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There was a time when Kansas City was a technological marvel.
That time was ‘round the turn of the 20th century, when supposedly they had all of the fancy things that few places in the dusty midwest had. Elevators and skyscrapers and all of the other things they wrote about in “Oklahoma!”
But KC was also the most connected western-most outpost for sports. It began with the Cowboys and Blues in organized baseball’s infancy. The Monarchs, A’s, and now Royals would come later. So too would the NFL’s Chiefs, and cameos by the NBA’s Kings and NHL’s Scouts. Soccer is here, and not far from downtown is the University of Kansas, with eyes and interests on the University of Missouri and other schools beyond.
In 1998, Aussie Rules came to Kansas City. When it did, they took the moniker of a team that was formed just a year before, that of the Port Adelaide Power. After a surge led to a D3 National Championship in 2008, the team went into decline, and looked like they’d fade away for good.
2025 USAFL Central Regional Championships
Lone Elm Park
21151 W 167th St, Olathe, KS 66062
First Game starts at 9pm EDT
Live Score Link / Live Stream Link
But they didn’t. Finally in 2022, there was a flame anew, and the Power was back on. In 2023, this same ground in Olathe hosted the first Super Regionals, with three fields welcoming in the largest tournament outside of Nationals that the USAFL had seen.
Two years later, Lone Elm Park is welcoming in Aussie Rules again, this time the best from the heartland of the nation.
Two divisions of four teams each will play a round robin schedule, with the team having the best record after three games will take out regional honors in this co-ed format.
Both divisions appear to be wide open; eight teams who have achieved success at different levels, but none of whom have asserted the dominance that we’ve seen in the tournament’s past. It should make for a fun day of football, if not a tad hot.
Here’s a look at the teams heading to Kansas this weekend:
Division 1
- Chicago Swans (3-2)
- Minnesota Freeze (2-2)
- North Texas Devils (4-2)
- St Louis AFC (4-2)
Gliding down across two whole states to be the top seed in Div 1, the Chicago Swans entered this season after a bittersweet end to 2025. Combining with Virginia to take out the Div 3 Super Regional crown last year, they fought hard in their Nationals Division 3 Grand Final loss to Calgary. Finishing 2-1 at the Midwest Cup in Indy on Memorial Day weekend was augmented by a rout of Wisconsin at home several weeks ago. With this field, the Bloods should like their chances if they play consistently over the three matches.
Ajani Crosley has become a rising star for Chicago, having played strongly in the Super Regionals last year; don’t be surprised to see him on the National team radar. Jed Martin and Oliver Tse-Stewart are two of the Swans’ youth movement to go with veterans like Brad Clifton. Jessica Coshan and Rose Lemmon add their skills to the fray, as the Windy City side finds its way through the gauntlet for a second-straight regionals cup.
Though they have yeti (that was a typo but I’m riding with it – BB) to meet this season, the Swans and Minnesota Freeze have a rivalry that goes back to the old MAAFL days. They’ll be happy not to see Wisconsin on their side of the draw; the Wombats stopped the Yeti from taking home the 80/35 Cup in Des Moines, then defeated Minnesota at home a month later. But there’s a full side coming down from the Twin Cities and they will want to perhaps prove the seeding wrong with their first men’s regional title.
Familiar names abound on the roster, from forward stalwart Ryan “Hanga” McLuen to defensive rock Andrew “Goose Kenfield”, half forward sniper Dan Stephens, and utility man Josh Friday. McKenzie Callahan’s experience in the Revolution program has made his stock go up, as has that of Chris Williams.
Things just keep getting better and better for the North Texas Devils. They were one game short of the D3 Grand Final at Nationals back in October, but they swept the Baton Rouge tournament, and then scored a thrilling victory against the USA Revolution Reserves, arguably the biggest win in their 5-plus seasons of existence. Trophies are the next step for the Devs, and they make their way north to Olathe with fire in their eyes and dust on their heels.
Josh Canterbury was flashing lightning bolts on offense at Nationals last year and he’ll be key in mining goal for North Texas this weekend. Kyle and Stephen Bass each can bomb the ball long, and the veteran presence of both Justin Kenna and Paul Ioakim will also be lurking. Amongst the new recruits for NTX, Maxon and James Keogh, Dex Moon, and Logan Walker have their eyes on harrying defenses, and pressure will be vital the entire day.
There was a time when the St Louis Aussie Rules club was one or two players, playing with teams from across the midwest. Then Covid happened, and a handful of locals discovered AFL matches on TV. Five years later, the Blues are back to their halcyon days of the 2000s, bringing a whole side across I-70 to challenge the best from the region. They swept the KC Beer tournament at the beginning of May, and will try to rebound from a 1-2 showing at the Midwest Cup.
Dave Zitko, the long-time lifeline of the Blues, has seen quality, national talent join him in the old dark blue jumpers since the club’s resurgence. Joel “Frosty” Freisen and Alex “Taj” Tajkowski have been splendid additions to St Louis, and hope to carry their squad to the top. Stephen “Po” Zenishek and Mark Politz play the game tough, and will be difficult to move the ball past. Rhiannon “Rain” Duryea brings more skill to the side, as the fourth-seeded side tries to give the field the blues.
Division 2
- Nashville Kangaroos (3-1) (w/ Rome Redbacks)
- Des Moines Roosters (3-3)
- Oklahoma Buffaloes (1-2) (w/ Wisconsin Wombats)
- Kansas City Power (0-9)
After combining with several clubs for the last couple of USAFL tournaments, the Nashville Kangaroos hop into this regionals event as a standalone club for the first time in six years. While they had always meshed well with whomever they paired with – winning the 2023 D2 Super Regional along the way – the Roos have National team talent and play a tough brand of Aussie Rules.
US Revolution product Thomas Procter had a fantastic season in 2024, and leads the ‘Roos into the weekend alongside other highly rated locals such as James “JD” Duty and Saul Camarena. Kevin Hines, a PA Native who played gridiron at Eastern Connecticut State University, notched a goal in his first ever game against Rome last week, and will complement Ian Eastwood in that forward line.
One thing that the Des Moines Roosters have never had to worry about in sixteen seasons has been running afoul of the USAFL’s 50/50 rule. They’ve been a nigh exclusively American-loaded club, and players have traded in their crimson and white jumpers for red, white, and blue on occasion. At 3-3 for the season, they want to make up for a 1-2 record at their home 80/35 tournament and an overall 2-7 regionals record since coming back from COVID.
Revo Jacob Gross leads the Cocks from the half forward line and his team is a fundamentally sound, tough nut to crack. Vets like Jacob Spain, Ben Marcum, and the Vander Ploegs, Jacob and Zachary, are usually first to the ball and excel at shepherding. Tina Judge makes her regionals debut with the Roosters after a good showing at the 80/35, and the next wave of players led by Trier Harms are out to bring a cup back with them on the drive back to Iowa.
One state down from Olathe, the Oklahoma Buffaloes are another team that has a large American contingent that plays a clean, physical style of Aussie Rules. They come back to town following a 1-2 showing at the KC Beer tourney six weeks ago, with eyes on kickstarting a run towards a third Nationals Grand Final in five seasons. The Buffs will also have a handful of Wisconsin Wombats in tow, trying to sweep the field from the third seed.
The core of the Buffaloes comes through Chris Cawood and Stephen Rasbold, who have been with the side for nearly a decade. Caleb West provides the textbook toughness and quick skills no matter where he’s asked to play. Jack McCall and Cole Sandberg head up the younguns for the Okies. Wisconsin’s reinforcements feature seasoned pros Eric Monroe and Brenton Riggall, and Emma “Squid” Whewell, whose tough-as-nails play fits right in with the rest of the squad.
Like the St Louis AFC, the Kansas City Power looked to be just a memory when Covid hit. Slowly but surely, they’ve built themselves back up to a full team. And you can check out their pocket profile here. That was on full display when they hosted the Super Regionals two seasons ago, and though they have gone through three tournaments in 2025 without a win, they’ll have their eyes on coming home winners on home turf.
KC’s local-led lineup features National teamer Caleb Dougherty, who is usually found in the midfield but can play anywhere else. Former St Louis Blue Orion Peterson adds athleticism to the fray, and up and comers like Yonathan Elful and Andrew Hon are gaining experience quickly as well. Julie Paradeis and Megan Castilleja are improving as well, with more veteran presence from longtime Power player Michael Brookshire in good stead.
