nathan Wegener would come in 2nd Place, Randy Shurtz would take 3rd place, I would take 4th place and Dan Best would win the Schatzgraber Polar Bear after an epic game with Richard Burton.