#raphael peruggia

THE FOXHOLE COURT: MARCH 18-MARCH 24

ONLINE:

“Both the Palmetto State Foxes and the UCLA Bruins came into the third round with momentum: the Foxes dispatched the surging UNLV Rebels in the death match, while the Bruins eliminated the Penn State Lions in a shocking upset. While the Foxes may have gotten the better of the Bruins when these two teams met in the first round, this time it was the Bruins who came out on top—making the case that, after a disappointing first round performance that saw them just narrowly avoiding elimination, they’re here to be taken seriously.”

“‘’It feels great,’ Bruin Joe Carmichael said. ‘The first round is in the past, and we’re playing like we know we can, now.’ But fans who tuned in hoping for a rematch between Carmichael and Fox Louis Granger, after Granger attacked Carmichael in the handshake line after their last meeting—an infraction for which he was disciplined by the ERC—were left disappointed. For his part, Carmichael seemed to want a rematch: ‘I’m not surprised [that he didn’t fight me]. He probably knew he couldn’t win a fair fight, so that’s why he blindsided me last time. That’s pretty cowardly.’ While Fox Coach David Wymack insinuated that Carmichael may have played a role in provoking that altercation, Carmichael flatly denied it. ‘I don’t know what he’s talking about,’ he said. ‘Everyone can watch the video and see for themselves what happened.’”

“In goal, the Foxes were missing their Captain Grant Rollins, sitting out his first game of the year with an MCL injury. Without Rollins on the court, the Foxes’ remaining goalkeepers—junior Emmett Ashford, junior Alis Tan, sophomore Caleb Fournier, and senior Anderson Ford—let in 6 goals total on the way to the Foxes’ 6-4 loss. Notoriously private, Wymack has been tight-lipped about a timetable for Rollins’ return, but with the third round hanging in the balance, the Foxes can only hope that it’ll be very soon.”

“And now Rollins isn’t the only player the Foxes have lost to injury: dealer Raphael Peruggia left the court with an apparent hand injury, and it’s still unknown how much time he’ll be missing. Unlike Rollins, freshman Peruggia hasn’t been a staple of the Foxes’ roster—with several red cards and an ERC-levied suspension during the regular season, he’s been more of a wildcard on the court than an asset.”

“The Foxes get an off week while the Bruins prepare to host the DePaul Blue Demons on Friday night. And then, next week, it’ll be the Foxes’ turn to face the Blue Demons. Afterwards, one team will be eliminated, while the two remaining teams will face each other in a final death match to determine who moves on to the semifinals. And, in that race, the Bruins are already ahead. The Foxes, on the other hand, have ground to make up.” 

“ELSEWHERE IN CLASS I: In the odds bracket, the Edgar Allan Ravens won a blowout victory against the UT Longhorns, with a score of 7-1. The Belmonte Terrapins and the Ohio State Buckeyes, however, were much more evenly matched: the Buckeyes prevailed in the shootout, with a final score of 5-4. Next, the Terrapins will play the Ravens in Nashville, while the Buckeyes will take on the Longhorns in Columbus.”

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “FOXES’ LUCK TURNS IN REMATCH AGAINST BRUINS.”

ON CAMPUS:

The Foxes suffered their second loss of the Championships, but there’s no time for them to get discouraged: they have four points, and they have to be their best against the Blue Demons in two weeks and build on that total, and so there’s no letting up when it comes to their practices.

There’s no game for the Foxes to play on Friday night, but there are games to watch—one in particular, that will help determine the Foxes’ chances of surviving the third round. Tonight, the odds bracket is just a distraction; tonight, it’s all about the Bruins and the Blue Demons.

With the Bruins and the Blue Demons playing in Los Angeles, first serve isn’t until late. This time, their watch party is in the Vixen Den and, before the game starts, it’s just like an ordinary party—until the TV is turned on and the music is turned off, the Foxes and the Vixens gathering round and keeping careful tally of the points each team scores.

This was home. Maybe. Sort of. It was a home, one of many Octavia claimed as her life was built on being shipped from place to place. MIlitary brats had many homes, ranking them from best to worst. For Octavia, Whibdey Island was close to the top of most important. She found her first enemies in the states. People who would be furious to hear of her return. At least the island was hours away from Walla, Walla allowing her to avoid the past and focus on the here and now.

At least this gave her time apart from the Foxes and the mind-numbing practices. A reprieve from butting heads that was short-lived. Now she could wake up on her time and go to bed on her time. But Octavia couldn’t forget that one Fox did tag along with her for a Dawson Thanksgiving. She didn’t hide her surprise when Raph accepted her parents’ offering of coming home with her to celebrate good ole fashion food courtesy of family recipes from both sides. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, DEL!

Thank you for everything you contribute to TFC!

@raph-peruggia

THE FOXHOLE COURT: FEBRUARY 18-FEBRUARY 24

ONLINE:

“Both the Palmetto State Foxes and the UCLA Bruins entered into the last game of the first round of the Championships with their seasons on the line. In the end, the Foxes, down dealers Raphael Peruggia and Sasha Hart-Ashby due to red cards in the Foxes’ previous game, emerged victorious in the shootout, sending them on to the death matches for the second year in a row.”

“But, despite the must-win game, the real fireworks seems to happen off the court. The first came when the stars of Exy TV show ‘On The Line’ showed up to watch the game—and cheer on their former co-star, Fox striker Akira Sato. ‘Gotta make sure our boy out there gets them into the finals, you know?’ Actor Trevor Moeller said, ahead of the Foxes’ shootout victory.”

“But that victory was immediately soured by a vicious fight in the handshake line between Fox Louis Granger and Bruin Joe Carmichael, instigated by Granger. ‘It’s poor sportsmanship, plain and simple,’ Bruins Coach Ted Dunlop said. ‘It’s outrageous. Any team should be ashamed to have their players conduct themselves that way.’ Fox Coach David Wymack, however, disagreed with Dunlop: ‘That Bruins player knows what he did, though it sounds like his coach doesn’t. That’s all I’ll say.’ The ERC had its own say, stepping into deliver Granger a one game suspension.”

“While one game may be light, with the Foxes securing their spot in the death matches, there’s a chance that one game is all they have left—it is, after all, where the Foxes fell last year, after a years-long championships drought. Meanwhile, despite their shootout loss, the Bruins managed to scrape their way into the death matches, as the UC Davis Aggies and the Baylor University Bears saw themselves eliminated.” 

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “SECOND SHOOTOUT WIN FOR FOXES IN DEATH MATCH CLINCHING GAME”

“After a slow start to the Championships that saw the Washington State Cougars, the Boston Terriers, the UC Davis Aggies, and the Baylor University Bears eliminated, it’s time for the Championships to kick into high gear with the first set of death matches: a series of winner-takes-all games where the remaining field will be cut in half.”

“In the evens bracket, the Palmetto State Foxes will be facing off against the surging UNLV Rebels in Sin City. The Foxes, after a four game win streak to secure their spot in the Championships, limped into the death matches with two shootout victories, while the Rebels got off to a commanding start, winning all three of their first round games, including against the Penn State Lions. Also in the evens bracket, the Lions will be facing off against the surviving UCLA Bruins, and the Breckenridge Jackals will be facing off against the DePaul Blue Demons.”

“But the biggest shock of the randomly-assigned death matches is taking place in the odds bracket: where the USC Trojans, last year’s Champions, will be facing off against the Edgar Allan Ravens, the team they beat in last year’s finals. Many expected these two teams to meet again in this year’s finals, but that won’t happen: next Friday, one of them will be eliminated. 

After years of Trojans-Ravens (and, in previous years, the Lions) domination in the odds bracket, the door is open for another team: will it be the Ohio State Buckeyes, who hope to rebound after a slow start in their game against the Arizona Sundevils? Or will it be the UT Longhorns, who will be facing off against the Binghampton Bearcats? Or maybe the Idaho Vandals, in their first Championships appearance in history, who will be taking on the Belmonte Terrapins? It all starts next Friday night.”

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “FIRST ROUND OF DEATH MATCHES REVEALED”

“Well, you don’t need us to tell you what the Foxes were up to this weekend—you have Hollywood tabloids to do it for you, thanks to the Foxes’ resident washed-up star. But we’re going to do it anyway: we thought that he didn’t like the limelight, but between the Foxes’ night out in LA and his convention appearance earlier this year, we think this Hollywood reject doth protest too much. And who is that with him? Why, none other than the Foxes’ Captain. It’s not the first time these two have looked cozy away from the crowds and, you know what they say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

“Seems like love was in the air for some of the Foxes this week—or, well, something like it. We spotted a certain redheaded Vixen with a new victim at the Foxes’ party on Saturday. Who, you might ask? We can’t blame you if you’re having trouble keeping up. But don’t worry, Valentine’s Day or not, we wouldn’t put any money on this lasting.”

“If you’re looking for some light listening, may we interest you in a podcast? (And by light, we mean…about murder, of course.) The Foxes are getting attention off of the Exy court for all the wrong reasons, as usual, and if you don’t remember this Fox standing up at a press conference and reminding us all that he killed his mother, well, this latest series of First Degree just might jog your memory. But there’s a plot twist: did he really do it? Color us intrigued, and mark us down as loyal listeners.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

The Foxes return to Palmetto victorious—and to a campus that seems willing, now that the team is actually doing well and football season is over, to jump on the bandwagon, decorating the campus in even more orange than usual and hanging the Foxes’ posters around town.

THE FOXHOLE COURT: FEBRUARY 4-FEBRUARY 10

ONLINE:

“The Breckenridge Jackals will be moving on to the first round of death matches, after defeating the Foxes 5-3, and proving that they may be the team to beat in the evens bracket.”

“But the real story is the Foxes: the Foxes are now one loss away from ending their comeback season. The game against the Jackals brought out the worst in the Foxes, revealing again the lack of discipline that derailed their early season. Three Foxes earned red cards: offensive dealers Sasha Hart-Ashby and Raphael Peruggia, and backliner Beretta Lepore. Hart-Ashby is well known for her fights on the court, and Peruggia—though only a freshman—has already earned a reputation as a dangerous player with a penchant for headshots.”

“But maybe the Foxes shouldn’t be counted out just yet: before the red card to Lepore and subsequent penalty shot, a late goal from sophomore Akira Sato seemed to put the Foxes on their way to closing the gap and tying the game. Either way, the Foxes will head into a must-win game against the UCLA Bruins down three players—and the Bruins, who will also be fighting for their life in the Championships, aren’t going to make it easy on them.”  

“ELSEWHERE IN CLASS I: Other teams have also punched their ticket into the death matches, including the reigning Champion USC Trojans and the perennial favorite Edgar Allan Ravens. But after a surprise loss to the surging UNLV Rebels, who have earned their spot in the death matches, the Penn State Lions are still one win away. After their early loss to start off the Championships, the Ohio State Buckeyes are in the same boat.“

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “JACKALS DEFEAT FOXES TO MOVE ON TO DEATH MATCHES.”

“Did anyone order a soap opera alongside their Exy game? Because we definitely got one from two Fox backliners during Friday’s game. Are these two an item? If so, we’re feeling generous, so we’ll give out some free advice: if you can’t stand watching your girlfriend get shoved around, don’t date an Exy player. Chivalry is dead, and we’re pretty sure she signed up for this.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

After the weekend, the cold rain moves out from Palmetto, but the dampened spirits on campus remain. The Foxes have no choice but to try and put their loss to the Jackals behind them: they have one week off before they face the Bruins and seal their fate, and their practices are at a fever pitch.

But while the evens bracket is taking a week off, the odds bracket is playing their final games of the first round: on Friday, February 8, the Foxes that want to catch a glimpse of the rivals they may get a chance to face if they move far enough in the Championships gather in the lounge of the Foxhole Court to flip between the evening’s games.

THE FOXHOLE COURT: FEBRUARY 11-FEBRUARY 17

ONLINE:

“The Palmetto State Foxes are heading back to California to play the UCLA Bruins, in what will be the last game of the first round of the Championships for both teams.”

“With one win each under their belts, the Foxes and the Bruins are both playing for their lives: the winner will move on to the Championships’ first set of death matches, while the loser will almost certainly be eliminated—unless two other teams in the evens bracket end up with an even worse record.” 

“Who’s favored to win? Prior to the Foxes’ disastrous turn against the Breckenridge Jackals, they appeared to be on an upswing. However, the Foxes earned themselves a whopping three red cards in that 5-3 loss, meaning that they’re heading into this do-or-die game down dealers Sasha Hart-Ashby and Raphael Peruggia, as well as backliner Beretta Lepore.” 

“The Bruins, on the other hand, are coming off of a decisive 4-1 win against the UC Davis Aggies. Are they peaking at just the right time, or can the Foxes prove that their apparent return to form against the Jackals was just one stumble in a much longer Championships story? We’ll find out on Friday night.”

“ELSEWHERE IN CLASS I: With the odds bracket idle this week, all eyes are on the teams in the evens bracket, and on these last few games to determine who will be moving on to the death matches. Among the teams still one win away are the Penn State Lions, who first fell from their previous spot atop the Northeastern District, and now are on the brink of falling out of the Championships entirely.”

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW: FOXES vs. BRUINS”

“We ask this question about once a day, but it continues to be relevant: what crawled up this Fox’s ass? Now we don’t want to seem like we care about this school’s stickball team more than its own players do, but it seems like it might not be the best time to be throwing a temper tantrum—and, from what we hear, his coach agrees. Watch out little Fox, it looks like you’re on thin ice.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

With such an important game looming on the horizon, it isn’t the time to go all-out for Valentine’s Day. But, not to be deterred, the Vixens make a compromise: there will be a party on Saturday night after the Foxes return—win or lose, no exceptions. Until then, Alanna is organizing anonymous candygrams between the Foxes and the Vixens, to be delivered before they leave for California.

On Friday, February 15, a month after the Foxes first went to California to kick off the Championships, they’re doing it again. They gather early in the morning at the Foxhole Court and then make their way to Upstate Regional Airport. It’s another long travel day: eight hours total, including a layover in Dallas, before they land in Los Angeles, gather up their gear, and fight their way through traffic to make it to their hotel.

This time, the Foxes are getting an earlier start: first serve is at 5PM, better for the crowds tuning in back on the East Coast, leaving the Foxes with less time to adjust prior to heading to the Bruins’ court—and to the game that will decide whether or not they’re moving on, or ending their season early.

(OOC information related to the game (and to Valentine’s Day!) under the cut)

THE FOXHOLE COURT: JANUARY 21-JANUARY 27

ONLINE:

“The first game of the Championships for the Palmetto State Foxes and the UC Davis Aggies was a nail-biter: with only two goals scored by either side in regulation, it went to the shootout, where after a strong showing in goal by Fox Captain Grant Rollins and a game winning goal by Carter Maddox—both fifth years—the Foxes eked out their first victory of this year’s Championships. The game might have been short on goals, but it definitely wasn’t short on hits, with both teams bringing their best physical play. And after a hard-hitting game from both teams, one thing is for certain: the Championships have definitely begun—and it’s only going to get rougher from here.”

“Early in the game, the Aggies—already down their leading goal scorer Marisa Bowers—lost another striker, fifth year Jacob Wilder, who had to be helped off the court after a hit from senior backliner Sterling Walsh. In the second half, former Penn State Lion and dealer Olivia Finch had to leave the court after a trip from Aggies dealer Katelyn Wilkins left her bleeding from a cut to the chin. Walsh wasn’t assessed a penalty on the play, but Wilkins was given a yellow card. Wilkins’ yellow card was the only one for the Aggies for the night, but both Carter Maddox and Sasha Hart-Ashby had yellow cards for the Foxes.”

“The injury to Finch was minor, and we expect to see her back on the court next game. Wilder, however, isn’t as lucky. While the Aggies haven’t shared the exact nature of his injury, he’s done for the season—however long that may be for the Aggies. And for a team that’s already down their best striker, it’s a devastating blow. “’Do we wish there had been a penalty called on that play? Yeah, sure,’ said Aggies Captain Cadence Huffman. ‘But the refs didn’t think it was a penalty, and maybe they’re right, so what can you do? We tried our best to keep fighting, but it just didn’t go our way tonight.‘”

“With their shootout victory, the Foxes are halfway to securing their place in the second round: they’ll attempt to lock it in with a victory against the Breckenridge Jackals in two weeks—an opponent they’re already fallen to once this season—while the Aggies will look to stay alive against their home state rivals, the UCLA Bruins.”

“Elsewhere in Class I:  The Ravens, the Trojans, and the Lions all secured their first wins of the Championships, but the Ohio State Buckeyes got off to a rough start, losing to the Belmonte Terrapins—leaving them with a lot of ground to make up after their first first-place finish in their district.”

- COLLEGE EXY ONLINE, “FOXES CLINCH FIRST CHAMPIONSHIPS VICTORY IN SHOOTOUT.”

“We don’t know who caught the Exy game on Friday, but we have to say the unexpected star of the night was not a Fox, or even an Aggie: it was this dad (?) and his prime dad-antics right in the front row. Will whoever this man belongs to please come collect him? We’re cringing, but we’re also confused—we didn’t think this team had enough parents to go around.”

“If there’s one thing we learned this weekend it’s that Davis, California is rather—quaint. And by quaint we mean full of barnyard animals for one country boy to break in and visit on some kind of romantic excursion. Does a petting zoo put you in the mood for some heavy petting?  We’d say we aren’t judging, but we totally are.”

- FOXWATCH, YOUR SOURCE FOR GOSSIP AT PALMETTO STATE UNIVERSITY

ON CAMPUS:

The Foxes return to Palmetto victorious, and to a campus that is more than ready for Championships season. But that has less to do with the Foxes—though they’re getting a tentative embrace—and more to do with football: on Saturday, January 26, the football team will play their first playoffs game in front of a massive stadium crowd.

The fervor can be felt all week: on Thursday, January 24 there’s a pep rally that draws in almost the entire orange-clad campus—and this time, the Foxes are part of it, though all they have to do is wave to the crowd when their name and number is called. It’s much more demanding for the Vixens, who have once again been thrown into practices with the football cheerleaders in preparation.

But Palmetto Unity didn’t end last semester, and Wymack breaks the news to the Foxes after the pep rally: the University is paying for the Foxes and the Vixens to go the football game in Charlotte, North Carolina—and no one is getting out of it.

So on Saturday, the Foxes load onto their familiar buses for an unfamiliar purpose and make the drive to Charlotte. At the game, the Vixens are on the field, waving their pom-poms on the sidelines during play, though they’re left behind when it comes time for the football squad’s high-flying halftime performance. The Foxes have prime seats in the stands, and expected to smile and look engaged whenever the cameras are turned on them. 

(OOC information related to the football game under the cut)

THE FOXHOLE COURT + GUIDE TO TROUBLED BIRDS (2 of 2)