Vhook, not sure what you mean but it sounds like you are saying that Wave 16 is the only true National Champion across all age groups because they beat the team that beat everyone else. There a couple of flaws in that statement though:

Wave did not beat Northern Lights, Long Beach Mizuno did. So in essence they beat the team that beat the team that beat everyone else...wow there's a brain teaser. But by that logic of thinking you can't claim that Wave 16 is the ONLY legit national champion. Why you ask, well here is why. According to the teams played by Wave at JO's and those teams' record against the field, Wave had an easier run at the title because the only real stiff competition they ran into the whole tournament was Texas Tornados. Meanwhile Long Beach had to eliminate TAV, KC Extreme, Tampa Bay & Northern Lights. That is a pretty tall order and one could argue that after all those grueling matches just ran out of gas in the finals. Also by your statement you would have to argue the fact that who has Wave really played outside of California this year? While TAV, Tampa Bay, Texas Tornados & Northern Lights were traveling the country and competing against the best teams in USAV & JVDA (which in my mind is the true country competition scale) where was Wave? Easily this argument can go back & forth for all sides.

The same can be said for the AJV 17 Open team. They won every tournament they played in with the exception of Reno. I don't think you can get anymore definitive than that barring a perfect season. SPVB 18 Elite hasn't lost a match in two years against USAV, JVDA & International teams. Again, what more can you ask for?

So since there is only one tournament recognized as the true national champion crowning tournament; any team that is fortunate enough to have earned a spot there can only play who is put in front of them. And if at the end of the day they are the last one standing then they are the top dog. End of discussion. All this other conjecture, while making for great debate, is in my opinion demeaning to the competitors and the victors. I say congratulations to all of the open champions on their LEGITIMATE national championships because it is well deserved, no matter what state you are from.