2026 AF Steel Days Preview
Who will perform at their best?
4.5 Elite
With another small bracket of just 6 teams, the AF Steel Days Elite division is anyone’s game. Expect high intensity from some atypical matchups never seen before, with Kyler and Chandler being likely the only players to ever run a tournament together before.
Good Sets
Likely the current best player in Utah currently, Garret Carver teams up with a lesser known player Lazarus Shettell. Undefeated this season, Garret has a streak to defend, and Laz may be looking to prove himself with his best partner yet. Despite the potential pressure, expect lots of laughs and fun from these guys. Their main questions for winning games lie primarily around Laz’s ability to play clean consistently at a high level throughout the tournament.
Cook / Church
Luke Cook and Taylor Church team up for the AF Steel Days Tournament this year, and are not a team to be slept on. Two very high level players, expect great defense and solid serve pressure. However, will they be able to put away each others’ sets?
Kyler / Chandler
Kyler Cote and Chandler Hertzler enter the Elite division as two of the only players previously experienced as a team. Their combined serving power is enough to take anyone out, with Chandler’s speed and Kyler’s depth both being lethal. As his first tournament this season, expect some great looks on the premier equipment from Kyler, who is ready to remind us why he is a top player in Utah. After a recent podium at Strawberry Days, Chandler is also ready to play his best. Looking forward to seeing what this duo can do. Definitely high favorites for winning Elite.
Charlie Barley
Charlie Bratsman and Matt Barlow are teaming up last minute to take on the AF Steel Days Elite division. Despite never having run a Utah tournament together before, these guys have some good experience and chemistry together. Expect quick serve pressure and athletic plays from both players. With Charlie and Matt both established as great players in Utah, their path to victory depends less on ability and more on how consistently they can play near their ceiling together. Expect some awesome rallies against these guys.
Sleeveless
A never before seen matchup, Chris Marcusen and Kody Price are ready to surprise some confident teams. Expect close games against these guys, with their highly consistent serve pressure playing an important role. Both Chris and Kody will dive everywhere, and are unafraid to sacrifice their bodies in the process. Their errors will most likely come in clean setting, something that should absolutely be an emphasis in a team of such athletic hitters. These guys will keep the rallies alive longer than you’d expect, the question will be if it’s from good defensive touches, or less than ideal sets.
Just Anderson
Anderson Perry and Ben Reid. Expect good laughs and fun from these goofy guys, as well as some unexpectedly proficient plays. Despite being only a month out from his wedding, Anderson has been consistently showing his face outside of tournaments and shouldn’t be slept on. Ben’s had some good reps this season and is going to make some great plays in ways you wouldn’t normally expect. The question is, are they ready to hang with the other teams in such a stacked bracket?
4.0 Challenger
Boasting some powerful players and teams, the small but mighty 4.0 Challenger division is looking to be a great time at this year’s AF Steel Days tournament. Notable teams include “Mom and Dad,” (this is their eleventh tournament together), “Como Se Juega,” (another experienced team), and “We Thought This was Pickleball,” (a fairly overpowered combination of two of the best 4.0 players in Utah, with both Ryley and Ryan having played up in higher brackets previously). Look forward to some long, close games–alongside the dominant wins of these experienced teams and players.
