In the biggest Kan Jam tournament ever, 68 teams competed at the Gratwick Hose Picnic Grounds in North Tonawanda, NY for the chance to become World Champions of the game.  In the end, it was the 2-time defending champs, Sole Survivors who prevailed, clinching their third consecutive World Championship title.

With the biggest regular season scramble round, teams were given 5 hours to complete as many games as possible.  In doing so, the top 16 teams qualified to make the playoffs, with the number one seed as Dorkus Malorkus (Josh & Bob Greenauer) at 59 wins. Sole Survivors (Eric Klavoon & Steve Wojcik) finished close behind as the 2nd seed with 57 wins.

In the playoffs, Sole Survivors squared up against Copper Crunchers (Tom & Nick Popovec), winning the best of three series 2 games to none.  In the quarterfinals, Sole Survivors were nearly eliminated by Shake-N-Bake (Jason Valint & Dan Colvin) by falling behind quickly in the best of 5 series, 2 games to 1.  Sole Survivors came back to win the series 3 games to 2, but Shake-N-Bake proved themselves as a competitive top team.  In the semifinals, Sole Survivors met up with their buddies, Team Rebels (Dan Klavoon & Brian Licht), in what was a battle of the brothers for the 2nd time in the World Championship.  In an entertaining match, Eric and Steve won the series 4 games to 2, advancing to the finals for the fifth year in a row.

In the finals, Sole Survivors met up Dorkus Malorkus for the fifth straight year, both teams once again at center stage in the best of seven finals. Sole Survivors ended up sweeping Dorkus Malorkus 4 games to none to win a third consecutive world title.  Just some other worthy Kan Jam records--by making the finals again, Dorkus Malorkus has made it to the finals for 7 years in a row.  Also, Sole Survivors join the coveted group of Kan Jam legends in all time titles, just behind Dorkus Malorkus (4 world titles) and the all-time leaders, the Rochester Killer Bees (5 world titles).

There were many other tournament highlights as well, including 6 new teams in the top 16 playoff group.  phiLEEp (Phil Schneider & LeeAnn Greenauer) finished in the top 5 again for the regular season, posting 53 wins to put them in the 4th seed overall.  Salty Nuts (Frank Owczarczak & Joe Collier) played outstanding jam once again as a top competitor, making playoffs for the third year in a row and making the final four for the second time.  Schlampen (sisters Lisa & Laurie Greenauer) proved still being the best all-female team as the 6th seed and newcomers Team Red Dog (Liam Gangloff & Aaron Crowley) finished 5th overall in their very first Kan Jam tourney.  Scott Silverman & Joe Smith of Action finished the regular season with 48 wins, while Slackers (Jim & Kim Daugherty) became the first ever father-daughter combo to make it to the playoffs, finishing the tourney as 6th overall.

Special thanks goes out to everyone who made this annual tradition possible:  Shawn Larson and David Rousselle as the cooks; Steve Endres and Jim Daugherty for the setup of Gratwick for food/drinks; Paul Urtel for sponsorships for the tourney; Charles Sciandra for supplying Kan Jam sets and T-shirts; and finally Paul Swisher & Eric Klavoon for helping organize and run the tournament itself.  And of course to all the particpating teams, who helped raise over $2000 dollars as a fundraiser for the North Tonawanda Police Athletic League and "Carly's Club" (a childhood cancer research fund at Roswell Park Cancer Institute).