Stern-Era Sluggers and Bally Classics Collide at D82

When the lights dim and the tilt warnings start chirping, you know it’s another tournament night at District 82. I’m Bride of Pinbot—your chrome-plated commentator—back to break down the D82 Flippin’ Friday April 11th, 2025 Finals. Eleven players entered, but with just three strikes to spare and ten rounds of group knockout ahead, only one could walk away victorious.

If you like your pinball fierce, fast, and filled with Stern-era soundtracks and vintage Bally bangers, you’re gonna like this one.

Pinball Valhalla lives in De Pere

Tucked into the industrial outskirts of De Pere, District 82 Pinball Arcade doesn’t need flash to impress—its reputation does the work. What looks like a modest warehouse from the outside turns into a high-energy tournament hub as soon as the doors open. There’s a steady rhythm to this place: the click of flippers, the ding of bonus countdowns, and the occasional cheer when someone pulls off a comeback multiball.

The space is dialed in for serious competition—spacious rows, tight brackets, and no nonsense. But it’s also welcoming, whether you’re a local regular or a coast-to-coast flipper hopping in for a weekend event. The staff? Friendly. The atmosphere? Competitive but not cutthroat. You’re just as likely to get advice on a game as you are to get beat on it.

Whether you’re in it for WPPR points or just looking to play without distractions, District 82 earns its status as a cornerstone of Midwest pinball.

Gauntlets, glitches, and a Round 9 showdown on Infinity Quest

The tournament’s standout moment came in Round 9, on Avengers: Infinity Quest (Pro), Stern’s 2020 kinetic tribute to the MCU. While it may not boast the deepest ruleset in Stern’s library, AIQ is one of the most flow-driven modern games thanks to designer Keith Elwin (who also brought us Iron Maiden and Godzilla). With its combo-based design and the spinning “Dr. Strange disc” kicking up chaos in the center playfield, this game punishes hesitation and rewards rhythm.

In this match, Matt McCarty snapped into first with precise control and clever mode stacking. Danny Bronny followed closely behind, putting up solid multiball play and nailing the Sanctum Lock shot under pressure. Alex Phelps and Adam VanDynHoven got their orbits clipped—both landed in the lower half, and with two strikes handed out in the group knockout format, it was a costly loss at a critical time. If Thanos didn’t take them out, the IFPA scoring sure did.

Machine lineup highlights: pinball’s past and present collide

With 109 machines in rotation, picking a few to spotlight is almost unfair—but here are some of the standouts that helped shape this tournament’s gameplay (and possibly some player psyches):

• Theatre of Magic (Bally, 1995)
  Magic themes were all the rage in the ’90s, but Theatre of Magic stands out thanks to its brilliant artwork, innovative trunk gimmick, and David Thiel’s iconic sound design. This is one of Bally/Williams’ last big-budget productions before the pinball crash of the late ‘90s, and it still plays like a dream—assuming you don’t get spell-locked by the Magnet Surprise.
• Frontier (Bally, 1980)
  A rare gem from the early solid-state era, Frontier is both mechanically simple and brutally difficult. Designed in an era before ramps became standard fare, this game’s open layout and focus on target accuracy rewards players who love old-school control play. Its hunting lodge artwork is also uniquely gritty for the time.
• Harlem Globetrotters On Tour (Bally, 1978)
  This game marked Bally’s full embrace of pop culture licenses in the late ’70s. Underneath the funky basketball theme is a fast, no-nonsense ruleset. Three inline drop targets and a center spinner make for strategic shotmaking, and the Globetrotters’ theme music will worm its way into your skull before ball three.
• KISS (Pro) by Stern, 2015
  Yes, there was an earlier KISS pin in 1979, but Stern’s reboot modernized the rock pin formula. Gene Simmons’ head rises like a multiball totem, and the lighting choreography is concert-grade. It’s loud, it’s flashy, and for those who can hit the Demon shot repeatedly? It’s a headbanger’s dream.
• White Water (Williams, 1993)
  Designed by Dennis Nordman, this is a masterclass in theme integration. The upper playfield, “No Way Out” lock, and ramp-heavy layout simulate a river ride better than any game before or since. One of the rare machines where players actually want to plunge into the whirlpool.
• Star Wars (Data East, 1992)
  Designed by John Borg before his later Stern-era fame, this machine is infamous for being both a fan favorite and a brutal drain monster. It features one of the earliest dot-matrix displays and some of the best voice clips from the original trilogy, even if the gameplay is…well, you’d better know your escape hatch shots.
• Led Zeppelin (Pro) by Stern, 2020
  Another Elwin-designed game, this one leans hard into speed. No clutter, minimal gimmicks, just clean loops and brutally quick returns. A polarizing game among players—some love the stripped-back approach, others miss the mechanical toys. But in a tournament setting? It’s a pure test of timing.
• Aerosmith by Stern, 2017
  A high-flying game with a killer toy box multiball lock. The upper playfield packs challenge into a small space, and the sound package keeps players energized. And yes, the Jacky toy is slightly terrifying.

And the finalists take the stage

Congratulations to the top finishers, who navigated a deep field and a demanding machine lineup:

• Danny Bronny took first place, and with a resume that includes 237 IFPA events and a solid 5th-place state rank, it’s no surprise. His shot precision and multiball control made the difference in the later rounds.

• Adam VanDynHoven, representing Appleton and ranked 72nd in the state, showed he’s capable of punching well above his ranking. A strong second-place finish and nearly 200 tournament appearances prove this wasn’t a fluke.

• Matt McCarty, a tournament veteran with over 600 events logged, grabbed third. With a knack for classics and a cool head in elimination formats, Matt’s consistency paid off big.

• Alex Phelps, a rising talent and home-field contender, claimed fourth. Based out of District 82 and ranked 17th statewide, Alex continues to build momentum in the Wisconsin circuit.

Wisconsin’s Top 10 IFPA Rankings

Danny’s win boosts his ranking security, while the rest of the leaderboard continues to jostle. One hot tournament could shake this top 10—so keep your eyes on future results.

Flipping into the night with style

Huge thanks to Erik Thoren for running a tight and well-paced event, and to District 82 Pinball for setting the gold standard for tournament venues. From the machine lineup to the player field, this was competitive pinball done right. And a final shoutout to Danny Bronny—your flipper finesse and strategic chops earned this one.

Look forward to more exciting pinball updates and stories—until next time, keep your drains clean and your ramps hot.