Harbor Monsters Set to Clash with Woo in Inaugural ArenaMania

Duluth leads the regular season series over Iowa, winning two out of the three meetings.

DULUTH, Minn.- It’s been a memorable first season for the Duluth Harbor Monsters.

And for them the cherry on top would be the inaugural ArenaMania champions.

But the jobs not finished, as they have one more game and one more team to get through. That would be the Iowa Woo, who shocked top seeded Kansas City last week with a 59 to 58 upset win in the semifinals.

Duluth leads the regular season series over Iowa, winning two out of the three meetings. They also outscored the Woo 97 to 62, taking the last two games.

Earlier this week, members of the team said they’ve been preparing for this moment since the first practice.

“Us sticking together, us being together, us having each others back. I feel like that’s what’s gotten us through all of this stuff. Ironically, we started our run at the perfect time. Made it here. Obviously, the Woo might think their time is pretty perfect too,” said quarterback Ja’Vonte Johnson.

“They’re not the worst team in the league. Because they beat the best team in the league that was considered the best team in the league. And they beat us. They frustrated us that first time. They made us play hard the other two times. So can’t take them lightly, can’t take them soft. We have to come out harder, faster right away. And that’s the only way you can beat them,” added wide receiver Moe Strong.

“They key to winning this game isn’t how we prepare tomorrow. It’s how you’ve been preparing the last several weeks and throughout building the mentality and building the structure. Just all sharing the same philosophy on this team of doing what we need to do and fighting for your brother to get the win,” said linebacker Lovell Spruce.

Even before the contest, players expressed that the opportunity is a lifelong goal.

“This is everything I’ve wanted, everything I’ve hoped for. Like I’ve told a lot of my teammates. I’ve had dreams about these moments. I told them the moment that I arrived here, what we we’re trying to do and what I was trying to get accomplished,” said wide receiver Kevin Felder Jr.

“It’s exciting, in general playing for something this big it’s few and far between. So I’m excited to be a part of that and give Duluth a championship,” added center Travis Whitlock.

Kickoff is at 7 PM on Saturday at the DECC.