tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10716935658492713522024-02-19T18:01:38.414-08:00The QuidKidJackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.comBlogger283125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-39051522948134368472022-09-07T11:49:00.003-07:002022-09-07T11:52:51.988-07:00A Path Forward for USQ: A Case for Philanthropy and Foundations<p>With the publication of an <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nOZJH72cI7N6cfdDH0lcAcckfG-XXZ_S/view?fbclid=IwAR0PCvN76PUb2MgqtZwUhp9FNmLmtkiTq0VQ2wz1Z1tcExonkWSPhW_A2Ho" target="_blank">open letter</a> by US Quadball Board of Directors member Nathan Digmann on Wednesday, I felt it was time for me to do something that I used to do all the time here at <i>The QuidKid</i> and provide some commentary on a significant piece of news in the community. More importantly, I want to propose a path forward. It is a path that I have not previously seen publicly discussed anywhere and that I have only recently started to learn about myself through my work outside the sport. But it is one that will require the efforts of the entire community -- yet never again by asking players to dig deeper into their own pockets beyond the membership dues they already pay. Stay with me for a second here.</p><p>First, I want to acknowledge that the anger of the community is completely justifiable. Even for someone who reads the financial statements and follows league news very closely, it is shocking to hear that USQ has fallen so deeply into the red. The size of the budget shortfalls at US Quidditch Cup 2022 in Salt Lake City and the national team invitational televised on <i>ESPN8: The Ocho</i> in Rock Hill, S.C. this summer are staggering. I get why players are upset, particularly after the community came together to raise $75,000 in an online fundraising drive in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when US Quidditch Cup 2020 was unexpectedly cancelled and in-person activity remained mostly suspended for the entire 2020-21 season. USQ missed two years of ticket sales from its marque event and one year of membership dues because of unforeseen circumstances, and the community rallied to save the sport.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDlgOFqAWTK8hggGkmhnXFQLuvsgnx8BabwlCWdffOilHKiURzxD8mMqt1sbY0XQv8EixA5fzqrM7AXdzcceGSkyfls9vDBhIuSigC-w80Rk4ocVkkC5WhnULk9NFIwl9iBoXx-qDt9D4SX7zwhkprXZ4vOAjDACiMpjgvSywOKbMmCSr-6Wq1e9P-Q/s1908/301185200_536975158231427_3008139735892832499_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1908" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDlgOFqAWTK8hggGkmhnXFQLuvsgnx8BabwlCWdffOilHKiURzxD8mMqt1sbY0XQv8EixA5fzqrM7AXdzcceGSkyfls9vDBhIuSigC-w80Rk4ocVkkC5WhnULk9NFIwl9iBoXx-qDt9D4SX7zwhkprXZ4vOAjDACiMpjgvSywOKbMmCSr-6Wq1e9P-Q/w400-h266/301185200_536975158231427_3008139735892832499_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of US National Team.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I especially understand the frustration of highly-involved community members like Boston University coach Harry Greenhouse, who have been working tirelessly with team captains and club presidents across the country to try to recruit and retain new players at colleges and universities. They have been doing many things to potentially bring a lifetime of joy, fulfillment and belonging to college freshmen in every corner of the country but they are also working extremely hard to guarantee a strong future for the sport by registering new dues-paying members. <b>And none of them are paid staff</b>. The dedication that community members have routinely demonstrated just shows the intense loyalty that the sport tends to inspire. For example, I got a message the other day from Greenhouse inquiring about the status of the program at the University of Iowa. Greenhouse lives 1,000 miles away from Iowa City but he is invested in their success and he is helping to build up the membership base of the sport in the process.</p><p>Yet while the importance of recruiting and retention for the financial well-being of the sport literally cannot be understated (reminder to pay your <a href="https://www.usquadball.org/getting-started/membership" target="_blank">membership dues</a> as soon as possible!), in looking over the financial statements and thinking about the future of the sport, it strikes me as an impossible task to continue to expect membership dues from players mostly between the ages of 18-24 to carry the overwhelming majority of the weight for the annual budget, a position that Digmann and by extension the Board of Directors clearly shares from the open letter. Digmann lists the fact that "USQ is highly dependent on membership revenue (i.e. the community) and should explore additional options to general cash flow" as one of the major ideas discussed in the Board of Directors' interview with current USQ Executive Director Mary Kimball when she was hired in 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the world. </p><p>Whether the idea originally came from Kimball or the Board of Directors, it is a great one, one that I think the growth of the sport depends upon. It is also an idea that under the leadership of Kimball, USQ has taken bold steps to put into action. Most notably, in close coordination with Major League Quadball and the worldwide governing body that will soon become the International Quadball Association, USQ changed the name of the sport this summer to distance themselves from the anti-trans positions of <i>Harry Potter</i> author J.K. Rowling and open up the chance to pursue sponsorship and broadcast opportunities. Because Warner Bros, the maker of the <i>Harry Potter</i> films, owns the trademark to "quidditch" and has placed <a href="https://thequidditchpost.com/2017/11/19/you-dont-know-jack-alex-benepe-on-warner-bros-and-quidditch/" target="_blank">strict limits</a> on the usage of the word, USQ could not explore the types of additional options to generate cash flow that Digmann is talking about, particularly naming rights for competitions at the league level. Now, USQ, MLQ and the IQA can begin to approach potential partners.</p><p>But at least for the short- to medium-term -- and here is the payoff finally -- USQ needs to look beyond both membership dues and corporate sponsors as sources of revenue. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a clear and long-standing mission of promoting gender equality and inclusivity, a mission that is distinctive and urgent in the United States today, USQ has the potential to connect with philanthropic foundations and wealthy individuals that are looking to make a difference. In the fields of promoting active and healthy lifestyles, empowering women and securing LGBTQ+ rights, particularly defending opportunities in athletics for the trans and nonbinary community, I am confident that there are donors who would have interest in USQ.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FD-AlP4ep48np-OKS2aWCJKrlPpyepdzx3thya1QIcc3hSixgvkyTemOPt5DEMEX3QZP41CK3GDjBtkYkbY5ahRW_jEfUw-gSvLxg706MkRQ35IbnI63CT5ezLabhuZaUFTpDtJpibDrVLmbzk0tiw8m3KqX8H_gaX2yqn7my-DqDfFQaLtJ6SxJCg/s1160/web19-trans-people-belong-sign-blogimage-1160x768.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1160" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FD-AlP4ep48np-OKS2aWCJKrlPpyepdzx3thya1QIcc3hSixgvkyTemOPt5DEMEX3QZP41CK3GDjBtkYkbY5ahRW_jEfUw-gSvLxg706MkRQ35IbnI63CT5ezLabhuZaUFTpDtJpibDrVLmbzk0tiw8m3KqX8H_gaX2yqn7my-DqDfFQaLtJ6SxJCg/w400-h265/web19-trans-people-belong-sign-blogimage-1160x768.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of the American Civil Liberties Union.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>If you haven't been able to keep up with state and local news over the past few years, sports have become one of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-high-school-sports-became-the-latest-battleground-over-transgender-rights-151361" target="_blank">central battlegrounds</a> in which many issues regarding gender identity are being contested. From more than 10 years around the game, it is my firm belief that USQ is better positioned than virtually any other organization in the country to speak out about the imperative of gender equality and inclusivity in sports with the power of the example that we have set. It is an example that we can continue to set and bring to a much wider audience with the support of generous donors who share our values.</p><p>For background, outside of playing and volunteering, I am a second-year PhD student in American politics at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. I don't focus on the politics of gender and sexuality but I do study money in politics, including large donors and corporate influence, and I have recently become very interested in the growing role of philanthropic foundations. With the sharp rise in incomes and wealth among the richest Americans, charitable giving has reached an all-time high. <i>Giving USA</i>, the longest-running and most comprehensive <a href="https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/news-events/news-item/giving-usa:--total-u.s.-charitable-giving-remained-strong-in-2021,-reaching-$484.85-billion.html?id=392" target="_blank">annual report</a> on the state of philanthropy in America, found that total donations increased from $466 billion in 2020 to $485 billion in 2021, the highest-ever sum in nominal terms and a number that nearly kept pace with inflation after 2020, when the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to advance racial justice led to a record-breaking year.</p><p>Now, in the work that I am doing as a PhD student, I am usually quite skeptical of large donors, whether they are wealthy individuals or philanthropic foundations. I typically have lots of questions about their motives. Historically, <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/study-red-states-more-charitable-079888" target="_blank">red states</a> have given significantly more money per capita to charity than blue states and I spent the summer reading books with titles like <i>Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right</i>. There are also many reasons for small organizations who work with wealthy individuals and philanthropic foundations to proceed with caution. They need to remain deeply committed to their values. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkv6S-jz4kpqTr5lCR99i6nDv8btyLEmImb7Pb-8gsn1EIa2hDEO_5qmZmseEP9Dc0SHUiWVXOU-JF4yb3mN1XuqUASehD_Z4d63PGP1pvY5zoNDOufJVavAlYc4Wu1rPZt1Xv-II52RwHt8gJXzjIugaI9whjr1eLiPuafQbsLDGVf_ptLcs9phTVg/s604/Increased_Corporate_Engageme.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="451" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkv6S-jz4kpqTr5lCR99i6nDv8btyLEmImb7Pb-8gsn1EIa2hDEO_5qmZmseEP9Dc0SHUiWVXOU-JF4yb3mN1XuqUASehD_Z4d63PGP1pvY5zoNDOufJVavAlYc4Wu1rPZt1Xv-II52RwHt8gJXzjIugaI9whjr1eLiPuafQbsLDGVf_ptLcs9phTVg/w299-h400/Increased_Corporate_Engageme.png" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Giving USA.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>But at the same time, with rising levels of political polarization, the state of philanthropy is rapidly changing. The largest Democratic nonprofits spent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/29/us/politics/democrats-dark-money-donors.html" target="_blank">more than</a> the largest Republican nonprofits in 2020, fueled by a dramatic influx of money from donors who were<b> </b>looking to make a difference with respect to critical political issues but not wanting to directly fund a political campaign. Philanthropic consulting firms like Arabella Advisors have carved out a <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/11/arabella-advisors-money-democrats/620553/" target="_blank">highly successful</a> business model by helping progressive donors find small, scrappy nonprofits that are engaged in transformative work.</p><p>Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican and whether you see the developments in philanthropy as a positive or a negative, there is clear opportunity in the changes for USQ. Like several of the nonprofits that received money from large donors from across the political spectrum in 2020 and like many of the small, scrappy organizations that Arabella Advisors connects with progressive donors, USQ is a 501(c)(3) organization. Not every sports organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit -- it is a restrictive legal status in many ways. But for a sports organization with a goal that is charitable or educational, for a sports organization like USQ that is dedicated by mission statement to serving everybody that wants to play, there are some key advantages, <i>above all the fact that donations are tax-deductible</i>.</p><p>Community members who participated in the online fundraising drive at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic might remember that their contributions were tax-deductible. USQ has always received tax-deductible donations from various sources both inside and outside the immediate community, but more recently it is just starting to scratch the surface of the benefits that its legal status can bring. According to a 2021-22 USQ budget slideshow shared with me in the course of doing research for this blog post, in 2018 and 2019, "grants, contributions, and fundraising events" accounted for just three percent of the top four revenue sources for USQ. The low number stood in stark contrast with the much higher share reached by 12 top U.S. sports national governing bodies: 23 percent. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghXfZPDclaAir-jPiQOWvkgpyjSur-WehVcUlcs5b-6m1aFHZO0NRCs2jM5upSGWiKThPBJBpwKTaz-daRRZK3avWbtQKQR7XHMpbDcLoM8rbDov_Nz7gwZmqSVgfmKxE-dhfBpC2S4pkP35PTMq_FIWYsEi9ZcxKFqAkBL6HtY0DYa_VHxWfAGyGJA/s1336/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-06%20at%209.24.25%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1336" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghXfZPDclaAir-jPiQOWvkgpyjSur-WehVcUlcs5b-6m1aFHZO0NRCs2jM5upSGWiKThPBJBpwKTaz-daRRZK3avWbtQKQR7XHMpbDcLoM8rbDov_Nz7gwZmqSVgfmKxE-dhfBpC2S4pkP35PTMq_FIWYsEi9ZcxKFqAkBL6HtY0DYa_VHxWfAGyGJA/w400-h174/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-06%20at%209.24.25%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of US Quadball.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Predominantly 501(c)(3) groups, the 12 national governing bodies are all <a href="https://acessport.org/aces-members" target="_blank">members</a> of the Association of Chief Executives for Sport, a professional organizations that USQ successfully joined last year. They have diversified revenue streams that balance membership and events with grants and contributions, something that it seems USQ is clearly striving for. Together, the 2021-2022 budget slideshow and the joining of the professional organization shows that USQ has been seriously thinking about grants and contributions as an area for growth for much longer than I have. They have identified current levels of charitable giving as a challenge and aimed to join the ranks of peer national governing bodies that rely upon much larger shares of donations every year. </p><p>USQ has raised a significant amount of money from charitable giving in the past. The donations did not come from large donors or outside the wider community necessarily. One of the biggest came from the Karpoff family, avid fans of the sport in the early years who made a major gift in 2015 to fund a <a href="https://archive.usquidditch.org/news/2015/03/us-quidditch-begins-tackle-development-project" target="_blank">tackling development research project</a> that has made gameplay much safer. It started an important conversation around the league and brought the sport in touch with an outside consultant from USA Rugby, crucial steps that ultimately resulted in the transition from one-hand to two-hand tackling. It continues to pay dividends for players today. All things considered, it is a perfect example of the type of funding that USQ should aggressively pursue, because donors are most likely to give to an organization that is close to their hearts and they often want to fund a specific program that will have a long-term impact.</p><p>In short, USQ should have the equivalent of a college alumni office that expertly identifies players, alumni and fans that can afford to make regular contributions or might have an interest in funding larger special projects. It already has several volunteers who have been working hard to maintain a donor database and keep in touch with alumni, but it needs a full-fledged new division. It needs players who maybe have experience working with their college alumni offices or who are interested in careers in the nonprofit sector to volunteer.</p><p>Still, to secure long-term health of the organization -- and to deliver upon my promise of never again relying upon players to dig deeper into their own pockets beyond the membership dues they already pay -- USQ also needs to have a routine system for reaching out to much larger philanthropic foundations from outside the community that have a history of working in adjacent areas and share similar values. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3K8UbhuN0Ola4hl-vmUsOeSZrLonrqGm6F_bKNEMi38sLBZfwuGlZJZjzjbPUmKQBZKah32BrlaPWDxv9IEM1aQUMofoAygocboz-nVZpl8uaWDCi3fSnc2VzcPuN7laOuzx_6viKiAVRZKsmeO10wK1iqAR79DdiFwz1mvFMewFwopTSePFOl1Fedg/s784/wade-iso-1-784x523.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="784" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3K8UbhuN0Ola4hl-vmUsOeSZrLonrqGm6F_bKNEMi38sLBZfwuGlZJZjzjbPUmKQBZKah32BrlaPWDxv9IEM1aQUMofoAygocboz-nVZpl8uaWDCi3fSnc2VzcPuN7laOuzx_6viKiAVRZKsmeO10wK1iqAR79DdiFwz1mvFMewFwopTSePFOl1Fedg/w400-h266/wade-iso-1-784x523.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of the National Basketball Association.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Just off the top of my head, an example that might be familiar to basketball fans is the Wade Family Foundation, run by former Miami Heat star and three-time NBA champion Dwayne Wade. For readers who do not know, Wade has a daughter who came out as trans and he has been <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28681410/dwyane-wade-supports-daughter-gender-identity" target="_blank">outspoken</a> in support of her. His family foundation has worked to advance racial justice as well as LGBTQ+ rights and he was <a href="https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2020/5888447/dwyane-wade/" target="_blank">named</a> to the <i>TIME Magazine</i> 100 most influential people list in 2020 for his activism and philanthropy. Beyond the Wade Family Foundation, there are entire <a href="https://lgbtfunders.org/" target="_blank">networks</a> of large donors like LGBT Funders who have been working for years to advance LGBTQ+ causes and more recently, <a href="https://lgbtfunders.org/initiatives/gutc/" target="_blank">initiatives</a> like Grantmakers United for Trans Communities to support trans rights specifically that have won the <a href="https://www.fordfoundation.org/news-and-stories/news-and-press/news/ford-foundation-doubles-investment-for-trans-organizations-makes-sweeping-commitments-to-support-lgbtqplus-communities/" target="_blank">support</a> of some of the largest philanthropic foundations in the country, including the Ford Foundation.</p><p>In addition to the equivalent of a college alumni office, USQ should have a team of staffers entirely dedicated to reaching out to foundations and writing grant applications. Again, it already has several volunteers who have been working hard to apply for various sources of money but they desperately need reinforcements. This might be the best place for me personally to get back involved with USQ. It needs players who have experience working at large philanthropic foundations, even just for an internship, to facilitate connections and players who have experience working with small, scrappy nonprofits to share their success stories with fundraising. It needs alumni who come into contact with wealthy individuals in any aspect of their personal or professional life to talk about quadball whenever possible and help to direct interested parties toward a well-defined place. It truly asks that everyone who plays and anyone who has ever loved the game is involved as ambassadors for the sport.</p><p>In December and once again in July with the IQA, USQ and MLQ reached a massive audience with their announcement that they were changing the name of the sport. The coverage in mainstream media outlets like <i><a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/19/1112324298/quidditch-rebrands-as-quadball-and-further-distances-itself-from-harry-potter-au" target="_blank">NPR</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-pop-culture/quidditch-change-name-citing-jk-rowlings-anti-trans-positions-rcna9149" target="_blank">NBC News</a></i> and the <i><a href="https://nypost.com/2022/07/20/quidditch-league-officially-breaks-from-j-k-rowling/" target="_blank">New York Post</a></i> was overwhelmingly positive. But the work is not done. In fact, it is just getting started. Now, it is time for USQ to continue to live out their values and spread their mission as the <a href="https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/bnpqk4/is-quidditch-the-first-ever-lgbtq-inclusive-game-to-change-sports-forever" target="_blank">leading</a> mixed-gender sport that welcomes trans and nonbinary individuals in the world. We have created something special, but we need to recognize that we help to truly fly.</p><p><i>Jack McGovern is the Press Coordinator for Major League Quadball. He worked with US Quadball on media relations for the name change announcement and he is a teammate to USQ Board of Directors member Nathan Digmann on Boom Train Quadball Club in Chicago.</i></p>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-60045157249951656352022-08-29T13:56:00.003-07:002022-08-29T14:20:49.481-07:00Summer Reflections and Team-by-Team Thoughts from the 2022 MLQ Championship<p>Another season of MLQ is in the books, and although it was another Austin Outlaws title in the end and another Boston Forge appearance in the finals, it was one of the most exciting and interesting seasons to date, with absolute chaos at the top of the East Division and in the middle ranks of the South Division down to the final weeks of the regular season. More often than ever before, there was no clear hierarchy and a number of series came down to the deciding game three. The MLQ North Division Championship also debuted at a beautiful facility in South Bend, Indiana, where the Minneapolis Monarchs repeated as division champions and the Toronto Raiders scrapped their way to the final qualification spot in their much-anticipated return to the league from the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>While you have probably heard more than enough of my voice by now and I have been lucky to share many of my thoughts throughout the season as a guest on <i>MLQ Replay</i>, I unexpectedly had some time to reflect on the MLQ Championship this week. Writing has always been my favorite medium to express myself, and although I feel like I have improved on camera and behind the mic, I know I have good games and bad games. I hope everybody knows I am always working to get better and when the broadcast goes clear, I am my own toughest critic. If you shoot me a personal message or find me at a tournament, I am eager to hear any feedback, substantive or stylistic, that you have.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgDmj24bobob0MfNWmaZzespTSQGthjDTqZnOBUezqEOSQ_uwPbOfeCuYREuizT_8pv5HnAXjkNOv_CphP72lFmSRqfr7Cd_mQaSNP8oKyqA9a6Bhuw161C410mAwt6VJBvfHW6tfJyRuqxk3byF59W75IKLetgRDjdnv_bCEGuMZD4y74ixju-Ybbw/s4752/220730_BOS_NYC_KHD%20-%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="4752" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgDmj24bobob0MfNWmaZzespTSQGthjDTqZnOBUezqEOSQ_uwPbOfeCuYREuizT_8pv5HnAXjkNOv_CphP72lFmSRqfr7Cd_mQaSNP8oKyqA9a6Bhuw161C410mAwt6VJBvfHW6tfJyRuqxk3byF59W75IKLetgRDjdnv_bCEGuMZD4y74ixju-Ybbw/w400-h266/220730_BOS_NYC_KHD%20-%205.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Kielan Donahue.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Mostly, I just feel incredibly privileged to have gotten back involved with MLQ. I know people get involved with the sport for many different reasons and as a league with tryouts, MLQ is not for everyone -- USQ is the governing body that is dedicated by mission statement to serving everyone that wants to play and I am absolutely psyched for the upcoming USQ season. But I was initially drawn into the community because I believed in the potential of the game, under the rules developed by Alex Benepe, Xander Manshel and multiple generations of gameplay volunteers, to become a spectator sport at the highest level. I am a massive sports fan at heart and the middle schooler inside of me who just found out about the game has been so thrilled to watch the vision of Ethan Sturm and Amanda Dallas come to life since 2015. I know that when I am looking for purpose, when I am looking to make a difference, I can always throw myself into helping out. </p><p>Without further ado, here are some takeaways from the 2022 MLQ Championship, beginning with the teams in the play-in bracket and progressing towards the back-to-back Benepe Cup champions.</p><p><b>Play-In Bracket</b></p><p>The <b>New Orleans Curse</b> made their first-ever trip outside of the South Division, competing at the MLQ Championship for the first time since 2016 and 2017, when the season-ending tournament was contested in League City, Texas. The Curse overcame long odds just to qualify for the event. After sweeping the League City Legends away from home for the first time in franchise history, they needed the San Antonio Soldados to take care of business on the road against the Legends in the final week of the regular season. With San Antonio keeper Miguel Esparza pulling up with an injury, the series went down to the wire but the Curse ultimately sealed their spot at the last minute, all thanks to their early season sweep. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y4_BIxfXhPZKXJP9HTH8PpHrKpWQ7VLyhG-gDFvXQB1xi5UDKaZa-vgbimBf6L5KwowpYItWClarcaUmgB7mANqJXVO9JEDRUzbZu6INh2Gi3awMjxYbHYZnSaILST-D-66gvePqcVyLezkkJW0Ogv_f7SnRDozaNBbIqhZ87Sy3qMUTpxR3hngP-A/s2976/IMG_0583.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1984" data-original-width="2976" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y4_BIxfXhPZKXJP9HTH8PpHrKpWQ7VLyhG-gDFvXQB1xi5UDKaZa-vgbimBf6L5KwowpYItWClarcaUmgB7mANqJXVO9JEDRUzbZu6INh2Gi3awMjxYbHYZnSaILST-D-66gvePqcVyLezkkJW0Ogv_f7SnRDozaNBbIqhZ87Sy3qMUTpxR3hngP-A/w400-h266/IMG_0583.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Mike Iadevaia.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>At the MLQ Championship, New Orleans was down a couple key players, including veteran beater Sarah Kneiling and dynamic wing chasers Dylan DeLee and Marcellus Lewis. It was difficult for the Curse to get into a rhythm on the offensive end, as they struggled to convert their transition opportunities in a fast-paced game against the Toronto Raiders and found little luck breaking down the compact Kansas City Stampede defense in a slower half-court chess match. The sure-handed ball-carrying of P.J. Mitchell and hyperactive beating of Josh Mansfield helped keep the Curse afloat -- and a quick-thinking snitch catch from seeker Sarah Yanofsky almost elevated New Orleans to a victory over the Stampede -- but the Curse unexpectedly exited the tournament after two games in the play-in bracket.</p><p>On the flip side of the do-or-die matchup with New Orleans, the <b>Kansas City Stampede</b> exceeded expectations with a short roster of only ten players. Led by starting keeper and head coach Adam Heald, Kansas City sliced and diced through opposing defenses in the open field and scrambled to loose balls to win broken plays. It was a supremely impressive performance from the Stampede, who proved that they could hustle their way to a victory without some of their bigger names. On the defensive end, they were organized and disciplined, packing the paint and avoiding any overcommitments. They were especially indebted to the performances of their three women, chaser Katie Branstetter, beater Brenna Duncan, and utility Keighlyn Johnson, who alternated with each other and stayed healthy in the course of shutting down their opponents with a consistently high level of activity and alertness at the hoops.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITl2VhJ1P3BN872K_9PwyvCkB_fwHl7p9LfRbElta4JsfwUXDgvewDIFifuzoli90cvhc6lNdq4-33g6HEml7w7O6vC51hBC4DFayWf7PZVLC2n9rlOgp2fFhiuFIniJs2CrWBFG3h_h2tWbvamWQUK29f3SXH_0odwQQOmgRFsnwSB-tdOfcWhr-KQ/s2976/KC_NO_MIKE_08.20.2022_00019.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1984" data-original-width="2976" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITl2VhJ1P3BN872K_9PwyvCkB_fwHl7p9LfRbElta4JsfwUXDgvewDIFifuzoli90cvhc6lNdq4-33g6HEml7w7O6vC51hBC4DFayWf7PZVLC2n9rlOgp2fFhiuFIniJs2CrWBFG3h_h2tWbvamWQUK29f3SXH_0odwQQOmgRFsnwSB-tdOfcWhr-KQ/w400-h266/KC_NO_MIKE_08.20.2022_00019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Mike Iadevaia.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Not predicted to win a single game by many American analysts, the <b>Toronto Raiders</b> made a triumphant return to the MLQ Championship with an upset over the Curse on Saturday morning. They followed much of the same formula that carried them through the regular season in the North Division: a combination of speed and physicality in the chaser game, particularly from keeper Andrew Kusters, and a timely snitch catch from utility Corey Smithson. While sometimes lacking the organization and ball movement of their opponents on offense, the Raiders proved that they are a scrappy bunch, capable of knocking off almost any team in a standalone match. They have a clear identity, which is always dangerous for an underdog.</p><p>Over the course of the season, the Raiders also succeeded in integrating several new players, namely chasers Sarah Dykstra and Levi Medeiros, into their setup. Dykstra and Medeiros helped to open up the spaces behind the hoops for Toronto and make its offense more multi-dimensional. The experience of a long, hot season (the Raiders played more unique opponents than any team outside the finals and the Toronto core topped the league if you include the series between the Canadian national team and the Charlotte Aviators) will serve them well next summer, as many of their star players take a midseason break to make a similar trip south of the border for the IQA World Cup in Richmond, Virginia.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yT2ct0mNWREGKMJxVsIioc9SlEjQHFGoU3oyCtfaWK3TmmVptXk6B1-3YuxZhMtG5E8ATTl0MVJW70EQbcskRjOG0vwizeEWW1jDBVn3GddrVaAx4ZJ47pGDLiaCS6n2_SWqahyHHoj-Di8TpqhoQxUH_ZyV9iNfveHQV9NeMNtgLlFmK8MF-OEPvg/s4272/IMG_9569.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yT2ct0mNWREGKMJxVsIioc9SlEjQHFGoU3oyCtfaWK3TmmVptXk6B1-3YuxZhMtG5E8ATTl0MVJW70EQbcskRjOG0vwizeEWW1jDBVn3GddrVaAx4ZJ47pGDLiaCS6n2_SWqahyHHoj-Di8TpqhoQxUH_ZyV9iNfveHQV9NeMNtgLlFmK8MF-OEPvg/w400-h266/IMG_9569.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Suraj Singh.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The team that came the closest to advancing out of the play-in bracket, the <b>Indianapolis Intensity</b>, capped a roller coaster of a season with feel-good wins over Toronto and Kansas City but could not get past the Charlotte Aviators in two attempts. The Intensity jumped out to a 50-10 lead in the critical rematch but with beater Matt Brown sidelined after pulling a hamstring, Indianapolis lost its edge in the beating game against a deep Charlotte corps. Kody LaBauve, Celine Richard and Perry Wang ran rampant and blew open the score. In the chasing game for Indianapolis, it was a good weekend for Hannah Miller and Ally Manzella making backdoor cuts and converting passes around the hoops. Along with the usual work of Kennedy Murphy, Tyler Piper also brought a crucial influx of tackling at point defense. It was no mistake that Piper was subbing offense-defense with keeper Nathan Digmann by Saturday afternoon. He showed himself to be one of the cleanest tacklers at the tournament.</p><p><b>Quarterfinalists</b></p><p>Moving onto the teams that survived the play-in bracket, head coach Oliver Hodge has to be so incredibly proud of his <b>Charlotte Aviators</b> squad. At the culmination of a demanding season, they turned in their best team performance of the year, with some of the most balanced scoring of the tournament and an offense that relied upon moving the ball and attacking from different angles. Chasers Logan Hartman and Quincy Hildreth found their groove setting picks for each other and keeper Tommy O'Connor provided a jolt of energy off the bench in replacement of the injured Trey Pressley. Madison Burns and Melissa Ross kept countless plays alive with their hustle to loose balls and well-timed cuts. It was an equal opportunity offense, with vital contributions up and down the roster.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmesQJyeHsRt11i70CG-Sa5Swswhh8o9nZNuY1HbWWfnl44hrc5IWEYCwfd13cvZ7qo1NJ9OuERXrjSXRgM0eoi9fsg20ci0iA5gIgx0Flp62SVhaZ8Iz8IfrKls1zFuSgI-e-kwiJb1DbMaUgGAtsY_Z6hRpJIIxk15_za5aB-NsV7yhorhxittREqw/s6000/DSC_0381.NEF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmesQJyeHsRt11i70CG-Sa5Swswhh8o9nZNuY1HbWWfnl44hrc5IWEYCwfd13cvZ7qo1NJ9OuERXrjSXRgM0eoi9fsg20ci0iA5gIgx0Flp62SVhaZ8Iz8IfrKls1zFuSgI-e-kwiJb1DbMaUgGAtsY_Z6hRpJIIxk15_za5aB-NsV7yhorhxittREqw/w400-h266/DSC_0381.NEF" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Willow Elser.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ultimately, behind one of the best beating corps in the sport, the Aviators are just waiting for one of their quaffle players to take the next step as a scorer. It sounds hypocritical for someone who just spent a paragraph lavishing praise upon their teamwork but out of the well-structured offense that Charlotte has now developed, they need a go-to option. They need a chaser or keeper to roughly approximate what Nathan Digmann provides for Indianapolis or Josh Johnson gives to Austin: efficient shooting from the keeper zone line and accurate distribution to the right places at the right times. Hodge seemed to approach the role during the regular season but the UNC alum is instinctively unselfish as a player and a little undersized. Rookie and current Tar Heel M-Y Manawar, who showed glimpses of his sky-high potential throughout the season, is probably the best bet to rise to the challenge in the future.</p><p>For the <b>Washington Admirals</b>, it took many players to push the eventual champions, the Austin Outlaws, to a game three in the quarterfinals on Saturday night. It took the steady ballhandling and clutch midrange shooting of keeper Justin Cole. It took the explosive speed and punishing throws of beaters Bernie Bergers and Katryna Hicks. It took a committee of chasers headed by Julia Baer making up for the heavy minutes usually logged by the injured Rachel Heald. But at least for me, it was the electric performance of chaser T.J. Generette that stole the show under the lights at Troy Park. Fresh off a run to the Final Four with Maryland (which followed a thrilling rookie season off the bench for the Admirals), Generette completely outdid himself in his sophomore campaign. From the season-opening series against New York to the quarterfinals against Austin last weekend, he was the player that Washington could not afford to take off the pitch on offense. He was absolutely mesmerizing with the ball in hand, going to work one-on-one against a defender in the half court. He was a video game cheat code and he made the Admirals must-see television.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-lq9jW4Q3_hYNipvjAYZfgeZ2Ye6SGXOIRzxgziLyWZ-yt6ibgBAvEccW69fZwbQerARSeFPwLv799z-c_GU0OP1es4oSUDTBfLjOrxs17aLz3Elgg8SrLy42Pfyh4oVcUI6WmPjk0mN0tLerfI5bkfIfnu0R8W2LiuiRmA4ufftUkaAQOo3a0zEDA/s6000/_MG_8917.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-lq9jW4Q3_hYNipvjAYZfgeZ2Ye6SGXOIRzxgziLyWZ-yt6ibgBAvEccW69fZwbQerARSeFPwLv799z-c_GU0OP1es4oSUDTBfLjOrxs17aLz3Elgg8SrLy42Pfyh4oVcUI6WmPjk0mN0tLerfI5bkfIfnu0R8W2LiuiRmA4ufftUkaAQOo3a0zEDA/w400-h266/_MG_8917.CR2" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Jeannette High.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>No single player could lift the Admirals past the Outlaws though, especially as the Washington offense regressed slightly from the towering highs of last season. With a few exceptions, the Admirals did not play with the pace and fluidity that many of their opponents came to expect. They missed the distribution of keeper Dale Farnan and rarely went back to the point defense pairing of John Sheridan and Justin Kraemer that generated so many transition opportunities in their regular season series against the Boston Forge. Relatively speaking, they struggled to score easy goals, which made the task of breaking down a hoop zone defense, for example, all the more mentally taxing in the end. The Admirals ultimately finished with their best-ever record and became only the second franchise to notch wins against Austin and Boston, but with title experience on the roster, Washington will want more next season.</p><p>Against the preseason predictions of yours truly, the <b>Minneapolis Monarchs</b> successfully defended their North Division title and finished the regular season with an undefeated record for the first time in program history. By any measure, it was a summer of forward progress for the Monarchs. Chaser Emma Persons took a giant leap as a scorer, head coach Cody Narveson claimed a third consecutive North Division MVP for the franchise playing alongside a beating partner in Gracie Johnson who could have just as easily won the award, and the city assembled one of its most talented rosters ever before a large crowd of friends and family at their home series in July. </p><p>But with a loss in the quarterfinals to an opponent led by a Team USA beater for the second consecutive year, it would be understandable if the Monarchs were feeling a bit of deja vu in Howard County. Unable to overcome the absences of chasers Terry Carlson and Alex Obanor and reigning North Division MVP April Grabner, Minneapolis fell to the San Antonio Soldados, overrun by the turbocharged beating of Daniel Williams, Kris De La Fuente and Katherine Hayworth. They could have used the passing vision of Carlson and the field awareness of Obanor as well as the pitch coverage of Grabner, but the question that the Monarchs have to answer is the same question that the entire North Division has to figure out: How can a beating corps outside of the Northeast or Texas prepare for the faster pace of play that teams like the Soldados bring to national tournaments? It might not have an easy fix, but if any franchise can come up with a solution, it is the Monarchs.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PYCxO8nEQ-eZQOGK3WoN-yKrFeH1URfgaK0CX2wZse_5LO-jTdsGCnAzQn4OPD-WCn4QpoWgB8gdoposKETHMVpPUPfGCcKCVBtB899o1Ozyw3-MrG__nXO39B60E9z9F8lkJMShCE8keW8alQaO0JAIx-Ww2PVu-BjQfVNAWETiV0I_8ZLk-XwywA/s6000/20220802_MPLS_SA_Willow-4.NEF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PYCxO8nEQ-eZQOGK3WoN-yKrFeH1URfgaK0CX2wZse_5LO-jTdsGCnAzQn4OPD-WCn4QpoWgB8gdoposKETHMVpPUPfGCcKCVBtB899o1Ozyw3-MrG__nXO39B60E9z9F8lkJMShCE8keW8alQaO0JAIx-Ww2PVu-BjQfVNAWETiV0I_8ZLk-XwywA/w400-h266/20220802_MPLS_SA_Willow-4.NEF" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Willow Elser.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The <b>Rochester Whiteout</b> played the New York Titans to a tight game one on the back of a spectacular long-range shooting performance and a heavy dose of their trademark physicality in transition defense but the North Division runners-up eventually struggled to generate offense in game two and exited at the quarterfinal stage in their return to the MLQ Championship. Absent at the MLQ North Division Championship, where the Monarchs beaters outplayed the Whiteout corps, beater Erin Parkinson helped to steady the rotation for Rochester, with key shifts in game one especially. Chaser Joseph Lombardi also brought energy and sound decision-making to the pitch whenever he subbed into the game. Rochester needed more to upset the Titans however and without the accurate service of keeper Basem Ashkar, chaser Kit Powpour was not getting the opportunities around the hoops that he thrived upon during the regular season. Priority number one for the Whiteout next year is Powpour developing the same degree of telepathic chemistry with a couple more players on the team.</p><p><b>Semifinalists</b></p><p>Another team that I was absolutely sleeping on the entire regular season that proved me dead wrong at the MLQ Championship, the <b>San Antonio Soldados</b> let no absence, not even an injury to Team USA keeper Miguel Esparza suffered two weeks before the tournament, get in the way of their return to the semifinals in Howard County. For the second consecutive year, the Soldados overcame doubts about their roster and placed as one of the top four teams in the country. It was arguably even more impressive in 2022. San Antonio rode the combination of Jay Stewart and Matt Blackwood, two chasers who are still currently playing at the college level for UTSA, for long stretches all the way to a pair of near upsets over the Boston Forge. Stewart proved almost impossible to contain on the wings and Blackwood picked apart opposing defenses from the point with his passing and shooting. Elsewhere on the roster, Kris De La Fuente played some of the nastiest beater shifts of the weekend alongside Daniel Williams and caught a snitch for good measure. He is consistently underrated on the national stage.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrnFfDqFnqtEuaR7tCa_SJiRJM5ta2xMBODBjsK1k-w3ax8AEFzxoLDqmLojSxmwDoP2ZgUFqxDNz83Cb8v_pW1eUoHeGAPRLdRjmz-14BCoFReyArY8Jo4MdYc8CdPAd3Vv-tgmNChVQexSDCpV-NxtLuPrYodYJqpkoVzz6cy3lMm7gWtzeRROfnQ/s4288/20220802_MPLS_SA_Eric-4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrnFfDqFnqtEuaR7tCa_SJiRJM5ta2xMBODBjsK1k-w3ax8AEFzxoLDqmLojSxmwDoP2ZgUFqxDNz83Cb8v_pW1eUoHeGAPRLdRjmz-14BCoFReyArY8Jo4MdYc8CdPAd3Vv-tgmNChVQexSDCpV-NxtLuPrYodYJqpkoVzz6cy3lMm7gWtzeRROfnQ/w400-h266/20220802_MPLS_SA_Eric-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Eric Lynch.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Speaking of consistently underrated, the <b>New York Titans</b> gave the Austin Outlaws their toughest test of the tournament for the second MLQ Championship in a row, pushing the defending champions to the brink on Sunday morning. I was relatively high on the Titans heading into the season, picking the reigning East Division winners to finish 8-4 despite their significant roster turnover, but they undoubtedly exceeded my wildest expectations under first-year head coach Frank Minson. They entered their series against the Washington Admirals with a level of focus and the type of creative gameplan that shut down one of the most feared offenses in the sport. They followed the eye-opening performance with three businesslike wins over the Charlotte Aviators and they took a game from the Boston Forge on the road.</p><p>To highlight a few reasons why New York cruised through the regular season and ended the summer going toe-to-toe with Austin, you have to begin with the play of keeper Jon Jackson. One of the most puzzling snubs from the Team USA roster, Jackson performed like a man on a mission in 2022. He was a stabilizing presence and a willing passer on offense but he really made a difference on the defensive end. The mark defense that the Titans rolled out against the Admirals was possible because Jackson is capable of reading the game like a Pro Bowl safety and moving laterally like an NBA center who can guard 1-5. In the keeper zone, Jackson took away goal after goal with his ability to block shocks, wrap the biggest drivers and stuff alley-oops. His hoop defense was far and away the best in the league and while there are more dynamic offensive players, Jackson has turned himself into the kind of stopper that Team USA desperately needed in 2016 against Australia, arguably the only fixture that matters at the international level. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeB76-wES3Q7ARnFxxKuVbTIqRBt4BM2szhP2hMR5qaMdy-kl-i4fxk67brICGuW4X8vL3E1KRORegW7SrTWllNvE9VupUy5AUnVz_FHWW6SHmY7pHl2C6d7-uIL2jOCuBNRlmYZMl3iPZ9CW6UvlcxInl_-9fIL0Ov4-Y6qaFHWWzD7AbpXV4-3vTKA/s6000/IMG_1013.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeB76-wES3Q7ARnFxxKuVbTIqRBt4BM2szhP2hMR5qaMdy-kl-i4fxk67brICGuW4X8vL3E1KRORegW7SrTWllNvE9VupUy5AUnVz_FHWW6SHmY7pHl2C6d7-uIL2jOCuBNRlmYZMl3iPZ9CW6UvlcxInl_-9fIL0Ov4-Y6qaFHWWzD7AbpXV4-3vTKA/w400-h266/IMG_1013.CR2" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Mike Iadevaia.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Otherwise, years of development up and down the roster paid off in the beater game for the Titans. New additions Tessa Mullins and Tate Kay and regular season returnee Devin Lee were the clear standouts, but program veterans like Kerri Donnelly and more recent positional converts like Kellan Cupid logged strong minutes throughout the season. Phill Cain took their game to another level against the Austin Outlaws and fed off the energy of the crowd. From consistently competing at a high level at Warriors practices during the USQ season or working individually on their games, a number of Titans beaters made obvious strides and the beating corps as a whole seemed to have really gelled. In the end, they could not do enough to distract the deep-lying Outlaws beater pairs playing in front of a hoop zone defense but they came the closest of any team. They could have benefitted from more aggressive drives from quick chasers like Eric Pagoada, not only as a chance to score goals but as a way to force the Austin beaters to make risky throws and relinquish their tight grasp upon bludger control.</p><p><b>Finalists</b></p><p>After one of the more frustrating seasons in league history a year ago, the <b>Boston Forge</b> rebounded for a division title in convincing fashion and made a return to the finals at the MLQ Championship in their first summer under head coach Tom DeMouth. To start, DeMouth deserves a ton of credit. There is perhaps no harder place to coach in the sport than Boston, where a large community of veteran players is following the season and expecting the team to win every game and an even larger contingent of young players is hoping for the chance to prove themselves on the pitch and earn roster spots. By the second series of the regular season, DeMouth established a clear and recognizable structure that worked for the Forge offense and identified the players that fit the system. He put his players in the best position to succeed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bqqhV4y3-OQhuVd0nTU7nbWh457NwanwoCFpNHLCgYPI48jQoce_LR01eCya4qMIATRzHxpSWanXzMGDB0cJUNODsoZKuKLJN_2bBEwt6rCFFJDqrBr11FSc0D52j-avlT8Tn-PjnSq7eDqBRlEOK7thoFh0ZXrV0bHxLMFyby8vL9Xb5lkdXch36A/s6000/_MG_1396.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bqqhV4y3-OQhuVd0nTU7nbWh457NwanwoCFpNHLCgYPI48jQoce_LR01eCya4qMIATRzHxpSWanXzMGDB0cJUNODsoZKuKLJN_2bBEwt6rCFFJDqrBr11FSc0D52j-avlT8Tn-PjnSq7eDqBRlEOK7thoFh0ZXrV0bHxLMFyby8vL9Xb5lkdXch36A/w400-h266/_MG_1396.CR2" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Jeannette High.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The MQC as a whole also deserves a ton of credit for producing the players that brought Boston back to contention. If the Forge had won, the story would have been about the longevity of Max Havlin and Harry Greenhouse at an all-world level and the recovery of Lulu Xu from a devastating injury, but it also would have been about a completely new generation of chasers and beaters that had changed the timeline for the Forge. Beater Serena Monteiro, from the Tufts program, took a huge step forward in 2022 and became the obvious go-to option for Boston with Xu out of the lineup against the Washington Admirals. Chaser Andrew Steinberg, from the Brown program, finally got his chance to shine after not rostering last year or in the season opener against the Charlotte Aviators. By the end of year, he had mastered a new position on the field and he was perhaps the most consistent off-ball scorer for the Forge. And keeper Ian Scura, who led the effort to revitalize the storied Middlebury program, made the transition away from former Team USA keeper Jayke Archibald perfectly seamless. He put up some of the best numbers in the league and cemented his status as one of the most important players for the national team heading into a World Cup year.</p><p>The list could go on -- chaser Athena Mayor, also from the Tufts program, answered one of the biggest preseason questions and helped to replace the production of Grace Dastous in the course of carrying her team past its rivals from New York and winning the first-ever Fan Favorite award -- but the Forge played so together all season, more than the sum of their parts. They brought an infectious joy to the pitch when warming up and celebrating goals. Without a doubt, they could have used more physicality, especially at point defense to deter some of the shots that the Outlaws were sinking, and they were uncharacteristically sloppy on the offensive end in the finals. They need to refine their base shape to find ways to support their lone chaser behind the hoops more quickly, particularly against a free beater like South Division MVP Kaci Erwin who was aggressively shading backwards, and they also need to develop a seeker. But for a young team, 2022 brought the first taste of finals experience for Boston. I have feeling they will be back sooner rather than later.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jgoWtD4KL5GTib95DPZ3BM37Uv1WmlkSSnNDsJ5wuW959poTOlPO5XDcHgZ4OAftKuiQAtMjcjKNi2YMiTTfgRT44W_gWt8fWTZAN3Sj4gFbKkAA4LcDJoNsW_h-6QyG_wxJozOB3HFZkPGBDRb3mypr1aFbgDIlSqov6CcOgk4rnX2cM-mhYLGgzg/s6000/_MG_1083.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jgoWtD4KL5GTib95DPZ3BM37Uv1WmlkSSnNDsJ5wuW959poTOlPO5XDcHgZ4OAftKuiQAtMjcjKNi2YMiTTfgRT44W_gWt8fWTZAN3Sj4gFbKkAA4LcDJoNsW_h-6QyG_wxJozOB3HFZkPGBDRb3mypr1aFbgDIlSqov6CcOgk4rnX2cM-mhYLGgzg/w400-h266/_MG_1083.CR2" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Jeannette High.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In their sixth season, the <b>Austin Outlaws</b> finally surpassed the Boston Forge on the all-time leaderboard with four titles. They gained the edge on the only city that has ever rivaled their claim as the center of the sport in the United States. But they repeated as champions with a completely different formula and a much younger group of players than the all-star team that took home the Benepe Cup last year. For the rest of the league, it is scary how quickly the Outlaws have reloaded. After some early season questions and an untimely injury to Team USA beater Bailee Fields, the beating corps not only hung with the best beating pairs from the Northeast but outplayed some of the biggest names in the sport for long stretches. Playing in the college national championship game only four months ago, Kayse Bevers, Kyzer Polzin and Jack Wang accounted for the vast majority of the beater minutes alongside Erwin, who switched positions at the beginning of the season. While fending off challenges from opposing beaters and winning duels around the hoops, they took away the spaces that opposing chasers wanted to attack.</p><p>The unflappable performance from the beating corps was ultimately decisive because it allowed Augustine Monroe to stay in the quaffle game, where his services were needed down to the final goal. It is easy to forget how much beater Monroe has played in recent years, even when he is taking the field alongside deeper beating rotations headed by Team USA beaters like Hallie Pace and Cole Travis. Last season, the chasing corps for the Outlaws might have been talented enough to score consistently without Number 10 but his contributions helped to keep the Austin offense multi-dimensional in 2022. Along with breakout star keeper Sammy Garza, he moved from on ball to off ball with a fluidity that few players can match. He repeatedly recognized the weak point in the opposing defense, switched the angle of attack and converted his opportunities around the hoops. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPBNELu9hpFQQblKmo-ReLjxKrU6-vBPNlBkjOhSZ_h0KTVBdtTdTjO5qCtxRYqjDTgMPrza1Jh47W0DBibcnIz8_g4pNNv_L2As3ME4reZSHZgNwQY_O0H0XPCzn7ID2FSUVg4dgZokzRAQMIXhe5hUTT9VAu2wcfZof7keC3wjfyO1qm-4bZzzKZg/s6000/_MG_1123.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPBNELu9hpFQQblKmo-ReLjxKrU6-vBPNlBkjOhSZ_h0KTVBdtTdTjO5qCtxRYqjDTgMPrza1Jh47W0DBibcnIz8_g4pNNv_L2As3ME4reZSHZgNwQY_O0H0XPCzn7ID2FSUVg4dgZokzRAQMIXhe5hUTT9VAu2wcfZof7keC3wjfyO1qm-4bZzzKZg/w400-h266/_MG_1123.CR2" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Jeannette High.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Somehow, the GOAT was not even the best player on his own team though. Over the course of the weekend, chaser Josh Johnson produced a performance for the ages, one of the most impressive that I have ever seen on the pitch. A second-string ballcarrier who struggled with a turnover problem for the Outlaws at the MLQ Championship last year, Johnson elevated his game and became a highly efficient operator in the half court. He shook off tackles and hit shots from outside the keeper zone at every stage of the tournament, no matter what defensive looks the best teams in the East Division gave him. He was the hardest player to stop the entire weekend and he will be called upon as a key contributor for Team USA at the World Cup next summer. You can count the number of chasers and keepers who have ever played as well as Johnson on one hand. </p><p>Yet arguably, the story of the tournament went beyond one player. The hoop zone defense that the Austin Outlaws shifted into when the going got tough against the Washington Admirals represented a milestone for the highest level of the sport. They stuck pretty closely to the cautious defensive approach for the remainder of the tournament, and it increasingly worked for the Outlaws as they became more and more comfortable with the rotations. Now, Austin is not the first team to play a hoop zone defense and many top teams have turned to the strategy in recent years, but with personnel capable of standing up drives at the hoops and blocking shots on the top hoop, the Outlaws made the look a no-brainer. Erin McBride was particularly important, as her height and strength helped her cover any of three hoops and step up against any attacking player. A big question is whether enough teams without a player like McBride can pull off the hoop zone defense, but if they can follow the blueprint, the rulebook might need to spread the hoops even farther apart to give opposing beaters the chance to tap out defending chasers. </p><p><i>Jack McGovern is the Press Coordinator for Major League Quadball.</i></p>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-64645089803030289542022-05-19T13:15:00.018-07:002022-05-21T08:03:29.659-07:00Roster Reactions and 2022 MLQ Season Preview<p><i>One of the more interesting roster reveals in Major League Quidditch history dropped two weeks ago, with notable names popping up in unexpected places, rising college stars slated to make their summer debuts and a few surprise retirements across the country. After a new champion was crowned in the club division at US Quidditch Cup and a wide range of young players burst onto the scene in the college division, the rosters were announced in a climate of tantalizing expectations that the 2022 season could be the most closely contested yet. As teams hold their first few practices and players travel from the outer reaches of their recruiting radii, I had some thoughts based on the rosters about the storylines for each division. I am admittedly a little rusty as a quidditch blogger, but I have now been back around the sport for a full MLQ season and a full USQ season, so I have no excuse! </i></p><p><b>A Changing of the Guard?</b></p><p>One of the biggest questions for the league is whether the longtime dominance of the Boston Forge and the New York Titans atop the East Division will come to an end in 2022. The two rivals have finished either first or second in every season except one, with the Forge taking five consecutive division titles before the Titans finally knocked off their northern neighbors last year. Coming off USQ campaigns that fell short and heading into the 2022 MLQ season, neither team is necessarily favored though.</p><p>The Washington Admirals, fresh off a run to the semifinals at US Quidditch Cup by the Bosny Bearsharks without star players Julia Baer and Tyler Trudeau, were the early pick of MLQ co-commissioner Ethan Sturm. The Admirals have been making strides for several seasons now and the hard work of building a strong culture started to pay off last year, when Washington became the first team to defeat the Boston Forge in a regular season series and developed one of the prettiest passing offenses that quidditch has ever seen. There was a magic on their home turf outside RFK Stadium, where they believed they could beat any team, and all the key figures are coming back according to the revealed roster.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgaD8uizCYurKxQUbhQ1m8LBQkh4NaxNytbGFI12pzLdxYrvX1DENA1vGT__70txNJ7aKW7RKBMB_iE5B5mIP8f8FIOeK_0QAoehhbGM9Ws0Sv_x5R15I4JU-kvVnYodIDmgO4xVDqovazXLAG6kMEOEJ8vEMrkauWKqkT20xlNumhUGcG-ECQR1EpA/s1732/BosNY%20vs%20CAV-23.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1732" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgaD8uizCYurKxQUbhQ1m8LBQkh4NaxNytbGFI12pzLdxYrvX1DENA1vGT__70txNJ7aKW7RKBMB_iE5B5mIP8f8FIOeK_0QAoehhbGM9Ws0Sv_x5R15I4JU-kvVnYodIDmgO4xVDqovazXLAG6kMEOEJ8vEMrkauWKqkT20xlNumhUGcG-ECQR1EpA/w400-h266/BosNY%20vs%20CAV-23.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Chiddy Powers.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>With fewer home series in 2022 however, Washington will have to remain focused during the regular season because the ultimate goal is the same: a deep run before a hometown crowd in Howard County at the MLQ Championship. A year ago, the Admirals ran into the buzzsaw of the eventual champion Austin Outlaws in the quarterfinals before they could gather any momentum. To avoid a repeat scenario, the capital region squad will have to earn a higher seed by winning on the road in New York and Boston, a tough proposition for the beating corps especially. </p><p>The additions of former Maryland star Zain Bhalia and current Maryland standout Heather Farnan will provide much-needed depth, but continued development from the returning trio of Melissa Smith, Cody Nardone, and Bernie Berges is just as crucial. The three veterans stabilized a position that previously given Washington trouble last season and at times outplayed flashier opponents but the question of whether they can thrive as high-level beating speeds up and be the go-to beaters on a championship team is open. </p><p>Another team that is highly energized by a strong USQ season and could disrupt the duopoly of Boston and New York is the trial expansion team, the Charlotte Aviators. The Aviators took a game off the Titans, who eventually reached the finals, at the MLQ Championship last year and have the beating depth to hang with any team. They also have the top-performing seeker in the league in Ryan Davis, which means that more than any other positional unit, the burden lies with the chasers to elevate their games. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sfFKKYQjtyAMycfW8oEMI90ir6Mu76gid4dT4DwSwiCasPtfUH_Cqaav-argJxq979rdbNdDPDV_U5djulQGBHtRV9_w8JktXQIOUk3yPlnwZ55lLBhDWfABx7OMaQsuFR7tfKxKEsZd4N8s60mvmANGioyr8zcNTzClTVtmhDQC7h-ep7gBPwDnUQ/s2048/279244302_3244157249148919_2848262911068561962_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sfFKKYQjtyAMycfW8oEMI90ir6Mu76gid4dT4DwSwiCasPtfUH_Cqaav-argJxq979rdbNdDPDV_U5djulQGBHtRV9_w8JktXQIOUk3yPlnwZ55lLBhDWfABx7OMaQsuFR7tfKxKEsZd4N8s60mvmANGioyr8zcNTzClTVtmhDQC7h-ep7gBPwDnUQ/w400-h266/279244302_3244157249148919_2848262911068561962_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Mike Iadevaia.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Under the leadership of head coach Lee Hodge, the Aviators offense has come a long way, with a relatively one-dimensional attack becoming dynamic and multi-faceted over the course of the 2021 season. Davis has a killer midrange shot, Hodge is one of the best in the sport at working in underutilized spaces on the wing, and Logan Hartman can come out of nowhere and turn garbage into gold around the hoops. What is holding the Aviators back is a combination of two things: a lack of incorporation of their women chasers in strategic ways and an underdeveloped press on the defensive end. </p><p>Goals do not always come easy for Charlotte, and finding ways to move the ball and get counterattacking opportunities is part of the solution. With Diana Howard transferring to the Washington Admirals roster and Erin Smekrud appearing on the practice squad, Charlotte will need its new additions at chaser who are women to step up. But the coaching staff needs to have a real plan to take advantage of their skillsets. Similarly, players like Quincy Hildreth are deadly on the fast break but do not get nearly enough chances to run in the open field because of a lack of coordination on defense. The bar is exceptionally high for a trial expansion team, but the Aviators have every reason to believe they could win the division with their trajectory over the past few years.</p><p>Despite all the energy around the two potential challengers, Boston and New York will be hard to unseat from their thrones. New York is reenergized under a new generation of leadership, with Frank Minson stepping into the role of head coach and Rachel Ayella-Silver and Jon Jackson joining Lindsay Marella as assistant coaches. The younger members of the Titans squad have made enormous progress over the past calendar year and the beating corps is now stacked with the intriguing additions of Tate Kay and Tessa Mullins. The departure of several longtime fixtures in the quaffle game also creates a huge opportunity for a new player like Leo Fried to slot into the space behind the hoops and be a sparkplug off the bench. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUN2E2UFKzhZzyVrJa5yopXO7UMjKRA2yRsv1zSLtbF7xM96IriLdTCh7NqCQt2uAGMQ_jJPBlp0yYX4dyINvxcoFx2dUt8eYoDEx93fPOGuKk-yfXHN9EpYREt63xi6zEco-T3Qbf61vvX-gZwAKrhAdZhesxihp2wtQ0LaOQLNkDapCskG2ozCPmA/s2048/279046685_3243403649224279_7108060388560840444_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUN2E2UFKzhZzyVrJa5yopXO7UMjKRA2yRsv1zSLtbF7xM96IriLdTCh7NqCQt2uAGMQ_jJPBlp0yYX4dyINvxcoFx2dUt8eYoDEx93fPOGuKk-yfXHN9EpYREt63xi6zEco-T3Qbf61vvX-gZwAKrhAdZhesxihp2wtQ0LaOQLNkDapCskG2ozCPmA/w400-h266/279046685_3243403649224279_7108060388560840444_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Mike Iadevaia.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>While the stage is set for a young player to prove themselves at the highest level, the hopes of the Titans to defend their division title ultimately rest with a couple veterans. Jon Jackson was a highly efficient scorer and passer for the Titans last season, at times carrying the offensive load, but he will need to reach another level of consistency in the half court for New York to hang with Washington and Charlotte. Lindsay Marella is an unparalleled weapon for a team that is breaking a press with her vision and distribution, but the Titans will need more goals from the Team USA mainstay in 2022. In the beater game, it is exciting to see Devin Lee, who joined for the MLQ Championship last season, on the roster for the regular season. Can he recapture his form from the 2019 season? </p><p>Two hundred miles to the north in Boston, the Forge have turned over the head coaching reigns to Tom DeMouth. After the outstanding performances of many Massachusetts Quidditch Conference teams at US Quidditch Cup, the coaching staff had difficult decisions to make with the roster and its choices will fall under the microscope of the highly engaged local community if Boston starts slow out of the gate. The Forge have Charlotte and Washington at home in June, two show-me series for a team that is looking to move past a disappointing 2021 season. </p><p>For Boston to write a different story into the history books in 2022, they will need to begin with a much-improved defense. Most importantly for the three-time champions, Lulu Xu is back in the middle of the defensive half, the ultimate stopper who covers endless ground and fends off challenges with world-class hand-to-hand skills to snuff out danger. In the chaser game, the Forge picked up two defensive stalwarts from their southern rivals: Taylor Crawford and Peter Lawrence. Crawford brings some of the best point defense and open field tackling in the game and Lawrence provides size inside for crucial matchups with opposing ballhandlers like Tyler Trudeau and Quincy Hildreth. Together, they are fascinating pieces for DeMouth to have at his disposal.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmY1NXjFPJu-4BAWAkKlUEPd7UizRJ6ArteZZ75Gs6uginmEAfKN5oSTC8g6B2Flb3UkqtzI2Xu_DjBoqor4CNsnqAxx6jVSESCtPnKbqxAkrapujY_gTG0-Olo2ZSLi0pYCeO04DPjPc2LRDs8pMPQQT5rDhNJJV2nuNDXDiLoLqvhWOxYPWXugSzA/s2048/278876080_3243404442557533_8903461042887759757_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmY1NXjFPJu-4BAWAkKlUEPd7UizRJ6ArteZZ75Gs6uginmEAfKN5oSTC8g6B2Flb3UkqtzI2Xu_DjBoqor4CNsnqAxx6jVSESCtPnKbqxAkrapujY_gTG0-Olo2ZSLi0pYCeO04DPjPc2LRDs8pMPQQT5rDhNJJV2nuNDXDiLoLqvhWOxYPWXugSzA/w400-h266/278876080_3243404442557533_8903461042887759757_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Mike Iadevaia.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Continued growth from the younger players on the roster is also key for the Forge. With Jayke Archibald and Grace Dastous no longer around, there are holes at keeper and chaser that Boston will need to fill. Ian Scura is the obvious choice to fill the shoes of Archibald and Ryan Pfenning is waiting in the wing but there is more of a competition for the heavy minutes that Dastous has logged over the past few seasons, not to mention the type of cutting that has carved up defenses for years. Morgan Bertram is the strongest defensive presence and perhaps has the inside track, as she posted impressive goalscoring numbers in 2021. Elsewhere, Zach Doyle was an excellent off-ball option for Boston last year and the additions of players who stuffed the statsheet in MQC play like Jordan Smiley and Chris LaBudde significantly raise the ceiling for the storied franchise.</p><p>The Ottawa Black Bears are the clear underdogs in the ultracompetitive East Division, but it will just be gratifying to have Canadian representation back in the league after more than two years of border restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For American audiences beginning to look towards the 2023 IQA World Cup in Richmond, Virginia, it will be interesting to see which members of the Black Bears squad seem likely to appear on the Canadian national team next summer.</p><p>My picks:</p><p>Washington Admirals 9-3</p><p>New York Titans 8-4</p><p>Boston Forge 7-5</p><p>Charlotte Aviators 6-6</p><p>Ottawa Black Bears 0-12</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The New North</b></p><p>Split into two halves with a new regular season format that will culminate in the first-ever North Division Championship in South Bend, Indiana, the middle of the country is set for a compelling schedule of games in 2022. The western half of the division is probably stronger, with two teams in the Indianapolis Intensity and the Minneapolis Monarchs who should be the favorites based on the consistency of their programs and the results that they have produced in recent years. But the return of two teams in the eastern half, the Rochester Whiteout (who have played in the East Division since 2019) and the Toronto Raiders (who could not participate in the 2021 season because of border restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic), adds a significant wrinkle to the projection of a division winner. MLQ co-commissioner Ethan Sturm picked the Rochester Whiteout, a young team that ran the gauntlet of the East Division last season.</p><p>The perennial division champion Indianapolis Intensity enter the season somewhat under the radar after they fell to the Minneapolis Monarchs in a three-game sweep at home last summer. In addition, several program fixtures like Jeff Siwek, Alyssa Marassa and Matt Melton are taking the summer off or moving to other roles, lending an unfamiliar look to the roster. While certainly the depth has an untested quality with a large influx of players from the up-and-coming Columbia program, the coaching staff under head coach Nathan Digmann is committed to finding diamonds in the rough in the form of player development and the top lines already have the potential to dominate the division if healthy and available.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM_qk3DXE4sYmC6q1TDeZ6t_aPs9XnoxuigdDB-eNfPJW4gSoRqa4Z6NZz4FXJoZRCFsepUczCGBRsGvWti7OEHQw1wDn09SfZZXUWdvUocBAWYxfHS7xMszFT6Q92qSbWz8lD8MO5-u9oZ5WgmHFdemWodsumiYsLNbvURKu_ZHTsCOs-voMF7V_Tw/s2048/280947644_519171619912166_763749889607010122_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM_qk3DXE4sYmC6q1TDeZ6t_aPs9XnoxuigdDB-eNfPJW4gSoRqa4Z6NZz4FXJoZRCFsepUczCGBRsGvWti7OEHQw1wDn09SfZZXUWdvUocBAWYxfHS7xMszFT6Q92qSbWz8lD8MO5-u9oZ5WgmHFdemWodsumiYsLNbvURKu_ZHTsCOs-voMF7V_Tw/w400-h266/280947644_519171619912166_763749889607010122_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Willow Elser.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Beginning with the beaters, Matt Brown is returning from injury and Tad Walters is expecting to have greater availability in 2022, two facts that significantly improve the outlook for the Intensity and boost morale around the team. Added to Dany Yacoub, who thrived in their absences last year, and Ben Peachey, who switched positions and became a starter for Boom Train during the USQ season, the Intensity should have the deepest beating corps in the division. One substantial concern is the losses of Catherine Rogers, Alyssa Irwin and Sam McNew, which leaves Indy with only one woman beater on the roster in Linnea Schultz. Early in the season especially, it is worth exploring whether a female player who is listed primarily as a chaser like Kennedy Murphy or Mary Owen, both of whom have experience at beater, could pinch hit at the position so Indy is not wedded to running two male sets nearly all the time.</p><p>In terms of the half-court offense, the duo to watch is Nathan Digmann and Cole Collins. What Digmann can do is well-known. For Boom Train, he accounted for the overwhelming majority of the offensive production against top opponents at tournaments like the Crescent City Invitational and the Sin City Classic with his ability to beat defenders one-on-one and his accurate midrange shooting. But few players in the league are more underrated than Collins, who was overshadowed by playing on the same line as Creighton phenom Darien Murcek-Ellis for the Kansas City Stampede in 2021. Collins has aggressive instincts and a deep arsenal of pump fakes and double moves around the hoops. He will likely join Digmann on the starting line for the Intensity. When they sit, players like Monica Marion and Josh Horchem, both of whom were members of the practice squad in 2021, are key for stabilizing the goalscoring output. They have a knack for fighting through contact and finishing at the hoops. </p><p>Ultimately, the Intensity come into the 2022 season with slightly lower expectations because the key members of the roster have fallen three times in a row to the same group of players: the core of the San Antonio Soldados and the USQ club division champion Texas Hill Country Heat. While there have been injuries and losing to the national champions is no cause for shame, the Soldados and Heat have utilized the same style of play, a counterattacking strategy that has revolutionized high-level quidditch by taking advantage of possession-oriented offenses. Like the gegenpressing of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in soccer, the Soldados and the Heat want to turn defense into offense and will spring an aggressive high press when they generate the slightest advantage in the beater game. It is not clear that any of the competition in the North Division has the personnel to pull off the kind of gameplan that has caused problems for Indy, but the Intensity will need to develop a response specifically for opportunistic teams that are willing to try. </p><p>Out of all the teams in the North Division, the Minneapolis Monarchs are perhaps best prepared to follow the blueprint of the Soldados and the Heat against Indy. While they developed their own formula for knocking off the Intensity en route to winning the division last year, the Monarchs have lost key veterans like Sean Pagoada and Luke Zak and Indy will pose a much tougher test with Brown and Walters in the lineup. Still, the upset potential is high with the last two North Division MVPs in Max Meier and April Grabner on the roster. Meier approximates what Soldados and Heat star keeper Miguel Esparza can do with his speed in the open field and his ability to stick with plays that seem dead. Grabner likewise can play the part of Team USA beater Bailee Fields in clogging up the middle of the field and eliminating passing options during the press. With a combination of speed and length in half-court defense and an ability to create fast break opportunities, the Monarchs will certainly be a tricky team to break down.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AGgOUQmMQbyFpjNIAu0IrrnPpCCVfoR7qf-CowwNt90WKwx_LJxMur3IDImcMtqt5PDhrrOi6n6eC8uAJ4pFXowfFNl4FhUIU9MN9OIoHBWqltNyOpWLof2sJ5oBG9-u0f_n4Eal-5LUG_CE9D_T7OIkzNb4pDBhWyBsbOAQtpXqLLSR9mv0tzOspA/s2048/280736711_519174496578545_9012342430686151481_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AGgOUQmMQbyFpjNIAu0IrrnPpCCVfoR7qf-CowwNt90WKwx_LJxMur3IDImcMtqt5PDhrrOi6n6eC8uAJ4pFXowfFNl4FhUIU9MN9OIoHBWqltNyOpWLof2sJ5oBG9-u0f_n4Eal-5LUG_CE9D_T7OIkzNb4pDBhWyBsbOAQtpXqLLSR9mv0tzOspA/w400-h266/280736711_519174496578545_9012342430686151481_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Willow Elser.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A team that came close to defeating the Minneapolis Monarchs away from home last season, the Detroit Innovators are returning under mostly new leadership in 2022 with Kaegan Maddelein in the role of head coach and David Banas, Cam Kniffen and Emma Vazquez joining the staff as assistants. Each member of the coaching staff is key for their on-field contributions but they have already put the team in a strong position by recruiting well from the Michigan and Michigan State programs. In particular, a whopping ten players from the Michigan roster at the most recent US Quidditch Cup will be plying their trade for the Innovators this summer, a great chance for growth and development over the course of the season. </p><p>In the mean time, Detroit will look toward Banas to wreak havoc, Kniffen to organize the defense, and Vazquez to keep the ball moving in the half court and force rotations from the defense. The Innovators still need a solution at the point of attack, someone who is both an accurate distributor and an effective driver, and Maddelein is typically more comfortable working behind the hoops, but Detroit has the pieces that can make life difficult for any opponent. </p><p>In the eastern half of the North Division, the Rochester Whiteout are returning from a two-season spell alongside the powerhouse programs of the East Division. They are bringing a roster that has almost completely turned over since the last time they competed against midwestern teams, when they won a division title in 2018. But last season especially, they showcased for the entire league the benefits of entrusting young players with key minutes against top opponents, as relatively unknown names like Mitchell Vargas and Ben Stonish accounted for just as much of the total goalscoring as more established figures like Sollie Gominiak and Alyssa Giarrosso. It was an equal opportunity offense, with lots of intricate passing and unpredictable movement. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp6S1j3rGrxLVUds7mweesi99uVSZT2FWmbuOFFZDEkvhFpBTCwJO98ov5l_CzTWk3DiWchJpOym6HmdlxKIYCAYY9CACgr_W4wxwr-9P2fege00iWkhwlvEbwnCNKhIUEUWnN-9ZtIU6Zn1846Uzi8uGfkxTfJjIBVeTFIgNk1BsFGvy3uN26b7hoA/s2048/279250801_3244157462482231_7541417210087286589_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp6S1j3rGrxLVUds7mweesi99uVSZT2FWmbuOFFZDEkvhFpBTCwJO98ov5l_CzTWk3DiWchJpOym6HmdlxKIYCAYY9CACgr_W4wxwr-9P2fege00iWkhwlvEbwnCNKhIUEUWnN-9ZtIU6Zn1846Uzi8uGfkxTfJjIBVeTFIgNk1BsFGvy3uN26b7hoA/w400-h266/279250801_3244157462482231_7541417210087286589_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Mike Iadevaia.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>For the Whiteout to translate highly attractive quidditch into wins however, several things need to happen. Emily Hickmott has to continue to play like one of the most reliable beaters outside of Texas, unfazed by the speed that Ben Strauss and the Cleveland Riff beaters will bring and unbothered by physicality from her years in the Lone Star State. The backup beater pair of Josh Tombline and Madeleine Fordham has to build upon their progress last year, when they were thrown into the deep end from the opening weekend of the season against Charlotte and New York and able to hold bludger control for significant stretches. </p><p>Most importantly, Basem Ashkar, the leading scorer and assister for Rochester in 2021, has to find a way to assert his will in close games like he famously did in the 2018 USQ nationals college division final against the University of Texas, all without taking away from the metronomic rhythm of the Whiteout offense. Finally, Kit Powpour has to take advantage of the fact that Snitch of the Fall Justin Barnard is a member of his team and pick up new moves in practice. Powpour learned from coach Harry Greenhouse during his time at Boston University and has shown every indication that he is capable of making a jump. His strength and conditioning is crucial, as Rochester cannot be pulling players like Ashkar and Gominiak from the chasing game too often because they need a snitch catch in 2022. </p><p>Outside of Rochester, the Toronto Raiders are probably best positioned to challenge the Indianapolis Intensity and the Minneapolis Monarchs from the east. The Raiders finished tied for second place in the North Division in their debut season way back in 2019. Unfortunately, they have not been able to play across the border since then but they have presumably been following the ups and downs of their division rivals. If they have used the time away from the league wisely, they should have a huge competitive edge in the first couple series because none of their recent games are on tape and all of their opponents have had their matches filmed and posted on YouTube for more than a year. Along with the Scavenger Showdown in late July which will determine the best MLQ team in Canada, the Raiders have an exciting and long-awaited season on the horizon.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovRIT-RW_On69QE3DULozdgZldRrJnEcTUOxIykEf6krLe0ncqF0shl71UOAlWd1jbTiMQiGewQX7O_-o48D_RPsNDBO1mnEeBnQKPJ_-ivz1eD5CrgM-6wcl5xkAhNo9AHo-uOYayH04bNsnMNYNz59TqTrtgluURbOsFKjA6KqM-kxhxcZ63Ywf7g/s1903/Apollos%20vs%20Rouges-9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1903" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovRIT-RW_On69QE3DULozdgZldRrJnEcTUOxIykEf6krLe0ncqF0shl71UOAlWd1jbTiMQiGewQX7O_-o48D_RPsNDBO1mnEeBnQKPJ_-ivz1eD5CrgM-6wcl5xkAhNo9AHo-uOYayH04bNsnMNYNz59TqTrtgluURbOsFKjA6KqM-kxhxcZ63Ywf7g/w400-h266/Apollos%20vs%20Rouges-9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Chiddy Powers.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Finally, in the absence of the Toronto Raiders, the Cleveland Riff automatically qualified for the MLQ Championship after finishing fourth in the North Division last season but they made the most of their opportunity in the play-in bracket with a memorable and closely contested match against the League City Legends. The strong performance followed their lone victory of the regular season in a massive upset over the division champion Minneapolis Monarchs. The recipe for each of the significant triumphs was different, as different players were available at different times, but it seems like all of the key pieces are back in 2022. </p><p>Ben Strauss, who missed the MLQ Championship, is one of the best beaters in the division and perhaps the most capable of wearing down the depth of the Indy lines. The veteran keeper John Gaffigan came out of retirement to stabilize the Riff offense and showed that his distribution is just as multifaceted as ever. And Carrie Brittson was a revelation for her ability to juke defenders and dunk at the hoops. The Riff might not defeat the Rochester Whiteout at home in their opening series of the season, but with time to practice, they have proven to be a team that is dangerous to underestimate. They will be a difficult draw for a team from western half of the division at the North Division Championship in South Bend.</p><p>My picks:</p><p>Indianapolis Intensity 5-1</p><p>Minneapolis Monarchs 3-3</p><p>Detroit Innovators 1-5</p><p><br /></p><p>Rochester Whiteout 5-1</p><p>Toronto Raiders 3-3</p><p>Cleveland Riff 1-5</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Watching the Throne</b></p><p>With the recent title of Texas Hill Country Heat in the club division and the split series with the Austin Outlaws last season, it is tempting to think that the San Antonio Soldados should be favored to win the South Division heading into the 2022 campaign. While there is lots of time for development over the course of the summer from players like Matt Blackwood and the rest of the UTSA core, San Antonio enters the season as a relatively top-heavy team, pretty dependent on reigning South Division MVP Miguel Esparza at keeper and rising star Daniel Williams at beater. Esparza pushes the pace like no other ballcarrier in the league and sacrifices very little in terms of efficiency for his aggressiveness. He has outstanding field vision and the moves to get around most defenders. Williams was hyped in the forums after USQ nationals as the best beater in the world, which may very well be true. He will be tested in a new way however without Bailey Fields, who is now a member of the Austin Outlaws.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywW3oqdUvFzSaUygNnKpcCSfD3T66esy_HirWwhpJIB7nXeK5kLffr_x2Ev6o6nl3ddDGZgJZsphyuvocCGBVj6Vc1ChBTMYejgyehMGcxqKJkv2VnDsluRHeAx_yKNmCOJnUusax089xHDzEcjyC5djG3wjF_cfjWxpmUj23EAMoTXK6vj5RoGGcKQ/s2320/PEG%20vs%20Heat-11.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2320" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywW3oqdUvFzSaUygNnKpcCSfD3T66esy_HirWwhpJIB7nXeK5kLffr_x2Ev6o6nl3ddDGZgJZsphyuvocCGBVj6Vc1ChBTMYejgyehMGcxqKJkv2VnDsluRHeAx_yKNmCOJnUusax089xHDzEcjyC5djG3wjF_cfjWxpmUj23EAMoTXK6vj5RoGGcKQ/w400-h199/PEG%20vs%20Heat-11.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Chiddy Powers.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Otherwise, the Soldados will miss the contributions of several former players from the Pegasus roster in the USQ club division, namely chaser Austin Villejo and beaters Ryan Nawrocki and Kylie McBride. Even as a wing chaser, Villejo was the most consistent scoring threat for San Antonio at the MLQ Championship last year with Esparza unavailable to play. Nawrocki going down with an injury in the quarterfinals against Indy significantly lowered the chances for an upset of New York in the semifinals. And McBride was the rock of the defense, luring her opponents into deep positions and winning beater battles to consistently spring the fast break. Along with Fields, she also enabled the Soldados to play their vaunted 18-wheeler lineup, an unconventional look with the capacity to throw teams off guard. But for every absence (which I normally do not like to dwell on!) there is an opportunity and players like Tim Nguyen, Kris De La Fuente and Maya Hinebaugh will look to step into the big shoes left behind.</p><p>If San Antonio will be trying to plug some holes in the early part of the season, the Austin Outlaws are the clear favorites, not only for the South Division but for the whole league once again. The experience that the large University of Texas contingent on the roster gained over the past few months should not be underestimated, as a group of young players encountered their fair share of adversity and battled through tough games and nagging injuries to become college division national champions. Kyzer Polzin and Kasye Bevers especially showed up in the finals under the lights, making quick work of the overextended Creighton beaters and taking care to place their beats out of the reach of quaffle blocks by Darian Murcek-Ellis and the other Creighton ballcarriers. They were locked in, intently focused in the way that they will need to be for the Austin Outlaws this summer.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzHYZRWm0vhv37J9uDqnW9RYSNwuRvGULW659qrZ9cvvRbBBCKEIv4qPodq8I45l1BOrrXrmnGejMbCTM7hxfQYcEXulJ8uNP6-EuKEG225cKnByuYt0_wIdqjYg6VJ40wEGFTs9Ldwd3LryE7sAlitAACAOFpWBpjcytIOHoXipIOm26sqGmce3luQ/s2157/UT%20vs%20CRE%20Finals-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2157" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzHYZRWm0vhv37J9uDqnW9RYSNwuRvGULW659qrZ9cvvRbBBCKEIv4qPodq8I45l1BOrrXrmnGejMbCTM7hxfQYcEXulJ8uNP6-EuKEG225cKnByuYt0_wIdqjYg6VJ40wEGFTs9Ldwd3LryE7sAlitAACAOFpWBpjcytIOHoXipIOm26sqGmce3luQ/w400-h214/UT%20vs%20CRE%20Finals-2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Chiddy Powers.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The continued growth of the current Texas group is especially key for the future of the esteemed Austin Outlaws program because of the increasing number of veterans who are stepping away. With a few exceptions like the former Team USA chaser Simon Arends who has now transitioned very nicely to beater and the indomitable Augie Monroe who is doing his best Tom Brady impression, many of the safety valves are gone for the three-time champs. At the MLQ Championship last year, the two most reliable sources of half court offense for the Outlaws were probably Louis Sanchez and Andrew Axtell. Sam Haimowitz was their second leading scorer during the regular season. None are on the roster in 2022. </p><p>In their stead, two other veterans, Kaci Erwin and Erin McBride, will continue tackling and scoring with characteristic consistency, but younger ballcarriers like Josh Johnson and Sammy Garza will need to improve their efficiency and physicality in the course of stepping into larger roles. They will need to find the balance that Monroe has mastered over the years of avoiding turnovers while putting real pressure on the defense by repeatedly driving with the intention to score. With respect to the beaters, Fields will slot into the heavy minutes logged by Hallie Pace last year and Taylor Tracy is ready for the challenge of matching up against the trickiest assignments from the opposing team every game in the absence of Cole Travis and Jackson Johnson. Still, Austin does not appear to be the juggernaut that they were in 2021, especially in comparison to teams outside the division. The Outlaws might have enough to win the South Division but their depth will be relatively untested against East Division foes in particular.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim068xeCIA1SCueKK7JoXhnurgwTl0_p4KlV-qDVRbzUGCEe6J7_byAmsrUQOiSb46FBkb8FoRfbBKFZRgCeeD2_Qk_cp_83jS28ZMv9cteMy3DH0ffbSG90_VvfzYd85zkeLOVmeh7d8wBEY1vfO82n8ZL7tIvGOROlOSo9uQg6hBqRE2JmTx8CzbJA/s1903/UT%20vs%20CRE%20Finals-66.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1903" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim068xeCIA1SCueKK7JoXhnurgwTl0_p4KlV-qDVRbzUGCEe6J7_byAmsrUQOiSb46FBkb8FoRfbBKFZRgCeeD2_Qk_cp_83jS28ZMv9cteMy3DH0ffbSG90_VvfzYd85zkeLOVmeh7d8wBEY1vfO82n8ZL7tIvGOROlOSo9uQg6hBqRE2JmTx8CzbJA/w400-h266/UT%20vs%20CRE%20Finals-66.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Chiddy Powers.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>With a slight opening at the top from the relatively inexperienced rosters of San Antonio and Austin, all of the second tier in the South Division should feel cautiously optimistic heading into the season, able to realistically envision an upset victory in a low-scoring game. Composed of the Creighton core that just surged into the college division national championship game as well as veterans from the Kansas and Missouri programs, the Kansas City Stampede likely have the best chance. Backed by beaters who will restrain themselves from the riskiest throws and play more conventionally under head coach Adam Heald, the aforementioned star chaser Darian Murcek-Ellis will be able to shine on the offensive end like last year without immediately giving up a fast break goal going the other way. It will also be interesting to see Creighton keeper Joe Goulet in the Stampede setup as well after he had a small but key role off the bench for the Minneapolis Monarchs in 2021.</p><p>For the League City Legends, the name to know is Hayden Boyes, who was one of the youngest players in the league last season but became the go-to option in the half court offense at the MLQ Championship despite being pretty undersized for a chaser. Boyes has a bright future in the sport and it is exciting to think about how fast he already processes the game. Under first-year head coach Ashton Jean-Lewis, League City will have to scrap and claw through the beater game to give their chasers an opportunity, a tougher task in the South Division than anywhere else. </p><p>While lacking offensive firepower, the New Orleans Curse have certainly demonstrated in the past that they have the capacity to scrap and claw in the beater game, a formula for giving trouble to any top team. They return experienced pieces Josh Mansfield and Sarah Kneiling, although they only have four full-time beaters and one part-time beater listed on the roster right now. The Curse will look to build on the momentum of stealing a game from the Kansas City Stampede in their final regular season series last year en route to qualifying for the MLQ Championship for the first time. </p><p>My picks:</p><p>Austin Outlaws 12-0</p><p>San Antonio Soldados 8-4</p><p>Kansas City Stampede 6-6</p><p>League City Legends 2-10</p><p>New Orleans Curse 2-10</p><p><i>Jack McGovern is Press Coordinator for Major League Quidditch.</i></p>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-1318397195518876872021-08-19T19:03:00.005-07:002021-08-31T07:24:14.573-07:002021 MLQ Championship Spectator Guide<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>This spectator's guide originally appeared on the <a href="https://mlquidditch.com/2021-mlq-championship-spectator-guide/" target="_blank">Major League Quidditch website</a> on August 19, 2021. I thank my coworkers who edited the piece and provided statistics.</i></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700;">Friday, August 20<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the day before the 2021 <a href="https://mlqchampionship.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">MLQ Championship</span></a> finally arrives after a long countdown, you’ll want to finalize your checklist for the tournament. The weather in the Mid-Atlantic region is usually hot and humid in August, so plan to wear a light, breathable fabric (like your favorite <a href="https://mlqchampionship.com/jersey-exchange-booth" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">quidditch jersey</span></a>). Other must-haves include: some spending money to purchase MLQ merch as well as food and drinks at the event, sunscreen, sunglasses (even if there are clouds in the forecast), and an <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">umbrella</span>, which is useful both as a portable shade structure on the sunny bleachers and in case of a surprise afternoon shower. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, do not forget to bring a <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">mask</span> or two! MLQ is taking the <a href="https://mlquidditch.com/mlq-covid-19-update-mlq-championship-measures/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">rise in Delta variant cases</span></a> very seriously. Howard County, Maryland recently reinstated its indoor mask mandate in county buildings such as the on-site bathrooms at Troy Park, and MLQ is additionally requiring all players, staff and spectators to mask up in outdoor areas where individuals may congregate like vendor tents and spectator areas. We appreciate your understanding as we do our part to keep our communities safe, especially ahead of the start of the school year! Once you have completed your checklist, load everything into a backpack or drawstring bag, which are permitted and even encouraged at the event, and get a good night’s sleep! </span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saturday, August 21<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The action starts early on Saturday morning with two pivotal matchups in the play-in bracket. A double elimination tournament with two spots in the Benepe Cup quarterfinals up for grabs, the play-in bracket promises lots of one-off intense games between teams from different parts of the country. Though the games later in the morning are to-be-determined by results, the first matchups of the day at 8:30 a.m. are preset by regular season seedings.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Pitch One, the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">League City Legends</span> from outside of Houston, Texas take on the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Cleveland Riff</span>, who are making their first appearance at the MLQ Championship since 2016. The Legends hail from the smallest city represented in the league, yet they have proven that they belong on the field while receiving strong support from their community, almost like the Green Bay Packers of the gridiron. They have the ageless wonder, chaser <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Kody Marshall</span> (No. 1), who helped to revolutionize the sport with his physicality during his days for the first national champion University of Texas squad. They also have a history of springing dramatic upsets, including past triumphs over franchises from Los Angeles and New York and a strategic masterclass over their rival San Antonio earlier this season. While League City is the clear favorite against Cleveland, the Riff and their young beaters will look to give the Legends a taste of their own medicine in the first time slot of the day. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the very same time on Pitch Two, the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Charlotte Aviators</span> square off against the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Detroit Innovators</span>. Charlotte is the first-ever trial expansion team in MLQ, meaning that the Aviators were invited to join the league for a single test season and hope to become a full member franchise next year. They temporarily replaced the Ottawa Black Bears in the East Division, one of two Canadian teams who did not compete this season because of the suspension of cross-border play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seizing their opportunity to showcase the emerging talent of their region, the Aviators have already surpassed expectations by qualifying for the 2021 MLQ Championship. In their debut at the marquee event against Detroit, watch for Aviators seeker <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Ryan Davis</span> (No. 30), who leads the league with six snitch catches. Davis will duel with Innovators seeker <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Leo Fried</span> (No. 3), who is tied for third on the season with four pulls and also leads the league in takeaways as a chaser with 29.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two more can’t-miss teams debut in the next time slot at 9:45 a.m. after earning first-round byes in the play-in bracket through their regular season performance: the hometown <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Washington Admirals</span> and the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Kansas City Stampede</span>. With a pass-first offense and an irresistible team spirit, the Admirals are an easy team to root for if you are a local. Look for chaser <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Julia Baer</span> (No. 53) to make an impact on both sides of the ball. Baer is a University of Richmond alum and Team USA player who won two league titles with the Boston Forge before moving back to the Mid-Atlantic region. She brings a championship pedigree to the team that is heavily favored to advance out of the play-in bracket. For the Kansas City Stampede, one of the youngest teams in the league, the story is all about rising star chaser <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Darian Murcek-Ellis</span> (No. 2), who introduced himself to a national audience with 17 goals in his first three games of the year.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After you have seen every team in the play-in </span><a href="https://mlqchampionship.com/bracket" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">bracket</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> — and snapped a picture of their beautiful jerseys designed by Nick Leimbach and VII Apparel for your kaleidoscopic post-tournament photo collage — head over to the merchandise tent to browse the collection for yourself. What is your favorite jersey in the league? What color schemes do you like the best? What do you notice about the logos? (Hint: Quidditch is a mixed-gender sport and the branding of our franchises strives to reflect that!) For an even larger display of quidditch paraphernalia, visit the MLQ </span><a href="https://mlqchampionship.com/jersey-exchange-booth" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">jersey exchange</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. If you have an old jersey on hand and you are interested in participating in one of the most unique traditions in the sport, drop off your former kit on Saturday morning and return on Saturday evening or Sunday morning to acquire a new one for free. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the play-in bracket wraps up in the late morning and early afternoon, catch bits and pieces of a few more games before heading to the food trucks for lunch. On Saturday, you can check out <a href="https://altheaskitchen.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Althea’s Almost Famous</span></a> Jamaican catering and pick up a snow cone in the afternoon from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/happyhipposhavedice" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Happy Hippo</span></a>. On Sunday, you can get <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Smoke-Stacks-House-of-BBQ-239100552895923" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Smoke Stack’s House of BBQ</span></a> and return for yet another snow cone! Find your way back to the fields before the high-stakes final play-in game at 2:30 p.m. with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. Strike up a conversation on the sidelines if there is a rule you are trying to understand or a team you want to know more about. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wherever the tournament takes you, 3:30 p.m. marks the start of the championship <a href="https://mlqchampionship.com/bracket" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">bracket</span></a> for the coveted Benepe Cup — named after real-life quidditch founder Alex Benepe. With the potential for upsets and thrilling back-and-forth swings between closely contested teams, the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">quarterfinals</span> are arguably the most exciting round of the tournament. Four different best-of-three series will unfold in alternating timeslots for the rest of the afternoon, with unexpected twists and turns almost guaranteed. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The reigning champion and most storied team in the league, the Boston Forge, kick off the action on Pitch Two against the North Division champion <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Minneapolis Monarchs</span>, who got to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mlquidditch/videos/359612752340105" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">choose</span></a> their opponent in the first round and made the gutsiest pick possible. The Monarchs, an expansion franchise in 2019, opted to challenge the team with three titles to their name and one of the most impactful beaters in the sport in <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Max Havlin</span> (No. 14). While Boston dropped series to New York and Washington in the regular season and finished second in the East Division unlike past years, Minneapolis showed immense trust in their deep beating corps, especially starting beater <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Sean Pagoada</span> (No. 6), in deciding to face the Benepe Cup holders. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Simultaneously on Pitch One, the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">San Antonio Soldados</span> meet the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Indianapolis Intensity</span> in a rematch of the most riveting series from the 2019 MLQ Championship. Indianapolis entered the series as the four-time North Division champion and the higher seed, but San Antonio scored a memorable upset with their lightning-quick fastbreak offense and tricky zone defense. Now, the Soldados begin the weekend as the favorite and the Intensity will have to surprise the doubters. Keep your eyes on beaters like <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Kylie McBride</span> (No. 93) for San Antonio and <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Tim Kwan</span> (No. 8) for Indianapolis, who won the last two college national titles with the University of Texas and the University of Rochester respectively.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, at 4:30 p.m., you will get your first look at the co-favorites for the 2021 Benepe Cup title: the East Division champion <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">New York Titans</span> and the South Division victor <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Austin Outlaws</span>. The Titans technically enter as the number one overall seed because of a higher strength of schedule, but New York is coming off its first-ever division title, never having dispatched the archrival Boston Forge in a three-game series before this season. They are relatively new arrivals to true title contention. A big part of their breakthrough this year has been chaser <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">J.C. Arencibia</span> (No. 88) and his ability to drive through tackles and rip shots from distance. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indeed, with two previous league trophies in 2017 and 2018, the Outlaws are expected by many quidditch players to return to the top in 2021. They have the most decorated individual athlete in quidditch, keeper <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Augustine Monroe</span> (No. 10), who leads the team on offense with 29 goals and 20 assists. But Austin prides itself on the defensive side of the ball. In addition to her 20 goals, chaser <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Kaci Erwin</span> (No. 2) in particular is one of the most feared tacklers in the game, a headliner to a roster that is filled with Team USA veterans and standout performers. After falling in the finals of the most recent MLQ Championship to the Boston Forge, the Outlaws will attempt to once again prove the old maxim that defense wins championships.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With a long day behind you, head to the <a href="https://www.mutinypiratebar.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Mutiny Pirate Bar and Island Grille</span></span></a> for dinner, where you can cool off and keep watching the tournament on television! Located conveniently at the entrance to Troy Park, Mutiny Pirate Bar is showing the games from the nearby fields all weekend, so you won’t miss a moment. You can enjoy a meal and a drink while seeing live quidditch with onscreen scoreboards, trained commentary, referee microphones and postgame interviews. You won’t want to leave your seat! By tuning into the livestream, you will also join a <a href="https://www.iqasport.com/teams" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">worldwide community</span></a> of quidditch players in almost 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Brazil, that is following the tournament online.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday, August 22<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the most part, you know what you are doing by now and what you enjoy the most, whether it is spectating specific teams in-person, browsing around the merchandise tent or watching the livestream at Mutiny Pirate Bar. You will want to know a couple of important times, location changes and special events for day two of the tournament though. First, the opening best-of-three semifinals series begins at 9 a.m. on Pitch One, which will shift slightly within the beautiful Troy Park complex to a larger field. The second best-of-three semifinals series starts at 10 a.m. in the same place, as the two matchups will trade off every hour on the featured field until the finalists are determined. The <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">semifinals</span> are sure to produce emotional performances and highlight-reel plays as teams attempt to write their place in history.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, over on Pitch Two, MLQ will host its inaugural <a href="https://mlqchampionship.com/next-gen" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Next Gen Showcase</span></span></a>, a chance for practice squad players to compete against each other. Though MLQ is the highest level of quidditch in North America, the league is dedicated to developing the talents of tomorrow and strengthening the sport at the grassroots level. Expect to see the tables turned as older, more experienced players in the stands root for younger, less experienced players on the field.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last but not least before the finals, don’t miss the closing ceremonies at 3 p.m. on Pitch One, where the co-commissioners Amanda Dallas and Ethan Sturm will announce the divisional MVP awards sponsored by the Under Armour Brand House in Columbia, Maryland and the volunteer and manager of the season awards. A short break will follow as the two remaining teams start their warm-ups. What do you notice about the team drills they run or the pregame routines of your favorite players to watch? </span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you will soon find out, the Benepe Cup finals are a unique experience because the players will hear their names announced before the games with walk-up music and more. It is the closest real-life quidditch players come to the hype that athletes in professional sports stadiums feel before a game. Cheer loudly and settle in with the crowd for a best-of-three series that will determine the next champion. Remember, only two teams have ever hoisted the Benepe Cup: the Boston Forge and the Austin Outlaws. And since those esteemed programs were slotted into the same side of the bracket, at least one franchise will get the chance to compete for its first title. Stick around for the trophy presentation at the conclusion of the final match.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday, August 23<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But wait, there’s more! MLQ will host the hugely anticipated <a href="https://mlqchampionship.com/take-back-the-pitch" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 200ms ease 0s, background-color 200ms ease 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Take Back the Pitch</span></span></a> tournament on Monday. A showcase for athletes who are not cis men, Take Back the Pitch will challenge your understanding of gender in quidditch and create an opportunity for some of the best cis and trans women, non-binary folk and trans men in the sport to compete on the field together. With the first games beginning at 9 a.m., the event will feature four teams drafted in advance by general managers selected from a pool of applicants. In the morning, the games will take place simultaneously on two pitches, just like the days before, in a round robin format.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Kyoshi Warriors</span>, the team drafted by New York Titans manager Mitch Usis that is named for the order of female warriors in the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> series, watch out for chaser <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Emma Vazquez</span>. Vazquez will have played a key role for the revamped Detroit Innovators offense if they defeat the Charlotte Aviators and make a run through the play-in bracket. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Ocean’s 17</span>, a reference to the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ocean’s 8</em> heist comedy film, will feature the talents of local Washington Admirals and Team USA keeper <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Rachel Heald</span>. A veteran ballhandler at the top of the key, Heald leads all women in the league with 10 assists.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The final two teams, <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Team Ruth Bader Winsburg</span> and <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">The Red Guardians</span>, were both drafted by women who serve in coaching positions for their franchises. Mel Kite is an assistant coach for the San Antonio Soldados and Jeannette High is the head coach for the Detroit Innovators. They will look to bring their coaching expertise to game plan for their opponents and put their players in the best position to succeed. Look for the advantage that they provide in the placement games: the third-place playoff at 1 p.m. and the championship match at 2 p.m.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><i>Jack McGovern is the Press Coordinator for Major League Quidditch.</i></div>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-15671925003904855362020-03-21T13:16:00.000-07:002020-03-23T13:11:28.836-07:00Dev Cup 2020 and the Story of a Weekend with OUQC<i>It's hard for me to believe it's been ten days now since I left the United Kingdom. So much has changed for so many people in the past month, but only a week before that, it's crazy to think that I was heading to Manchester in a minibus with my Oxford Universities Quidditch Club (OUQC) teammates for Development Cup 2020 (Dev Cup). As we all do our part to "flatten the curve" of the COVID-19 pandemic by staying home, I want to bring you back to that time and place. I want to tell the story of that weekend and offer a few takeaways for quidditch on both sides of the Atlantic.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</td></tr>
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OUQC had fallen short of qualification for British Quidditch Cup (BQC) at regionals. I wrote <a href="https://williamsrecord.com/2019/11/club-hub-abroad-edition-quidditch-at-wepo/" target="_blank">a first-hand account of that for my school paper</a> in November, but despite dropping all three of our pool play games and slotting into the loser's bracket, we improved as a team throughout the tournament and ended the weekend with two feel-good wins. We immediately set our sights on Dev Cup, believing that if we worked hard, we could continue to improve, use the tournament as a learning experience and even challenge for a trophy in the process.<br />
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A tournament for teams that failed to qualify for BQC at regionals but still wished to play their way into the national championship, Dev Cup presented a lifeline for us. We refused to let go of our grand ambitions for BQC and instead extended our training sessions when we returned from winter break. We had something to work towards and an opportunity in the near future to test ourselves against our level of competition. As the days lengthened and the weather warmed, we had some of our best trainings of the year, including joint scrimmages on Sundays with the local Oxford Mammoths community team.<br />
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During those practices, I could not help but think that under the old bid allocation rules of US Quidditch (USQ), our season would have been over. Even under the new rules, with at-large bids available, our future would have been uncertain at best. While the opportunity to advance to nationals by meeting expanded season play requirements is absolutely a step in the right direction, it is by no means enough. More than anything, teams need to specifically play other teams at their level of competition.<br />
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Of course, a developmental tournament for lower-level teams contested only weeks before the season-ending national championship is much easier logistically in a country half the size of California. We had a short three-hour drive to Manchester to play teams from across England, Wales and Scotland that many American teams would kill for. But USQ should still take a more active role in organizing regional or super-regional events for teams that are seeking an at-large bid and trying to meet expanded play requirements. By comparison, the resources in time, energy and money that Quidditch UK (QUK) devoted to Dev Cup were exemplary.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-JCqYS-g3RLWbFW4eyzeFl79hlxK823MyGPztmQXHq1WwM-kUbC0ZzoJFSyfNt3NaDbuwf3BFarQc7rZ3uBtqi4ysFR-fgxUNL2rNDK7gW7Q6zd_AQQL1PiI0h_s2Syx1xq2phS7E-bg/s1600/89919158_4010153105692252_4331948789779660800_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-JCqYS-g3RLWbFW4eyzeFl79hlxK823MyGPztmQXHq1WwM-kUbC0ZzoJFSyfNt3NaDbuwf3BFarQc7rZ3uBtqi4ysFR-fgxUNL2rNDK7gW7Q6zd_AQQL1PiI0h_s2Syx1xq2phS7E-bg/s400/89919158_4010153105692252_4331948789779660800_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</td></tr>
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First, by their direct planning and organizing of the tournament, QUK ensured an event that all teams could count on. I believe our executive committee booked our accommodations months ahead of time for a cheap rate. They could trust that the tournament would not get cancelled or moved to a different weekend once the dates were announced.<br />
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Second, players, even inexperienced players, could walk away from the weekend feeling valued by their national governing body. The facility was the same used by the top teams in the country only weeks earlier for the high-level European Qualifying Tournament. The pitches were 3G artificial turf, there was an indoor common area and there were four private changing rooms for the teams.<br />
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Beyond the space, the community turned out to make the weekend possible. If they didn't already have one, each team was assigned a non-playing coach from a more experienced team. In between matches, the Team UK head coach offered his services for additional strategy and skills workshops. Games were livestreamed on Facebook with commentary. Photo albums from hired photographers were posted the next day. There were full-time non-playing referees and pitch managers. Other members of more experienced teams, including several members of the Mammoths, made the journey simply as spectators to support their various affiliated squads.<br />
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The all-hands-on-deck approach reminded me of what I have seen from afar about the Massachusetts Quidditch Conference (MQC) this year. Since the split of college and community teams in the US, long-time players have rallied around university teams in the greater Massachusetts area. Many have coached teams for several semesters now, but their efforts culminated this season in a conference that organized 12 high-quality round robin events and produced the most professional media content that I have ever seen in quidditch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7GrrjVMsy5bmQiu5x6w2iJUg5rn_1TnG4jAkgTygRv7nAgSxBNXLYIjNw47LVGuDhMmDagNH49-Vfcxc_YlgRXH8TszZiClhUh89mMM_9hNZ8XMxgNhIFMUfNrBDMZE0rddp5ORl7esE/s1600/89747876_4010154102358819_6342238134234775552_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7GrrjVMsy5bmQiu5x6w2iJUg5rn_1TnG4jAkgTygRv7nAgSxBNXLYIjNw47LVGuDhMmDagNH49-Vfcxc_YlgRXH8TszZiClhUh89mMM_9hNZ8XMxgNhIFMUfNrBDMZE0rddp5ORl7esE/s400/89747876_4010154102358819_6342238134234775552_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</span></td></tr>
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If you haven't already, check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MassQuidConference" target="_blank">the MQC Facebook page</a> to see for yourself. Matches were livestreamed and recorded with commentary. Statistics were diligently taken, compiled and published. All-star and all-rookie teams were named after the fall semester. Games and players were hyped on social media with slick graphics.<br />
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While we are all staying home instead of playing quidditch for now, the people behind the MQC are <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTAlOUKMr4bwGGubk-dVTrlh0eWUZXgr_DRdlehuFtkYPOaQ/viewform" target="_blank">offering their time to hold informational meetings</a> about how to run a quidditch conference over the next few weeks. As USQ reflects on a series of drop-outs from what would have been its national championship and QUK works to reevaluate their season structure and move towards a league-based system with a split between university and community teams, I would encourage that national and local leaders everywhere sign up to hear about the experiences of the MQC. I am signing up for one myself because even if I cannot start a team at my college, I want to get involved next year.<br />
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So USQ should explore its options for hosting a Dev Cup or more likely sponsoring a series of super-regional Dev Cups around the country. And everyone, but particularly QUK because it has intentions to move towards a league-based system, should learn from the MQC. As always, the goal is to provide more opportunities everywhere for balanced and regular competition at different levels.<br />
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Alright, back to the story of a truly unforgettable weekend that I believe I promised.<br />
<br />
I was the last person to successfully locate the minibus in the parking lots around the Radcliffe Science Center on a sunny Friday afternoon in Oxford. I was predictably late already and after struggling several times to close the sliding door, I took quite a ribbing from my teammates. But we were off! Music played, snacks circulated and three hours later, we arrived at a roadside Travelodge on the outskirts of Manchester, where I impersonated one of my teammates who had not yet arrived at the front desk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMA2x9_jfcZRwMNMcDfp-62uEO7eV66EebIi4d9mrqVCzsGyq1hEbEf1MO08pKa52VGZn0DVtNd0tZa8rZsmuMQj0lDkNhTznf6YdHsa4Lk0zuHdWmZtycp0shxEhMk2iF6hcBimD30i5/s1600/89468368_4010154449025451_2783896878125678592_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMA2x9_jfcZRwMNMcDfp-62uEO7eV66EebIi4d9mrqVCzsGyq1hEbEf1MO08pKa52VGZn0DVtNd0tZa8rZsmuMQj0lDkNhTznf6YdHsa4Lk0zuHdWmZtycp0shxEhMk2iF6hcBimD30i5/s400/89468368_4010154449025451_2783896878125678592_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</span></td></tr>
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After we had a laugh about that, we shuffled down the hallway from room to room and eventually gathered in one to hear the story of our coach, who stopped at three Travelodges before finding the right one and misplaced his passport in the process at BQC the previous season. We headed to bed early, knowing that we planned to leave the next morning at quarter after six. I boldly set my alarm for six on the dot and somehow managed to put on layers, make a sandwich, pack my things (without forgetting my mouthguard or my headband!) and get out the door on time.<br />
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We arrived to a parking lot just beginning to buzz with activity and helped unload a van of equipment from the tournament committee. As I carried hoops onto the empty pitch and looked towards the Manchester skyline in the distance, I stopped for a second to smile. There is really no better feeling than the morning of a quidditch tournament, when a quiet field is slowly transforming into a lively event before your eyes.<br />
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I didn't have much time to stand around though, as our first match against Sheffield was scheduled for 8 am. We went through an extended warm-up as a team and separated into lines to run a half-court drill. Our non-playing coach, a veteran of the sport who now competes with and coaches for the Mammoths, later confessed to worrying about her task at that moment, when we mostly dawdled through the drill and sent lazy passes behind each other's arms.<br />
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We then practiced quickly sorting ourselves into our pre- and post-snitch on pitch rotations and selected a starting lineup. I would start at keeper (as my rotation partner and our most experienced player preferred coming on later) alongside another American exchange student who started playing only weeks before and a chaser who hadn't trained in over a year because of injury. As we took our positions on the keeper zone line for brooms up, I told my fellow Yank, a speedy former runner, to slap the quaffle back to me if he got there first.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0iZhSSyXkVeVgpnFMjSmQ0xJ7XpWo5iPX2AfBcySu35OfYiFMd3Tf2-ZZ8OzEl0AlnVd8m7yc1lPkswycuk2g63nt96q1Fh39ZzOcY3jDSSTjHvLCM6dqSgtGSB_pyZZybwVryeIXva0/s1600/89494648_4010149312359298_8726333008040165376_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0iZhSSyXkVeVgpnFMjSmQ0xJ7XpWo5iPX2AfBcySu35OfYiFMd3Tf2-ZZ8OzEl0AlnVd8m7yc1lPkswycuk2g63nt96q1Fh39ZzOcY3jDSSTjHvLCM6dqSgtGSB_pyZZybwVryeIXva0/s400/89494648_4010149312359298_8726333008040165376_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</span></td></tr>
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When the "b" of "brooms up" sounded, he heeded my advice all too well and slapped the quaffle back with so much force that the ball ricocheted off my shin, into an opposing chaser and back into my arms. Our sideline erupted in laughter and at that point, I relaxed and surveyed the field. While we didn't score on our first possession, we settled into our man-marking chaser defense and let the beaters go to work. As they managed to knock out opposing beaters and chasers alike and put on a highly aggressive press, I roamed as a keeper in a free safety role. I knew that my beaters would eventually force a turnover and I just needed to stay ready.<br />
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In the end, we won convincingly, with our beaters dominating control and many of our chasers getting on the scoresheet. The rest of our day mostly proceeded in the same way, but we first badly underestimated our next opponent, Swansea, who brought only nine players. I had played with four of them at a fantasy tournament and so I knew they were individually talented (as well as lovely people!), but even I didn't anticipate how well they would compete together as a team. They challenged us mentally and physically in that second time slot and forced us to raise our game.<br />
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After we won two more games in the afternoon to clinch a bye in the bracket, we helped pack up and returned to our motel for showers before walking twenty minutes as a big boisterous group to the nearby Trafford Centre, a sprawling indoor complex that is part shopping mall and part Disney World, for dinner. On our way there, one of our players who is also a varsity gymnast did backflips and sprinted down the up escalator in a highly impressive feat. Another ran ahead Forest Gump-style and then hid in a bush to give the rest of the team a well-deserved scare. When we arrived, we rearranged about a dozen tables into a long line right down the middle of the food court.<br />
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Longing for something like a fat and filling Chipotle burrito, I couldn't resist ordering Mexican food from a British chain. The taste surprisingly met my (admittedly low) expectations, but the portion size was decidedly un-American and I think I complained about that to anybody who would listen for the rest of the night. On our way back, we couldn't resist stopping at a Wetherspoon's (where else?) and celebrating a birthday with a few drinks. We had earned a first-round bye after all!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8GHivFXuGJRK0hCtuO99f5UJ0DssWPypCxNvLeV0xkMcO0ZoD-UHdORRQf_p0eafD1mzYbCiHBRk9AcsyVC-TVlcAwch0tUSGQKhqvYn5iW0TXSDTKqPWLiIHtPgfjXBcSQnUy0d7u9p/s1600/89609228_4010154015692161_2236744273980555264_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8GHivFXuGJRK0hCtuO99f5UJ0DssWPypCxNvLeV0xkMcO0ZoD-UHdORRQf_p0eafD1mzYbCiHBRk9AcsyVC-TVlcAwch0tUSGQKhqvYn5iW0TXSDTKqPWLiIHtPgfjXBcSQnUy0d7u9p/s400/89609228_4010154015692161_2236744273980555264_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</span></td></tr>
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It was a fun night <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">— </span>I will remember the big group walks more than anything <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">— </span>but when we woke up, we knew that we had business to take care of. We were on a collision course with the London Unbreakables, a community team that we had played three times already in the fall. We had beaten them twice, but they had reloaded their roster with two transfers: a keeper who had graduated from OUQC the previous spring and stayed in close touch with the team and a beater who wore an American flag arm sleeve and was quickly dubbed Captain America by my teammates. With the transfers, they had entered the tournament as co-favorites and secured the other bye.<br />
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We had scouted the Unbreakables on Saturday so we could take our free time on Sunday morning to prepare, both with the Team UK head coach in a hour-long workshop and with our captains and coaches in shorter sessions. Specifically, we knew that they were playing a Baylor defense that maximized the talents of their beaters, especially the aggressive style of Captain America, and that they were setting frequent picks that freed their keepers and chasers for drives and confused opposing defenses. We set to work teaching our teammates how to ready themselves for both and made a couple adjustments to our own defense. Most notably, we decided to add a secondary point defender, a role that was eventually fulfilled by our keepers at the edge of the keeper zone.<br />
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Following a rematch against Swansea in the semifinals, we tried to loosen up with music and snacks before the final, which we knew would present a whole different type of challenge. Meanwhile, we tried to reflect on some of the success stories of the weekend. My fellow American study abroad student had battled anxiety on Saturday morning and needed to carry around a bright yellow bucket for a period, but had gained confidence and grown into an unstoppable force on brooms up, often scoring the first couple goals of the game.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-s2zZxsBxPKetAQMxxhcy0IkeZoSNphUi7JtwX6Nc6iffOSQT_zORhM5oRIuLfmSD6rTNpG67Xym4qEx0J98RAgGOn-wFy4CYpoDOgMHO2xfctncVwBvTpuYKmVD7_6tQQ-YLgtI0NAr_/s1600/89375690_4010148695692693_3096734401816428544_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-s2zZxsBxPKetAQMxxhcy0IkeZoSNphUi7JtwX6Nc6iffOSQT_zORhM5oRIuLfmSD6rTNpG67Xym4qEx0J98RAgGOn-wFy4CYpoDOgMHO2xfctncVwBvTpuYKmVD7_6tQQ-YLgtI0NAr_/s400/89375690_4010148695692693_3096734401816428544_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</td></tr>
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Our newly-trained seeker had caught his first snitch in our semifinal after working tirelessly and tearing up his knees on the 3G on Saturday. Even after his triumph, he continued to practice on the side with an experienced snitch who volunteered their time to help out between games. Our beaters had held bludger control for almost the entire tournament, usually starting the offense themselves with a timely beat. Many of our chasers had scored their first goals on solo runs after collecting a loose ball. All players were communicating with each other on defense as second nature.<br />
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In short, I was already satisfied with our performance. I wanted to win, but I was prepared to lose, especially after we learned that we would be attacking into a blinding sunset that hovered directly over the opposing hoops. We would need to pass around the back of the hoops to break down the Baylor defense, but any passing would prove difficult under the conditions. My fears were realized during my first shift, when I failed to connect with our social chair behind the hoops on three consecutive half-court offenses. Our defense remained strong, but I subbed out and desperately hoped that my rotation partner could bring a different style on offense.<br />
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He did. Waiting patiently to allow our beaters to create a no-bludgers situation before driving through traffic, he got on the scoresheet and calmed our nerves with his experienced and relentless ball-carrying. We fought to stay in range for the rest of the seeker floor and entered the snitch game hoping that our beaters, including a group of recently-converted chasers trained specifically for bubbling, could hold off Captain America, who also took shifts as a seeker.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwA_ua05xy2IOQCYu9vWAoafrqWwLJp2BeIga731AZSK2eoGCVoOQgofF6vesyAimbq3Alnf8gzFQ_5n2eCsP2TAsoaZIctCwW1d40yELFbXp5yipyaUYVXcZTeV5rDtZCyBQpJYc0fl6j/s1600/87850141_4010151412359088_6181824679141965824_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwA_ua05xy2IOQCYu9vWAoafrqWwLJp2BeIga731AZSK2eoGCVoOQgofF6vesyAimbq3Alnf8gzFQ_5n2eCsP2TAsoaZIctCwW1d40yELFbXp5yipyaUYVXcZTeV5rDtZCyBQpJYc0fl6j/s400/87850141_4010151412359088_6181824679141965824_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</span></td></tr>
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While I was mostly distracted from the beater battles, we tried something new for snitch on pitch in the chaser game. Our two most experienced ball-carriers, one of whom had been heroically beating all weekend to make the rotations work during the seeker floor, took the pitch together. They had just scored to stay out of overtime range and pull within 20 points when play was stopped for a potential snitch catch. I turned to see Captain America with the snitchsock in hand.<br />
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The refs huddled. There were no opposing beaters in sight. They exchanged a few words and slowly turned their bodies outwards to survey the pitch. My heart sank. They were checking gender. I braced myself to hear the final whistle and accept a second-place finish when a teammate whispered that something was wrong. Suddenly I couldn't see straight and I couldn't count to seven. My heart started to race. The head ref approached the Unbreakables captain for a brief conversation, then stepped away to announce that the catch was no good and brandish a yellow card.<br />
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Once again we had a lifeline. I didn't even hear the timeout called, but all of the sudden I was running on the pitch behind my teammates for a huddle. Our captains and coaches told us that momentum had shifted dramatically in our favor. I nodded along and hoped that we could take advantage of our second chance, but remained skeptical. I saw how easy we could lose. We were still teetering on the edge of snitch range and had struggled to score for the better part of 20 minutes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS02LWHcrWxGkQLLTtR5_X4_lYWb8E6SufUGh-GYcyDCBi-npbTXfzA-HEaMGS3nhdchAH55K2nmXQ1NvU_cRT4Y8wjMSB-d5hLAlLVNyh0SI5C9dMCXcc44rHtpiIZjrmnAv1ItUC87R/s1600/89649679_4010155162358713_8298564049294065664_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS02LWHcrWxGkQLLTtR5_X4_lYWb8E6SufUGh-GYcyDCBi-npbTXfzA-HEaMGS3nhdchAH55K2nmXQ1NvU_cRT4Y8wjMSB-d5hLAlLVNyh0SI5C9dMCXcc44rHtpiIZjrmnAv1ItUC87R/s400/89649679_4010155162358713_8298564049294065664_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</td></tr>
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Our two most experienced ball-carriers started the comeback. They scored on the restart thanks to the man advantage and added another goal to tie the game only a minute later. At the same time, our most experienced beater and a converted chaser playing her first minutes at beater of the tournament regained bludger control and sealed off a bubble around the snitch. I then made the risky decision flip my headband from green to white and reenter the game, leaving us with no keeper subs. I knew we would have to strike quickly and push to get out of range before we tired.<br />
<br />
My first offense was a sign of good things to come. I raced behind the hoops waving frantically only to find that I was completely unmarked. I retrieved a missed shot and lofted a pass back over the hoops when a couple opposing defenders quickly arrived to meet me. Our keeper gathered my pass and fired a mid-range shot through the small hoop to take the lead. We never looked back from there.<br />
<br />
I can't remember how we forced each turnover, but soon enough, I was sprinting down the wing again and again (and again), usually unmarked, and lifting my left arm as I curved behind the hoops each time. I would then receive a long, perfectly-weighted pass from our keeper from the midfield and face a wall of arms from the Baylor defense. I had been telling my teammates the night before that I really preferred off-ball chasing to keeping. They hadn't believed me, but I think I convinced them in the final. Three possessions, three goals.<br />
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On defense, our captain, who hurt her hand and decided to stay in the chaser game during snitch on pitch because she could no longer grip a bludger, joined me as a point defender well past the midline in the opposing half. We formed a tag team that harassed the opposing ball-carrier and shuffled from side to side. When our high press was inevitably broken, a beater always made a timely intervention or a chaser stepped in to intercept a key pass.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSlMp_JkW86o4HxS3KxuI2DrCQB4YabxGehd2lD5uBChen3eodly5qTsSnLpswy0XRSbzo_2o4LHzUc7lAXyP2ZZiwTe-KS2bc2x3F77BaafUemH6Nisx9ituwXIOpOGNdo2Et9kx7Rbm/s1600/89435719_4010149572359272_1447480128522158080_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSlMp_JkW86o4HxS3KxuI2DrCQB4YabxGehd2lD5uBChen3eodly5qTsSnLpswy0XRSbzo_2o4LHzUc7lAXyP2ZZiwTe-KS2bc2x3F77BaafUemH6Nisx9ituwXIOpOGNdo2Et9kx7Rbm/s400/89435719_4010149572359272_1447480128522158080_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</span></td></tr>
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I subbed out after we finally pulled ahead by 40 points. A sense of relief swept over me. We could no longer lose in an instant. We had scored seven unanswered goals, six of them since the disallowed snitch catch. Gasping for air and searching for water, I mentally started to prepare for a 45-minute game, knowing that we could prevail on quaffle points if the snitch proved too difficult to catch.<br />
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A minute later, play stopped again. We had surrendered a goal and fallen back into overtime range, but this time our seeker, who had worked so hard throughout the weekend, had the snitchsock in hand. I crouched at the end of the bench, barely able to withstand the tension. When the refs turned their bodies outward from their huddle to check for gender, a smile crept across my face. I exploded upwards and rushed across the pitch when the catch was ruled good, launching myself into a group hug that quickly toppled over into a pile. In a way that could only happen in quidditch, we had truly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A medal ceremony and photographs followed. Through everything, the Unbreakables were incredibly courteous and congratulatory. In the end, we couldn't have asked for a better team to compete against. I packed my things and helped with tearing down and cleaning up, but mostly I just wandered around the complex, feeling on top of the world but unsure of exactly what to do with myself. We had checked out of our motel early in the morning, so we headed into central Manchester in full uniform and blue face paint in search of a Pizza Hut <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">— </span></span>a time-honored club tradition for post-tournament meals that I first mocked and then quickly grew to cheri<span style="font-family: inherit;">sh <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;">— </span></span>that could accommodate our group.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbEz3_7vqEqN9xn3MF03DXm3uvteUNBLh7FSTMTDA1M7G9J3q9VHeTpivJ4la9_2nRw0QRvXJWRT0smo5dMetGHp8TWH8x4XwefA4LCDY07yw2oBPTCDrGpKDG6CyfHNp5ojrICJaxxp-/s1600/89528474_1896663723797301_5152794005859205120_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1364" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbEz3_7vqEqN9xn3MF03DXm3uvteUNBLh7FSTMTDA1M7G9J3q9VHeTpivJ4la9_2nRw0QRvXJWRT0smo5dMetGHp8TWH8x4XwefA4LCDY07yw2oBPTCDrGpKDG6CyfHNp5ojrICJaxxp-/s400/89528474_1896663723797301_5152794005859205120_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Fraser Somers and Xena Felton.</td></tr>
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At the restaurant, I floated between tables. I found the other American exchange student and reflected on how we met only a month before and how we learned to work together on brooms up. I found our seeker and laughed when he admitted that he could not remember exactly how he caught. The Facebook livestream cuts out early, so we are now anxiously awaiting a YouTube recording.<br />
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I listened to our most experienced beater name not just the current US president but all of the first sixteen US presidents to prove that he was not concussed. I reconnected with my keeping and point defending partners throughout the weekend to recount our silky-smooth passing, quick-shift subbing and tireless pressing. And I impatiently pestered our social chair to bring out the birthday cake we had forgotten about the night before and start into a rousing rendition of happy birthday for the converted chaser who played her first minutes at beater in the final.<br />
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As the dinner drew to a close, I started to compose individual notes for our post-tournament compliments thread in my head, but I also tried to take a snapshot of the moment. The first COVID-19 case had been announced at Oxford the day before and I feared it was only a matter of time before my program pulled the plug. Over six months, OUQC had been the team I always imagined. If Dev Cup was my last tournament with OUQC, I really could not complain.JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-65763327699590748962019-11-20T20:48:00.009-08:002021-08-30T21:03:39.907-07:00Club Hub Abroad Edition: Quidditch at WEPO<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>This article <a href="https://williamsrecord.com/198904/sports/club-hub-abroad-edition-quidditch-at-wepo/">originally</a> appeared in the November 20, 2019 edition of the <a href="https://williamsrecord.com/">Williams Record</a>, the independent student newspaper at Williams College where I served as sports editor for a term. I thank my former coworkers for their edits on this piece.</i></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mwLRUHHXCb6DocZ0HzpYY2o-ppqKnDPxLubTwkh1YYASbuAecKXHNLbgEbcV-cmt_O36loHs_PShVZ-0MiU85k91UfXhv1cwuxpXleSOhsSUA3N1jqheFf3zNgUK79YO61z64kcmqQ50/s1784/75567358_3623733744334192_2825162606078066688_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="1784" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mwLRUHHXCb6DocZ0HzpYY2o-ppqKnDPxLubTwkh1YYASbuAecKXHNLbgEbcV-cmt_O36loHs_PShVZ-0MiU85k91UfXhv1cwuxpXleSOhsSUA3N1jqheFf3zNgUK79YO61z64kcmqQ50/w400-h393/75567358_3623733744334192_2825162606078066688_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Paul Watts.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford offers students the chance to participate in a wide variety of British sports, from the conventional and ubiquitous like rugby to the utterly ridiculous and appallingly aristocratic like beagling, the hunting of hares on foot through meadows with a pack of beagles.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first chance for students to survey these offerings is the “Freshers’ Fair,” an overwhelming extravaganza which takes thousands of first-years on a winding two-hour journey through every nook and cranny of a nineteenth-century examination hall. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I found my way through the chaos and proceeded to sign up for just as many listservs as any other self-respecting fresher, I will admit that I was looking for one particular table: the Oxford Universities Quidditch Club. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since I first found out about the real-life version at the age of 11, I have always wanted to play quidditch, the mixed-gender sport adapted from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series at none other than Middlebury in 2005. While the game originated on the leafy campus of a NESCAC rival in Vermont, it has since spread to more than 45 countries around the world. And it has especially flourished in a place like Oxford, where filming of the Great Hall and the Hogwarts Infirmary in the Harry Potter movies occurred.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So as I walked through the fair, I politely declined to join the American football club — which, I am deeply embarrassed to say, picked me out of the crowd as an American from my blue jeans and sweatshirt — and finally found the quidditch club. I got the training schedule and told the captains that I had previously tried to start a team at my own uni and knew (at least some of) the rules.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Several weeks of training sessions, local scrimmages, rulebook presentations and bonding activities later, I found myself looking out at a frosty field on the outskirts of Oxford well before dawn on a Saturday, ready for our biggest tournament of the term. Southern Cup, our regional competition, would serve as a qualifier for British Quidditch Cup, the national championship in the spring.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We knew that our path to qualification would not come easily. We were missing several key players, and I was recovering from the flu, despite getting a flu shot in America before I left (but not a “flu jab” in Britain once I arrived).</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, we dropped our first game to a London team that we had beaten in a scrimmage two weeks earlier. That was the first sign of trouble. We were shut out in our next game by another hard-hitting London team, who went on to win the tournament, before coming up short against Bath, a lovely tourist destination but a tricky quidditch opponent, in our final contest of the morning.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the forecasted rain inevitably fell and turned the chilly day into a freezing washout, we retreated indoors to a nearby cafeteria to count our losses, demoralized from an 0–3 start to the tournament. With several players nursing injuries and the temperature plunging towards zero, our captains surveyed the team to ask whether we wanted to forfeit our afternoon game and drop out of the tournament. We later came to recognize that such a dramatic measure would have been a mistake, but I greatly appreciated at the time that our captains were looking out for our health and safety, both physically and mentally.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With that reassurance, we rallied for a final contest of the day against Bristol under the lights on a turf pitch. Assisted by a dominant performance from our beaters, stellar positioning from our chasers and a highlight reel-worthy snitch catch from our seeker, I felt like it was my best game of the weekend. With a 200-90 victory, we stayed alive and advanced to a series of one-off qualification games for nationals the next day.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We returned just as early on Sunday morning, eager to show how much we had grown as a team and relieved that rain was not in the forecast. Although we fell, as expected, to a third London team in our first match, we knew that we had one more opportunity against Bournemouth to qualify. Unfortunately, on a muddy pitch that got shut down after our game by the tournament staff, we lost narrowly.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A consolation match against the first London team was some consolation, as we avenged our initial loss with an all-around team victory and another highlight-reel snitch catch. Even better was the news that we could still qualify for nationals through a backdoor: a developmental tournament in the spring against teams from northern England and Scotland that sounds perfect for our relatively inexperienced team.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That is the goal now. And although we were surprised and humbled at regionals, if we are honest, not only do we think we can qualify at that tournament, we think we can win that tournament.</span></div>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-57611847669032525502018-04-15T23:21:00.003-07:002018-04-15T23:31:59.022-07:00A New Champion: Thestrals from University of Rochester Defeat LonghornsAt the very beginning of the 2016-17 season, I messaged Mike Pascutoi.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Jack: "<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">What can you tell me about URochester and RIT for this upcoming season?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mike: "F</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">rom a completely unbiased perspective, UR has the higher ceiling but RIT is better now. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">RIT is older; their core is about to graduate. UR is a team built around a core of sophomores and a few juniors."</span></span><br />
<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">This was news to me. The University of Rochester had failed to qualify for US Quidditch Cup 9 in 2016, losing to Emerson College at the 2015 Northeast Regional Championship on their home turf. Before that, Rochester had always languished in the middle tiers of the Northeast, best known around the country for its crosstown rivalry with Rochester Institute of Technology and for an unfortunate string of losses in the first round of bracket play at Nationals (Ives Pond. Michigan State. UCLA. Blue Mountain. Florida's Finest). After missing Nationals altogether, I had counted them out and left them for dead. I certainly did not think of them as a team with a high ceiling. The prospects for any rebuilding college team looked incredibly bleak at the time.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Two years later, thanks in large part to the landmark decision by US Quidditch to divide college and community teams into separate tournaments at Nationals, Rochester is a national champion. The core of now juniors and a few seniors, supported by a fast-learning class of freshmen and vaulted over the finish line by three snitch catches from Pascutoi, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">defeated the three-time national champion University of Texas on Sunday. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxbL3HFNrpQclN_cRWj9yVk2SKHG7KTsLd8Dbic7t8XOS5pIGI6jihzrdvYTljanlppjf-j6KN2vMQQ3W0u0-R9naNokmm_L5XzQDdpnO21ybJs5HHB7F64ozumPuOtKVNp15Ri8ItQ7E/s1600/30739034_998167040330593_4875680104581169152_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxbL3HFNrpQclN_cRWj9yVk2SKHG7KTsLd8Dbic7t8XOS5pIGI6jihzrdvYTljanlppjf-j6KN2vMQQ3W0u0-R9naNokmm_L5XzQDdpnO21ybJs5HHB7F64ozumPuOtKVNp15Ri8ItQ7E/s400/30739034_998167040330593_4875680104581169152_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Miguel Esparza. Courtesy of the Eighth Man.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heading into the finals as heavy underdogs, Rochester exploded out of the gates, scoring three consecutive goals to take a commanding 30-0 lead. Texas fought back but Rochester weathered the storm and stayed within snitch range. While anybody with memories of the Texas three-peat probably expected the Longhorns to pull first, Rochester flipped the script, prompting players from across the country to rush onto the field and mob the players. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
As the new and worthy champion, Rochester now carries the flag for the college division of the sport. Rochester becomes only the third college team to claim the US Quidditch national championship after Middlebury College and the University of Texas. The eventual champions suffered a Saturday loss to Arizona State, but finished with an impressive 9-1 record at the tournament. On the road to the championship game, Rochester defeated a long list of teams from four regions: Oklahoma State, RPI, Texas Tech, Lock Haven, Penn State, UTSA and Kansas.<br />
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Rochester's championship is even more remarkable because the team has played only two official games this spring. Over 100 inches of snow rained down on the city of Rochester this winter, making practices almost impossible. Yet, after capturing the 2017 Northeast Regional Championship with a dominant 6-0 record in November, Rochester showed few signs of rust.<br />
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Rochester is nicknamed the Thestrals, the skeletal horses from the <i>Harry Potter</i> series visible only to those who have witnessed death. The nickname is eerily fitting for a team that survived the crushing failure to qualify for Nationals only two years ago. A team that survived many graduations and rebuilt from the bottom up. A team that always faces one of the longest and coldest winters in the United States. A team that stumbled on Saturday, but eventually found its groove.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPyz-YUhUivNnPVwUvWF6Z_nee85VEs-RQT-bpRK94iNaS5eCzP21BHZMZOQcqbVs6AlkOwStXK3tuLRIalcIyqlBizsA3Is1l2xact0rWG0TJrX_lRfDTC4oLkiXEEBsEZEMnCUtQ9x2/s1600/30713161_998167776997186_5514329140062322688_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPyz-YUhUivNnPVwUvWF6Z_nee85VEs-RQT-bpRK94iNaS5eCzP21BHZMZOQcqbVs6AlkOwStXK3tuLRIalcIyqlBizsA3Is1l2xact0rWG0TJrX_lRfDTC4oLkiXEEBsEZEMnCUtQ9x2/s400/30713161_998167776997186_5514329140062322688_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Miguel Esparza. Courtesy of the Eighth Man.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">While quidditch should definitely celebrate its many thestrals, Rochester was not the only success story of the weekend in Round Rock. Texas and Texas State proved once again the gold standard of college quidditch programs. Without a doubt, both teams played some of the best all-around quidditch of the tournament. Several players from both teams made strong cases for Team USA this summer. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">While I have no idea about graduating classes, Texas and Texas State seem well-positioned for the short-term and long-term future. I was also thrilled to see UCLA, Kansas and Cal with new names and faces back in the later rounds of bracket play after an extended absence. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
But beyond wins and losses at the highest level of the sport, I think and I hope that US Quidditch Cup 11 marked a new beginning for quidditch. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The large crowds and </span><span style="background-color: white;">jubilant scenes under the lights harkened back to World Cup V at Icahn Stadium in New York City. </span><span style="background-color: white;">The long and well-deserved tunnels, snaking across the fields, showed a healthy and supportive community. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Over the summer, following the long-awaited announcement of a college community split, I wrote an article for this blog but never published it. I quickly forgot about it until I logged in to <i>The QuidKid</i> tonight. I just posted the piece, which is not exactly my best work but nicely captures the feeling at the time. Here is an excerpt from that article.</span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All of the sudden, the 2017-18 season is very interesting again and most of that intrigue comes from the brand new college division. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although Texas State is perhaps the early favorite, there is that exhilarating feeling that the national championship in the college division is up for grabs. I</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">t is the same feeling that made the 2012-13 </span>season and World Cup VI so special. Back then, teams like Texas, UCLA, Baylor, Bowling Green and Emerson dared to dream because anything was possible in the absence of Middlebury. The team with much more experience and all the advantages was gone. Now that the best all-star community teams are also out of the picture, college teams can once again think big and shoot for the moon. And maybe that's what convinces an athletic recruit to stick around for another tournament or an average backup to spend extra hours in the gym.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Think about it. In less than 10 months, 21</span><span style="background-color: white;"> new individuals somewhere out there right now will get to call themselves national champions. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">There will be school newspaper articles,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">victory celebrations, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">congratulatory tweets, social media posts, shoutouts from famous alumni and local media features. There will be much greater name recognition for the team on campus and dozens of new faces at tryouts in the fall. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">On a smaller scale, similar things will happen for college teams that win regional championships or </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">make dramatic runs to the Final Four or Elite Eight. As younger, inexperienced players get a taste of success on the national stage, up-and-coming programs gain momentum for the next season. </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So get excited! </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 2017-18 season and beyond now offers incredible opportunities for college teams. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">With all the twists and turns, it is sure going to be fun to watch.</span></i><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgBSG5dCj5V7MjQLxPUCTWejrxzM3uTWcyucF9aebHz1ix5PGMHkJ-twR-edRoYsaGfQ-zbaQA_xkIeAfMMUbSqG3SXfZhJegx9M4WL0L7PV2ogCBX5HNybLjp9SGw1FRWZ8jc8y7-REC/s1600/30739131_998167120330585_8575231978347954176_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgBSG5dCj5V7MjQLxPUCTWejrxzM3uTWcyucF9aebHz1ix5PGMHkJ-twR-edRoYsaGfQ-zbaQA_xkIeAfMMUbSqG3SXfZhJegx9M4WL0L7PV2ogCBX5HNybLjp9SGw1FRWZ8jc8y7-REC/s400/30739131_998167120330585_8575231978347954176_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Photo by Miguel Esparza. Courtesy of the Eighth Man</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Congratulations to Rochester and all the teams that competed under the sun this weekend. You have brought new life to American quidditch! Now, it's time to turn our attention Down Under. It's time to build the Redeem Team, knock off Australia and bring the World Cup back home.</span></span>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-42259226509898188732017-07-01T20:16:00.000-07:002018-04-15T20:17:19.282-07:00The Future Is Now<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps today</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">—</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">on the eve of the 2017 European Games in Oslo, Norway, in the midst of the Major League Quidditch and Quidditch Premier </span>League <span style="font-family: inherit;">seasons</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">—</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it is difficult to remember that quidditch was started by college freshmen. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is difficult to remember how college students </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">organized </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> traveled across the country to</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the very first tournaments</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is difficult to remember that quidditch </span>in the United States <span style="font-family: inherit;">was almost exclusively played by college students until 2013</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span><br />
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On Thursday, June 29, US Quidditch (USQ) announced that college and community teams would compete in separate divisions at regional and national championships beginning in the 2017-18 season. It was an exciting surprise from USQ<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">—probably the best news since Alex Benepe and Alicia </span>Redford<span style="font-family: inherit;"> departed the organization in 2015. It shows that USQ is thinking about a wide range of important issues including safety, liability, fairness, morale and marketing. It indicates that USQ is not satisfied with the status quo and is willing to take a big leap of faith.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As many of my old readers and social media followers know of course, I have been one of the loudest advocates for a college community split. I personally did not think this day would come until next summer or beyond. I was somewhat disengaged, even disillusioned, and I definitely was not</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> alone. I am relieved and excited that USQ acted now but I also know that this is going to be an extremely complicated process. This is the toughest challenge that we have faced yet and we need to get it right. With that in mind, I wanted to carefully consider what the future looks like for college teams and community teams in the United States. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>College: A New Beginning</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All of the sudden, the 2017-18 season is very interesting again and most of that intrigue comes from the brand new college division. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although Texas State is perhaps the early favorite, there is that exhilarating feeling that the national championship in the college division is up for grabs. I</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">t is the same feeling that made the 2012-13 </span>season and World Cup VI so special. Back then, teams like Texas, UCLA, Baylor, Bowling Green and Emerson dared to dream because anything was possible in the absence of Middlebury. The team with much more experience and all the advantages was gone. Now that the best all-star community teams are also out of the picture, college teams can once again think big and shoot for the moon. And maybe that's what convinces an athletic recruit to stick around for another tournament or an average backup to spend extra hours in the gym.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Think about it. In less than 10 months, 21</span><span style="background-color: white;"> new individuals somewhere out there right now will get to call themselves national champions. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">There will be school newspaper articles,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">victory celebrations, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">congratulatory tweets, social media posts, shoutouts from famous alumni and local media features. There will be much greater name recognition for the team on campus and dozens of new faces at tryouts in the fall. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">On a smaller scale, similar things will happen for college teams that win regional championships or </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">make dramatic runs to the Final Four or Elite Eight. As younger, inexperienced players get a taste of success on the national stage, up-and-coming programs gain momentum for the next season. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So get excited! </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 2017-18 season and beyond now offers incredible opportunities for college teams. I can't make any guarantees but I am definitely more likely to invest my time and energy in starting a team at Williams now. Even if I am not immediately successful, I will be closely following the drama from afar. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">With all the twists and turns, it is sure going to be fun to watch.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Community: Two Paths</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is much more to figure out about the future for community teams. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">he community division at nationals is fairly straightforward. It has kind of been done before with the Bat City Showcase and it is</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> likely to produce many great games again. There are multiple strong title contenders from across the country. It will feel smaller and different but it will still be intense and rewarding. I think most community teams realize that. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Community divisions at regionals on the other hand are by far the biggest question mark for the upcoming season</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Most regions only have enough community teams for a small tournament. T</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">o make these regionals worthwhile for community teams, </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">USQ's staff and gameplay volunteers need to start a dialogue now with players and coaches. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">USQ should propose unorthodox tournament formats, discuss shortening the </span>community competition<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to one day and even allow community teams in the smallest regions to go elsewhere. For example, </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Great Lakes community teams should probably attend the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship in the suburbs of Pittsburgh or the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Midwest Regional Championship in Madison, Wisconsin. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the other side of the table, community teams have to accept that regionals are going to be very different. Instead of a large two-day event with pool play and bracket play, most community teams are probably going to play a double round-robin. It will be more like the </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">regular season in Major League Quidditch or </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">qualification for the FIFA World Cup in soccer</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">. Community teams</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> will travel long distances to play two or three matches each against their closest rivals. It is not perfect but it is not the worst thing in the world. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So there are two paths forward for community teams. First, community teams could stay involved with USQ, buying membership, attending regionals and working out the kinks together. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Second, community teams could abandon USQ and create their own cheaper alternative tournaments. I think the first path is thankfully much more likely and </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">while I understand some of the motivation, I think the second path would be a terrible mistake.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Community teams need USQ and USQ needs community teams. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">USQ gives community teams legitimacy, certainty and structure.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Are the best all-star community teams really going to rely on individuals to organize a national championship year after year? That is incredibly risky. What if no one steps forward one year? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">U</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">SQ is a professional organization that is known and respected by many other sports governing bodies and city tourism boards. </span><span style="background-color: white;">When</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> USQ lists a community team on its website or invites a community team to its national championship, that means something. It carries weight and presents more opportunities for official recognition by the media, government, business and civil society. Without a doubt in my mind, community teams that stick with USQ are more likely to secure sponsorships, get field space and attract new recruits in the long run.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, community teams are indispensable for USQ too. </span></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">C</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ommunity teams introduce new strategies, recruit new athletes, provide experienced referees, develop future stars for Team USA and mentor college teams. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Throughout the 2017-18 season, community teams will still entertain thousands of spectators with evenly-matched, down-to-the-wire games. Most importantly, co</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">mmunity teams show that quidditch is dynamic and popular even beyond college campuses. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">So don't get me wrong. I think community teams are important and I think the future is bright for community teams too. Especially as MLQ becomes more structured and more closed, USQ community teams allow any group of friends to get together and rise through the ranks to the highest levels of the sport. I expect the number of community teams to continue to increase and I hope to see crosstown rivalries and local derbies soon, as well as larger and more interesting regional championships. Finally, and this is my final wish, can we start calling them club teams now? </span></span><br />
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JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-53784709151170618202016-12-30T09:33:00.000-08:002016-12-30T09:33:18.584-08:00College Essay<i>I submitted the following essay for the Common Application. I applied early decision to Williams College in western Massachusetts and I found out last weekend I was admitted. T</i><i>hat's where I will be for the next four years and I am very excited to start the next chapter in my life. As far as I know, Williams does not have a quidditch team right now. I picked Williams for its intimate community, small class sizes, academic opportunities and picturesque setting. </i><i>I would love to start a team but I just don't know yet if it is possible. Next fall will be overwhelming and only time will tell. For now, I wanted to share this essay as a thank you to the sport and the community. </i><br />
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When I first found out about real-life quidditch in sixth grade, I naturally had a lot of questions. How did the golden snitch work? Did they have flying broomsticks? I remembered reading <em>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone</em> back in kindergarten. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had frightened me, but I had liked quidditch, the high-flying magical game in the wizarding world.<br />
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I was always an avid sports fan, rooting for my hometown Philadelphia teams and delighting in a wide range of more obscure sports every four years during the Olympics. But quidditch? I dusted off my hard copy of <em>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone</em>, only intending to re-read the quidditch chapter. I ended up racing through the first book and I jumped into the second. And the third. And so on.<br />
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Equipped with my newfound love of <em>Harry Potter</em> and my insatiable curiosity about real-life quidditch, I persuaded my parents to take me to the Quidditch World Cup in New York City. The wizarding world was only two hours away on the New Jersey Turnpike. On a crisp November morning, my dad and I boarded a BoltBus. It wasn’t quite the Hogwarts Express, but it delivered me to a small park along the Hudson River bursting at the seams with energy.<br />
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The sights and sounds of the Quidditch World Cup reverberated from a small corner of Hell's Kitchen in an exuberant and chaotic celebration of a young sport. Forty-six teams and hundreds of players sported homemade jerseys, painted with names like Potter and Dumbledore across the back and numbers like pi and infinity. Commentators blended improv comedy with play-by-play. Snitches, neutral players dressed from head to toe in bright yellow, evaded capture by climbing chain-link fences and darting into Manhattan street traffic. I settled into a plastic folding chair beside one of the four oval pitches, watching match after match and deciphering the labyrinthine rules of the game.<br />
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At that point, I was only a twelve-year-old spectator, but I sensed an infectious passion around this new, progressive, co-ed sport with roots in the wizarding world and children’s literature. I looked out at an intricate game with multiple balls and positions coming together in a masterpiece of teamwork and strategy. Beyond anything else, I wanted to share quidditch with others. I wanted quidditch to be accepted and celebrated as a spectator sport, not some forgotten, short-lived fad of the so-called Harry Potter generation.<br />
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In the six years since that day, I have thrown myself into a world of quaffles, bludgers, snitches and broomsticks. I have written a blog called <em>The QuidKid</em> with more than 110,000 views, organized three full-fledged college quidditch tournaments in my hometown and directed media relations for the semi-pro Major League Quidditch. At subsequent Quidditch World Cups, I have coordinated an editorial team of twenty or more twenty-somethings to write pages and pages of website content. I am not a quidditch player, nor a quidditch coach. I market the sport. I defend, preach and champion quidditch.<br />
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Throughout all the years, I have felt incredible support and encouragement from the quidditch community. Hundreds of college-aged individuals have looked at me, some kid from the Philadelphia suburbs, as a smart and eloquent writer, a capable and dynamic leader and a thoughtful and funny person. I have learned to engage with something bigger than my own bubble of a school or town. And every day, I have pressed on with my sometimes quixotic mission to bring a whimsical, fringe sport to football fans and bookworms alike.<br />
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So, how does the golden snitch work? Why do they hold broomsticks between their legs? Who are the best teams and players in the country? And do the players really fly? I would be thrilled to talk to you about quidditch and maybe, if I can really convey the liveliness and spirit of the sport, I will see you at the next big game.JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-12202491726736891662016-08-25T09:07:00.000-07:002016-08-25T18:04:09.190-07:00The 9:00 P.M. Phone Call and More at the 2016 MLQ Championship<b>The 9:00 PM Phone Call</b><br />
I was sitting in a booth with my uncle at Angelo's Pizza, looking out the window into a hot and humid world of strip malls. The 2016 MLQ Championship had finished just an hour or two before and the Boston Night Riders had triumphed over the Austin Outlaws to win their second consecutive title. It was a fantastic weekend of games and storylines, highlighted by the semifinals run of the hometown League City Legends and made possible by an exceptional group of people.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Up to that point, my contributions to the overall success of the weekend were relatively small. Sure, I got a blue polo and manned the merchandise and ticket booths. But, compared to my baseline normal for quidditch tournaments<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">—running around frantically coordinating writers or typing out my own articles or directing the Keystone Cup</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">—I had a pretty calm weekend for better or worse. I got to watch games with my uncle and sell snacks like I was a stadium vendor and live tweet the finals. Nevertheless, I generally like being very busy because it gives me some sense of purpose and I was trying to sort out my thoughts on the weekend on Sunday night.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Matt Dwyer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, as I finished my third slice of Angelo's specialty pizza, my phone started to buzz in my pocket. It was an unknown number from Boston, Massachusetts. My mind started to race. Before I left for to the restaurant, I sent out a press release to the Boston Globe, sharing that the Boston Night Riders won the MLQ Championship. It was one of maybe two hundred press releases I submitted to major news organizations over the course of the summer as the Media Outreach Coordinator for MLQ. Of course, 95 percent of the time, I never hear back from the media outlet and life goes on. I had been courting the Boston Globes, the Washington Posts and the New York Times of the world for most of the summer without success. But could it be?</span><br />
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It was loud in the restaurant but I heard it clear as day. I was speaking to a reporter from the Boston Globe. I rushed outside into the parking lot so I could hear. I answered a couple of questions about the rules of the game, the mission of the league and the history of quidditch in Boston. I promised to find more sources for the reporter to talk to. And that was that. I was terrified that I had accidentally slipped and given some embarrassing quote that would make the rest of the quidditch community collectively groan the next morning. For the rest of the night, I obsessively googled "Boston Globe quidditch" every twenty minutes, waiting for the article to pop up online.<br />
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Early Monday morning, I was at the William P. Hobby Airport, sitting down for a breakfast taco near my gate when my Google search produced what I was looking for. I read it through twice and I smiled like an idiot for the next few minutes. Mission accomplished. With a great event team, an undefeated champion and a lot of luck, Major League Quidditch made it into the Boston Globe.<br />
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<b>The Radford Plate? The Homel Shield?</b><br />
At the MLQ Championship, the battle for the Benepe Cup was a gripping contest involving the league's top teams. Boston, Austin, Indianapolis, League City and Los Angeles were all somewhat in the race for the league title at some point during the weekend. The games between these teams provided the most suspense of the weekend and played a direct role in determining the outcome of the tournament. The best-of-three finals series, especially, treated the crowd to an intense back-and-forth between superbly talented teams.<br />
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But what about the rest of the league? On the one hand, there was no shortage of fantastic games between the next tier of teams. San Francisco and Kansas City dueled in two close, compelling matches. New Orleans bested Washington and Salt Lake City and advanced late into Saturday, giving Indianapolis a real scare. Even Detroit held New York within striking distance for a while. Behind Boston and Austin, there was quite a lot of parity. For the most part, each team was a competitive and polished representative of its metropolitan area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiQ19mrMrtCNNa_RySgC-VI7ybQXYKLB_Npj15CPUSXYdQWRbb4ef4Wc_fehfPgB89z7PA2xBOY6spoHXrqgU4w8-XfT5u5NPRwpjRsQtFjo-t42vgxHO_9obwSr9Qog4xcrWbRiNFhrs/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiQ19mrMrtCNNa_RySgC-VI7ybQXYKLB_Npj15CPUSXYdQWRbb4ef4Wc_fehfPgB89z7PA2xBOY6spoHXrqgU4w8-XfT5u5NPRwpjRsQtFjo-t42vgxHO_9obwSr9Qog4xcrWbRiNFhrs/s400/image3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Matt Dwyer</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, the rain delay left something to be desired. Because of the weather, no consolation games were played among the middle-of-the-road teams. And some players seemed happy about that. That was most troubling for me. Teams spent lots of money and time to get to League City and for whatever reason, some players didn't want to play almost assuredly well-matched consolation games? Maybe I just don't get it, but I wanted to propose a new structure for consolation matches borrowed from the World Rugby Sevens Series.<br />
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To start, Rugby Sevens is kind of like quidditch. Games are physical and short, broken down into two halves of seven minutes. Tournaments are contested over a two-day weekend and teams play multiple games each day. There is a preliminary round on Saturday and an elimination round on Sunday. There is also a gap between the best teams and the rest of the field in Rugby Sevens. The small island nation of Fiji is the two-time defending World Rugby Sevens Series champions. More recently, Fiji thrashed Great Britain by a score of 43-7 in the gold medal match at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Before Fiji, New Zealand dominated all competition, winning 12 out of the first 15 World Rugby Sevens Series.<br />
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That's why Rugby Sevens tournaments award more than one trophy. Meet the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield. The Cup is the first prize, presented to the champion of the tournament. After a preliminary round, the top four teams at a Rugby Sevens tournament compete for the Cup. The next four teams duke it out for the Plate. The four teams after that play for the Bowl. And the last four teams battle for the Shield. I created mock-up of this with seeding from Saturday at the MLQ Championship <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PJeDAQL89o9LUSa3RG75MY7PlgROSbqhP95-xUutlZo/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscpYxovtXTj0npFPYMEJcFHFUm58TVmfx3wLTWXl8VtpBeMTJWQPOruHVCUW43zM_dvPJPj20BQFUCUGxPoKzOmrPfDY8Q22KvOmYpwJVjahz_E2-L9dvPXb8HxomD2kLr5v3YQc4qx8W/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscpYxovtXTj0npFPYMEJcFHFUm58TVmfx3wLTWXl8VtpBeMTJWQPOruHVCUW43zM_dvPJPj20BQFUCUGxPoKzOmrPfDY8Q22KvOmYpwJVjahz_E2-L9dvPXb8HxomD2kLr5v3YQc4qx8W/s400/image1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Matt Dwyer</td></tr>
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It's a smart and workable model for Major League Quidditch. It gives the next best quidditch cities more opportunities to play close games against teams with equal ability. If the Benepe Cup is seemingly out of reach, the Radford Plate or the Homel Shield gives coaches something to motivate their players with. Additional trophies provide more teams with something to shoot for and celebrate. More teams will be taking the silverware back to their hometown quidditch community, generating new energy and bringing more publicity around the sport.<br />
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<b>Minor League Quidditch</b><br />
Before players and volunteers boarded planes and descended on League City, Texas for the 2016 MLQ Championship, my longtime friend and former colleague in quidditch media Andy Marmer published <i>Where MLQ Went Wrong in 2016</i> on the Quidditch Post. Marmer argued that the expansion of Major League Quidditch to the southern and western United States for the 2016 season was ultimately unsuccessful. Marmer wrote that the geographic stretch of the league had overextended players and volunteers and suggested that the league should have expanded to smaller northeastern and midwestern cities like Philadelphia, Raleigh, Richmond, Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Louis.<br />
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Make no mistake, there were bumps in the road along the 2016 season and every MLQ staffer would love to have more volunteers, but MLQ's southern and western expansion was exactly the right step forward. Any other move would have been disastrous for the league.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyKQ7_1SP4dUogJCg9z1RFkSOmyEV0gpU8o3rlT7YT9ehb57TC_bGl766BJWoQp1KV8eBZ5sX-IzBz2uLxOYYbYOSqsL1dG6Z3SZh3L4wpaEjG00TRKRsuhyphenhyphenG_AKDJfagYCjGPnP2lMzw/s1600/image5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyKQ7_1SP4dUogJCg9z1RFkSOmyEV0gpU8o3rlT7YT9ehb57TC_bGl766BJWoQp1KV8eBZ5sX-IzBz2uLxOYYbYOSqsL1dG6Z3SZh3L4wpaEjG00TRKRsuhyphenhyphenG_AKDJfagYCjGPnP2lMzw/s400/image5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Matt Dwyer</td></tr>
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Among the original eight teams, Boston has widened the gap, leaving only the Indianapolis Intensity anywhere near realistic striking distance. Without the addition of Austin, the spectators and players in League City would have missed out on a best-of-three finals series for the ages. In truth, most of Marmer's expansion cities are a clear cut below MLQ standards. On paper, sure, Chicago and Philadelphia are big cities, but they were passed over in the beginning for a reason. The quidditch scene in Chicago and Philadelphia is just much smaller than the typical MLQ city. I would say that very few of Marmer's expansion candidates could support a full 21-player roster. Maybe Minneapolis? Toronto? The rest of Marmer's expansion cities would probably produce a shell of a roster and give the league headaches all season. The number of out-of-snitch-range games would go up and the margin of victory in blowouts would soar into the hundreds.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Without any doubt in my mind, the additions of the South and West Divisions have raised the overall level of play in MLQ. Each expansion city brought enthusiasm, teamwork and talent to Hometown Heroes Park. And besides maybe the Phoenix Sol, every expansion city at the MLQ Championship clearly justified itself as a smart and worthy addition to the league. During the offseason, MLQ picked the eight next best cities for quidditch in North America and each of those cities by and large delivered. 57 percent of games at the MLQ Championship were within snitch range. There are very few other cities (<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">maybe </span>Miami, Minneapolis or Philadelphia<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">) that could have stayed within snitch range of a middle-of-the-road MLQ expansion team like the Kansas City Stampede or even a lower-tier MLQ expansion team like the Phoenix Sol.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQuZK18AoaISjPnZ-7SNC1afLbNHzvNrFeTrcc-b0-Yx_Nkmrm-7W3aRZTHSh-q2zagwgz30cmy1rW9ZaisL6UmVKwHv_rfAmiV5M1uCOt56KZ5EIvNjK9WREwS91D_ZwF_BuH9TbuFAP/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQuZK18AoaISjPnZ-7SNC1afLbNHzvNrFeTrcc-b0-Yx_Nkmrm-7W3aRZTHSh-q2zagwgz30cmy1rW9ZaisL6UmVKwHv_rfAmiV5M1uCOt56KZ5EIvNjK9WREwS91D_ZwF_BuH9TbuFAP/s400/image2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Matt Dwyer</td></tr>
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In short, MLQ stayed true to its mission by expanding to Texas, California and more. Aiming to be the highest level of quidditch in North America, MLQ picked the best cities possible with the most experienced, talented and committed players. MLQ wants to be respected and consumed by the wider quidditch community and selecting the best cities available was the only way to further that goal.<br />
<br />
Marmer's expansion cities are minor league quidditch cities in my opinion. And who knows? Maybe in three to five years, once MLQ has addressed some problems and grown comfortable with sixteen teams, a second division with Philadelphia, Richmond, Raleigh and the rest of them could be possible. Someday, I would love to compete as a player in a European soccer-style promotion and relegation system between two sixteen-team flights. But that's way off into the future. For now, let's celebrate the 2016 MLQ regular season and the 2016 MLQ Championship.<br />
<br />
<i>Jack McGovern is a Media Outreach Coordinator for Major League Quidditch. The views and opinions expressed on The QuidKid do not represent the views and opinions of Major League Quidditch. </i>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-3873043016520536352016-08-23T16:04:00.001-07:002016-08-26T05:14:01.227-07:00Departing Players Database 2016<i>The Departing Players Database lists players who will not be returning to their most recent USQ teams from the 2015-16 season for the new 2016-17 season.</i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Northeast</b><br />
QC Boston<br />
Ethan Sturm<br />
Sheldon Bostic<br />
David Fox <br />
<br />
Tufts<br />
<span class="_5yl5">Ben Pfander </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Greg Bento </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Hannah deBaets </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Mari Fromstein </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Jordan Anderson</span><br />
<br />
Rochester United<br />
Eric Wasser<br />
<br />
Rochester<br />
Lisle Coleman<br />
Anna Parker<br />
Jack Venuti<br />
Guntis Runtins<br />
Eugene Rohrer<br />
<br />
RIT<br />
Matthew Niederberger<br />
Andrew Hollenbach<br />
<br />
SUNY Geneseo<br />
Patrick Damon Bouge<br />
Kelsey Colberg<br />
Patrick Shea<br />
Layna Gray<br />
Brianna Nelson<br />
<span data-offset-key="3j268-0-0"><span data-text="true">Kayleigh Stumbaugh</span></span><br />
<br />
Syracuse<br />
<span class="_5yl5">Chris Rothery </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Kelsey West </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Gus Castillo</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Michael Merwin </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Greg Brazis </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Nick Schnurr </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Sam Bailey </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Ben Bussman</span><br />
Laura Hossenlopp<br />
<br />
Emerson<br />
Griffin Conlogue<br />
Leeanne Dillmann<br />
Austin Mohn<br />
Jez Insalaco<br />
Zac Conlogue<br />
Steph Breen<br />
<br />
Hofstra<br />
Adam Kwestel<br />
Jaime Colon<br />
Mike Iadavaia<br />
Elissa Salamy<br />
<br />
Warriors<br />
Ricky Nelson<br />
Andrew Zagelbaum<br />
Gabe Obregon (to Richmond Spiders)<br />
Michael Pascutoi (retired)<br />
Colleen O'Mara<br />
<br />
Macaulay<br />
<span class="_5yl5">Luke Espina </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Jennifer Freund </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Aaron Wiliams</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"> </span> <br />
<b>Mid Atlantic</b><br />
Maryland<br />
Ben Tunick<br />
Isabella Newton<br />
Liz Eveling<br />
Jacob Knippel<br />
<br />
North Carolina<br />
Chris Champitto<br />
Emma Troxler<br />
Courtney Reynolds<br />
Kyle Bullins (only fall semester)<br />
<br />
Richmond<br />
Abby Hegarty<br />
Brendan O'Connor<br />
John Clikeman<br />
Dan Waddell<br />
Josh Lawrence<br />
Katie Rothert<br />
Tim Binns<br />
Garrett Fundakowski<br />
<br />
George Mason<br />
Ben Mertens<br />
Jonathan Milan<br />
Olivia Bascle<br />
Brendan Fribley<br />
Arielle Flax<br />
<br />
DCQC<br />
Carlos Metz<br />
James Hicks<br />
Jimmy Pritz<br />
Patrick Rardin<br />
Max Miceli<br />
<br />
Philly Honey Badgers<br />
Isobel Rennie<br />
Elaine Zhou<br />
Jason Rosenberg<br />
Zak Hewitt<br />
Rae Lemashov<br />
<br />
<b>Great Lakes</b><br />
Michigan<br />
Andrew Axtell<br />
Matt Oppenlander<br />
Dylan Schepers<br />
Zach Schepers<br />
Christopher Rock<br />
Benjamin Griessmann<br />
Lisa Lavelanet<br />
Maddy Novack<br />
Meaghan O'Connell<br />
Matthew Oates<br />
Andre Grosse<br />
<br />
Michigan State<br />
Jim Richert<br />
<span class="_5yl5">Ian Hoopingarner </span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Jacob Heppe</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Isaak Willard</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5">Rachael Firehammer</span><br />
<br />
Grand Valley State<br />
Gabe Unick<br />
Holly Crevier<br />
Tyler Nagy<br />
Isaac Schipper<br />
<br />
Ohio State<br />
Matt Eveland<br />
Julie Fritz<br />
Brien Povlika<br />
<br />
Bowling Green<br />
Daniel Daugherty<br />
David Hoops<br />
Kendall Kuhn<br />
Noah Cochran<br />
Mike Gallagher<br />
Alex Closson<br />
Sara McCullough<br />
Meredith Taylor<br />
Pari Yost<br />
Katie Milligan<br />
Emily Dick<br />
Kaitlin Richard<br />
<br />
Southern Indiana*<br />
Cole Musgrave<br />
Shane Ritz<br />
<br />
Wooster*<br />
Matt Loberg<br />
Charlotte Tierney<br />
Colin Omilanowski<br />
<br />
Indiana<br />
Gabriel Johnson<br />
Corey Cockrum<br />
Kristen Recker Argyres<br />
<br />
<b>Midwest</b><br />
Kansas<br />
Shane Bouchard<br />
Nathan Cyr<br />
Courtney Chediak<br />
Brian Kessler<br />
<br />
Wisconsin<br />
Alexander Blass<br />
Peter Svihra<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>South</b><br />
Florida's Finest<br />
Sean Snipes<br />
Justin Goodman<br />
Adam Treichel<br />
Nick Zakoske<br />
Richard Crumrine<br />
Sarah Simko<br />
<br />
Florida State*<br />
Annabelle Blevins<br />
Jared Bufkin<br />
Billy Mauer<br />
Ben Pifer<br />
TJ Taylor<br />
Jamin Weeks<br />
<br />
Southern Storm*<br />
Anderson Breeland<br />
Tyler Hemerly<br />
Christa Kelly<br />
Ray Taylor<br />
<br />
Miami<br />
Kashi Anand<br />
Bridgette Foster<br />
Bernie Berges<br />
German Barrios<br />
<br />
<b>Southwest</b><br />
Texas A&M<br />
Sam Keegan Adlis<br />
Chris Beck<br />
Katie Stewart<br />
Cody McKenzie<br />
<br />
Gulf Coast Gumbeaux<br />
Shelby Newcomer<br />
Dylan Greenleaf<br />
Melissa White<br />
Heather Burg<br />
<br />
Loyola New Orleans<br />
Etefia Umana<br />
Steen Gergen<br />
Eric Jurgeson<br />
Keevy Narcisse<br />
Gabe Garza<br />
Jake Gomrick<br />
Sian Hairston<br />
Tyler Steele<br />
<br />
Tulane<br />
Josh Mansfield<br />
Rachel Ayella-Silver<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>West</b><br />
Arizona State*<br />
Tyler Ortiz<br />
<br />
Los Angeles Gambits*<br />
Richard Arreola<br />
Matthew Ziff<br />
<br />
Lost Boys*<br />
Margo Aleman<br />
Tiffany Chow<br />
<br />
Anteater Quidditch*<br />
James Luby<br />
<br />
Santa Barbara Blacktips*<br />
Brian Vampola<br />
Elisabeth Ingeberg Jorstad<br />
<br />
USC*<br />
Remington Conatser<br />
Ryan Parsons<br />
Nicte Sobrino<br />
<br />
Crimson Elite<br />
Kristin Jakus<br />
Dakota Briggs<br />
Jensen Morgan<br />
Dan Hanson<br />
<br />
UCLA<br />
Badal Chandra<br />
Michael Binger<br />
Nicole Remsburg<br />
Kevin Horn<br />
Devin Pearson<br />
Duran Alison<br />
Ryan Seaton<br />
Roger Thompson<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Northwest</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
*<i>Denotes reporting by the Quidditch Post's <a href="http://quidditchpost.blogspot.com/p/2016-free-agent-database.html" target="_blank">2016 Free Agent Database</a>.</i>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-54863077629241268892016-06-21T03:47:00.001-07:002016-06-21T14:25:04.279-07:00Interview with USQ Membership Director Eric Schnier<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>From the college community split survey to the new program for next season, </i><i>US Quidditch's Membership Department has been busy! I wanted to talk to Membership Director Eric Schnier, who was hired to replace Katie Stack in January, about the last six months and his goals for the future.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>How would you describe the membership department when you took over in January? How would you describe the department today?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think the Membership Department was in good shape when I took over. Katie’s work for the league can’t be understated. While the overall projects the department is working on are still the same (refs, snitches, regional coordinators, rules, youth quidditch, etc), I’ve done a lot of work in redefining goals for the department so that new progress can be made, particularly for referees and snitches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Last week, US Quidditch released a <a href="http://www.usquidditch.org/news/2016/05/strategic-plan-update-feedback-period-open-for-college-community-split" target="_blank">strategic plan update</a> and a <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Ufbk-lIcfcqv8_lBPM_jtKiWQzKqpCOFUPMhvbL0Q2M/viewform" target="_blank">college/community split survey</a>. Why now? Did the results from the 2015-2016 season influence the timing? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Believe it or not, they didn’t. The timing for the college/community split has been based on the focus group polling USQ did last summer and the strategic plan that resulted from them. I was hired in January and starting work on this split was one of my first projects, before any Spring regionals. Obviously, we weren’t working in a vacuum, unaware of what was happening this season, but the experiences of this past season only reinforced what we already knew. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Which questions on the college/community split survey are you watching most closely? Why? When will the results be published?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most important ones are probably the questions about members’ ideal timelines for the split. I think we can hammer out as many of the details as we want and put together a fleshed-out proposal, but if we make the change a year early or late, the split won’t be as effective as it needs to be. Look for a summary of the results to be released in the coming weeks.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What will be the Membership Department's role as US Quidditch continues with the college/community split process? What issues or problems do you anticipate?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The role will essentially stay the same. Both divisions of the league will get the same services and attention from USQ. As a league, there’s no preference for collegiate or community teams, so both divisions will be using the same rulebook, which means they can use the same certification standards for refs and snitches. The regional coordinators will be working with all their teams in both divisions, like they already do. It will mean more work in keeping things organized between the two divisions, but I don’t anticipate any significant issues. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>In the strategic plan update, US Quidditch passed over separating divisions for now. Does US Quidditch or the Membership Department have any responsibility to less competitive unofficial quidditch teams?</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes and no. On one hand, USQ wants to grow quidditch as a sport and make it as big and as good as it can be, which means we want to be in contact with unofficial teams and we want to understand what we can do that would make them more interested in joining the league officially. On the other hand, we have to prioritize work on programs for the benefit of our current member teams. As much as I’d like to work with everybody who plays quidditch, officially or not, we need to make sure that our focus remains on current member teams.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>For the first time, certified snitch runners were compensated at Quidditch Cup 9. What feedback did US Quidditch receive from snitches, refs and players? What's the future of snitch runner compensation?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The snitches loved it! Refs and players didn’t really provide significant feedback one way or the other, but all of the snitches, whether they were certified or not, were happy to have the opportunity to be compensated. This coming season, certified snitches will be compensated in all official games, which I think will lead to more people attempting certification. Using a certified snitch for every official game won’t be mandated this year, but whenever a certified snitch does an official game, compensation will be required. USQ events will also primarily use certified snitches. Snitch team is currently working on overhauling the snitch certification process so that being certified is more of an accomplishment than it has been in the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The <a href="http://www.usquidditch.org/files/USQ_Annual_Report_2014-2015_spreads.pdf" target="_blank">number of official member teams</a> has hovered around 170 for the past four years. Do you see this as a problem? Why has membership growth slowed? How can you get to 250 official member teams? 500 official member teams?</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It hasn’t actually been around 170, it’s been a little lower than that. During the 2014-15 season, we had 161 official teams, versus 173 in 2015-16. While it’s not a huge growth year-to-year like we had between 2011-12 and 2012-13 (a 28-team growth), the league is still growing. As for how we can reach those milestones, our whole strategic plan was created for growth and stability. The league has significantly improved in quality of reffing, quality of events, etc. in the past few years. I think it’s important that, before we expand by 75 teams between seasons, we are capable of handling that many teams and new players. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Quidditch is more and more expensive for players today. Are there any changes to grants or sponsorships on the horizon? Can US Quidditch use grants to achieve specific goals with regions or demographics?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think a lot of the increased cost of quidditch has come as the sport is becoming more “legitimate.” While a few years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to see teams wearing homemade t-shirt jerseys, using homemade brooms and hoops at tournaments, or playing without cleats or gloves, these have all been replaced by professionally made alternatives. This is a good thing, as the professional equipment is a higher quality, and creates an all around more legitimate feel to our events, but it has increased costs. Not to say that USQ costs haven’t also increased, but I think proportionately, USQ costs have been much more stagnant than what teams/players are willing to pay for uniforms, equipment, and travel to tournaments. As USQ costs have risen, however, so too has the sum for our team sponsorship grant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What accomplishment are you most proud of during your tenure at US Quidditch?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So far, I think it’s just been managing the transition from Katie to me to be as smooth as it was. Aside from that, I’ve addressed several issues within our volunteer base to revitalize them and make sure everybody understands their roles, what is expected of them, and what to do when issues arise. The Membership Director oversees the most volunteers in the league, and I met with each one of them one-on-one within the first month of my tenure. I plan to do that again as the season kicks off. Most of the work I’ve done thus far is going to be being implemented in the coming weeks and months, so outside of the snitch compensation plan and the new rulebook, there’s fewer tangible things to point at. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What are your long term goals for the Membership Department? What will the Membership Department do on average day <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_22579658" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">in three years</span></span>?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The biggest goal is in continued growth, but also stabilization, of the league. Building self-sustaining referee and snitch programs, for one. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_22579659" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Three years from now</span></span>, I hope we aren’t working on releasing major changes each offseason, but rather can devote more time to things like community outreach and multiple levels of youth quidditch that will really push the envelope in legitimizing and solidifying quidditch as a sport for years to come. </span></div>
JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-86175355013641729362016-06-08T13:48:00.001-07:002016-06-08T15:34:28.672-07:00MLQ Week One ReviewThe second season of Major League Quidditch is underway! Despite the rescheduling of the series in League City, the opening weekend of Major League Quidditch proceeded in Kansas City and San Francisco, introducing the quidditch community to four of the league's newest franchises. The road teams finished 6-0, mostly affirming preseason season predictions. But the matches were not without drama, highlighted by the Kansas City Stampede's accidental snitch catch in the second game against the Austin Outlaws. On the West Coast, the San Francisco Argonauts outscored the Salt Lake City Hive in average quaffle points per game, but thanks to two game-winning snitch catches, walked away with three losses.<br />
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Entering the season, I was not sure whether Major League Quidditch would deliver competitive matches every weekend. The best teams in the league are experienced, athletic and cohesive units, capable of running away with games. With many expansion teams in new cities, I was watching carefully to see what teams like Kansas City and San Francisco produced on the field. I am a strong believer that a league is only as strong as its weakest link and any semblance of rising inequality between teams could become a problem for Major League Quidditch going forward. After the opening weekend, I am encouraged. Even Austin, a South division favorite and title-contender, faced a scare in their second game of the season. As the season marches on, I can only hope for more weekends with close calls for the favorites.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ginger Snaps Photography</td></tr>
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<b>Kansas City Stampede vs. Austin Outlaws</b><br />
Despite an undefeated record, Austin and its all-star cast of former World Cup champions and Team USA veterans have some adjustments to make. At times during the second game especially, Austin's half-court offense looked cautious and uninspiring. I would like to see a quicker pace from the South favorites with more fast breaks. Sure, Austin might commit a couple more turnovers, but more often than not, their experience, athleticism and chemistry will put ten points on the scoreboard. <br />
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Speeding the game up and getting into the open field is only part of the answer. A perfect fast break provides an adrenaline rush beyond the satisfaction of a successful half-court possession. It's a way to assert dominance and demoralize opponents. All the greatest teams have done it. Sometimes, moments from fast breaks live forever in the memory of the quidditch community, as when Stephen Bell lobbed a half-court pass to an airborne Simon Arends for an alley-oop at World Cup 8. While Bell can rush up and down the field, Michael Duquette and the beaters bear most of the responsibility for the pace of gameplay. In the past, Duquette has thrived in chaos, freeing up space for his chasers and keepers to show off their talents. I think Austin could benefit from being less surgical and more free-flowing, having confidence that a chaotic environment will separate the contenders from the pretenders.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ginger Snaps Photgraphy</td></tr>
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Additionally, Austin has to integrate new faces into the lineup. Nothing energizes a group of quidditch veterans like a younger phenom. Last year, breakout stars like Teddy Costa and Lindsay Marella boosted their teams to the finals at MLQ Championship Weekend. I saw too many of the same old faces on the field at the same time for Austin. For example, Stephen Bell and Augustine Monroe should rarely, if ever, play on the same line. Like last year's Boston Night Riders, Austin ought to spread the veterans out and mix and match them with the younger players. At tryouts, the captains and coaches of Austin saw at least something from every single player on the roster today. If they experiment, the team's leaders will eventually find a place where the lesser known players can show their hidden talents. Please, give me some new names to write about!<br />
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On to Kansas City now, where there are some newer names to write about. At this point, Adam Heald should be a household name in the quidditch community. Heald, a tall, lanky keeper in the mold of former Team USA keeper Zach Luce, has clocked many minutes for the University of Kansas over the past few years. As a ballhandler, Heald is a patient, skilled passer and a slippery driver. However, for Kansas City, Heald's best moments happened around the hoops. When he jogs into the keeper zone, Heald becomes a weapon, giving his team a large target for alley-oops. Like Washington Admirals chaser Darren Creary, Heald enjoys a height advantage and good hands. In the blink of an eye, a Hail Mary pass can turn into ten points. If better all-around teams like Austin ease into a half-court game against Kansas City, Heald will be ready to make something out of nothing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ginger Snaps Photography</td></tr>
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Otherwise, Kansas City also benefits from a speed advantage over similar middle-of-the-table teams. Whether it's Hai Nguyen or Hayden Applebee, Kansas City can catch better teams off guard with a quick cut and pass to the goal. In the first series of the season, Kansas City only showed glimpses of their offensive potential. Mostly, Austin's defense clogged up the middle and out-muscled Kansas City's chasers on the perimeter. But as they run more drills and develop more plays, Kansas City's offense will become more crisp and more dangerous.<br />
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<b>San Francisco Argonauts vs. Salt Lake City Hive</b><br />
I hate to disappoint but I do not feel comfortable analyzing the West's first series at this point. I will return to both San Francisco and Salt Lake City once I have more time and video.<br />
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<i>Jack McGovern is the Media Outreach Coordinator for Major League Quidditch.</i>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-34682463443807506362016-05-31T12:37:00.001-07:002016-05-31T12:48:41.009-07:00MLQ Season Preview<div>
The second season of Major League Quidditch is finally here! All sixteen teams are ready and opening weekend matches begin this weekend in League City, Kansas City and San Francisco.<br />
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<b>Blast from the Past and Into the Future</b><br />
For longtime quidditch players and fans, the Austin Outlaws are more than just a blockbuster summer alliance between the city's premier community teams. With seven players from the University of Texas squad at World Cup VI, the Austin Outlaws are a long-awaited reunion. More than four years ago now, Texas romped to the title as the greatest team in the short history of quidditch. Soon after, the team dissolved with several graduates forming Lone Star Quidditch Club and Augustine Monroe sticking around to lead Texas to two more championships. At the time, quidditch pundits assumed that Monroe would inevitably join Lone Star, ending the all-star community team's World Cup woes and establishing a reign of invincibility. Everyone always believed Lone Star would be the first community team to win a national championship.<br />
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Now, the biggest names from Lone Star and Texas Cavalry have united, entering the season as the odds-on favorite to win the South. But the national quidditch landscape has changed markedly. In January, Quidditch Club Boston flew into Austin and left as the consensus number one. Then, they did it again in Columbia, breaking the hearts of Lone Star in the semifinals. Today, many of the same names are back on the roster and revving up for the season with the defending champion Boston Night Riders. Yes, the Austin Outlaws enter Major League Quidditch as an underdog. That much is clear. But how will they handle it?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessicajiaminlangphotography/" target="_blank">Jessica Jiamin Lang</a></td></tr>
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If history lends any clues, the Austin Outlaws are happy to let their northeastern counterparts carry the weight of expectations. For three years in a row, Augustine Monroe and Texas knocked off the consensus number one team at World Cup. Of course, many of those players from Texas A&M and Lone Star who suffered agonizing losses year after year will also be wearing the blue and black. Peddled by quidditch writers like me, the narrative about Lone Star has been a cruel and unfair burden over the years. The eleven Austin Outlaws who have played for Lone Star now have a chance to flip the script.<br />
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Barring something out of the ordinary, both the Boston Night Riders and the Austin Outlaws will win their divisions without dropping a game. And when both teams arrive in League City, the Boston Night Riders will still be the favorites. There's not much the Austin Outlaws can do until then. Simply put, they need to ease into the routine of summer practices and get comfortable playing the long game. Then, and only then, can the Austin Outlaws deliver the Benepe Cup for the Southwest.<br />
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<b>The Flour City Blossoms in the North</b><br />
Last spring, when the inaugural eight franchises were announced, every city made sense except Rochester. Major League Quidditch located teams in two national capitals, a city that never sleeps and at least two self-proclaimed Titletowns. With a population of only 200,000 and no major professional sports teams, Rochester seemed out of place.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessicajiaminlangphotography/" target="_blank">Jessica Jiamin Lang</a></td></tr>
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But at the time, something was beginning to happen in Rochester. For years, on the periphery of the Northeast region, the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology competed regularly in a back-and-forth, crosstown rivalry. The teams and players from Rochester were mostly overlooked and failed to break through onto the national stage until World Cup 8. In Rock Hill, a supersized University of Rochester, bolstered by Shane Hurlbert, Kyle Savarese and Alyssa Giarrosso from RIT, became the first Northeast team to beat a Southwest powerhouse, Baylor University.<br />
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Since then, the same group of players has mostly stuck together, climbing each new mountain and surpassing expectations every time. Finishing with a winning record in the closely contested North, the Rochester Whiteout battled through tight games, working out of the kinks. Shane Hurlbert blossomed into a star, demanding our attention by leading the league with an eye-popping 32 goals. By the fall, Rochester United, clad in stylish new uniforms, traveled far and wide with short rosters, impressing with nonstop goal scoring. Skipping the Bat City Showcase, Rochester United zeroed in on the national championship and ended up in the championship game. Yet again, Rochester United reached higher, forcing overtime and pushing their regional rivals to the limit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessicajiaminlangphotography/" target="_blank">Jessica Jiamin Lang</a></td></tr>
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So where do the Rochester Whiteout stand now? Heading into their second season of Major League Quidditch, they are the favorites in the North, right? Well, not so fast. Once again, the North looks to be an haven of top-to-bottom competitive quidditch. While the Boston Night Riders, Austin Outlaws and Los Angeles Guardians are all heavy favorites in their divisions, the North lacks a clear frontrunner. If you want snitch range games and close series, the North is the place for you. The Rochester Whiteout are not the only group of players coming off a successful US Quidditch season. Of course, Ball State University, which finished higher than any other college team at the national championship, sends many players to the Indianapolis Intensity and Bowling Green State University, which reached the quarterfinals, feeds into the Cleveland Riff. And for the second year in a row, that's the three-way race at the top of the North: Rochester, Indianapolis and Cleveland.<br />
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With the season nearly upon us, each team must be asking; how will the North be won? First off, each team has at least one game-changing male beater. The trio of Kyle Savarese, Tyler Walker and Max MacAdoo leaves no team vulnerable in today's world of hyper-aggressive beating. In the chaser game, I am hard pressed to find a depth advantage. The easy answer perhaps, lies with the seeking game. The Indianapolis Intensity boast the services of two Team USA seekers: Jeff Siwek and Jason Bowling. But I am not sure that seeking will be decisive. Remember, Sam Roitblat, seeker for the Cleveland Riff, performed superbly for Team USA two years ago at the Global Games. More importantly, as I wrote above, I do not see any seeker beating mismatch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessicajiaminlangphotography/" target="_blank">Jessica Jiamin Lang</a></td></tr>
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From what I can tell, Shane Hurlbert separates the Rochester Whiteout from their division rivals. Hurlbert, a clear first team All-American this past season, has always played with a chip on his shoulder. Hurlbert's rise to the top has been powered the old fashioned way: an indefatigable hunger to be the best. Every time I submitted my ballot for the Eighth Man rankings, I knew that Hurlbert would be checking where his team was ranked. In the online quidditch community, Hurlbert is always one of the first voices to attack a college/community split. I get the sense that winning a community team national championship would not be satisfying for Hurlbert. He wants to leave no doubt. While some community teams might take next year's US Quidditch season less seriously, Hurlbert and Rochester United will assuredly be back in title contention. Hurlbert is a competitor and if I am playing in the North, I want him on my team. No team has found a foolproof answer for Hurlbert yet. The goals, the assists and the snitch catches will keep multiplying and that's why I like the Rochester Whiteout to eke out first place in the North.<br />
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Jack McGovern is the Media Outreach Coordinator for Major League Quidditch.</i>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-18078283736952239922016-05-09T17:17:00.001-07:002016-05-09T17:17:34.464-07:00Depth Perception from HomeThe weekend of April 16th and 17th was just another busy weekend for me. My AP tests were quickly approaching and I worked hour after hour, reading American history and practicing calculus problems. I was determined and laser-focused, aiming to prove myself to anyone and everyone who stopped and looked. Yet, in the back of my mind, five years of memories floated around. My eye-opening trip to World Cup IV, situated among the skyscrapers and traffic of Manhattan. My thrilling journey as junior reporter for the Florida Quidditch Conference at World Cup V. The optimism of World Cup VI, as the quidditch community celebrated a flawless champion, a likable Cinderella and warm weather. And more recently, teaming up with so many amazing people and flooding the official website with recap articles at World Cups VII and VIII. Five years of airports, hotels, restaurants and parks flashed by as I leafed through textbook pages from my bedroom.<br />
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Now eventually, by Sunday night, I tuned into the Livestream and watched Quidditch Club Boston vanquish Lone Star Quidditch Club in the semifinals and squeak past Rochester United for the championship. Without being on the ground in South Carolina, I feel like I have lost my place at the table of quidditch historians, but as the season ended, I had one big takeaway from gamefilm and livestreams.<br />
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Three years ago, depth was the key to success. At World Cup VI, Texas' legendary squad was absurdly talented from top to bottom. Since then, Texas A&M, Lone Star Quidditch Club, Texas and Texas State have hurled line after line of athleticism and physicality at each other in an annual war of attrition for the national championship. Non-Southwest teams watched from the sidelines in awe. How could a Northeast or Mid-Atlantic team ever assemble a more complete 21-man roster? The quidditch community largely accepted that the Southwest dominated interregional play because of overwhelmingly greater depth.<br />
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A couple weeks ago, QC Boston and Rochester United (and to a lesser degree, Ball State) dismantled the doctrine of depth. Both finalists boasted a skillful supporting cast, but like never before, they both worked with a short bench for the regular season and World Cup 9. Sometimes, two or three superstar players carried them to glory. The Northeast and Great Lakes finally triumphed over the Southwest not with a better second or third line, but with a better first line. While Lone Star recycled through equally talented lines, both Northeast finalists grouped their best players on a single dynamic, cohesive line.<br />
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Arguably, the current trend away from depth began last year, when Augustine Monroe and Michael Duquette dispatched the top-to-bottom most skilled team, Lone Star. Either way, depth almost seemed like a competitive disadvantage at World Cup 9. I'm not quite sure yet whether the new star-powered reality is good or bad for the sport. Of course, some professional sports like basketball emphasize superstars over depth and the NBA is doing fine the last time I checked.<br />
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But why has depth become less important? Perhaps, the advancement of hyper-aggressive beating has diminished the physicality of the chaser game, enabling star players to stay on the pitch longer. Or maybe the return of pool play allowed star players to rest on Saturday and save energy for bracket play. Or maybe the best players have more and more experience, justifying disproportionate minutes and transforming the lower end of the depth charts into cheerleaders. Maybe community teams, which sometimes struggle to maintain a full roster, are to blame. All of the above?<br />
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Anyways, I think that the current climate of quidditch favors short benches and superstars for the foreseeable future. For this and many other reasons, community teams seem the best prepared to fight through close matches and emerge victorious from major tournaments. However, I want to see how quickly the Southwest adapts. I do not honestly know if Southwest college teams have the talent the take down seasoned all-stars from Boston or Rochester or Los Angeles. From where I stand, Southwest community teams have two options. Shift towards Northeast-style hyper-aggressive beating and embrace shorter benches OR double down on depth and physicality.<br />
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The fast-approaching Major League Quidditch season will likely give us a better idea about the importance of depth in today's quidditch. As all sixteen teams set their sights on the defending champion Boston Night Riders, I will be watching how teams like the Austin Outlaws and Los Angeles Guardians approach the challenge ahead in League City, Texas.</div>
JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-44007653242966249162016-02-18T16:38:00.001-08:002016-02-18T16:40:22.893-08:00Joining Major League QuidditchReaders of <i>The QuidKid</i>,<br />
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I am thrilled to announce that I have accepted the position of Media Outreach Coordinator for Major League Quidditch. </div>
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After closely watching the trial season, I am confident that Major League Quidditch provides a unique opportunity to grow the sport of quidditch. I greatly admire the work already done by Amanda Dallas, Ethan Sturm and all of Major League Quidditch's volunteers and I believe that I can help. I want to create an environment where quidditch shines brightest. I envision Major League Quidditch as a beacon for our sport, attracting media outlets, sports fans and families alike to parks across the country. I am ready, Major League Quidditch is ready and I believe the quidditch community is ready to take our sport to the next level. </div>
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I will also remain the Tournament Director of Keystone Cup Quidditch and the sole contributor of <i>The QuidKid</i>. Once again, I am joining the Marketing Department of Major League Quidditch effectively immediately. This is our shot and I can't wait to get started!</div>
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Jack</div>
JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-6965774634674527632015-11-13T08:42:00.000-08:002015-11-13T09:57:29.325-08:00Looking Back and Looking Ahead<b>The Very Beginning</b><br />
The weather could not have been better. The sun basked the park with warmth and leaves fluttered onto the turf. A refreshing breeze sailed off the Hudson River. The crisp November air carried the sounds of street traffic and cheerful voices. As the long shadows of office buildings receded across the park, college students mounted brooms, donned colored headbands and kicked off a momentous weekend of quidditch. From Saturday morning to Sunday night, thousands of New Yorkers wandered into DeWitt Clinton Park, pausing for a minute to piece together the bizarre sights and sounds. Media outlets descended on the neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen to relay an entertaining story to the world. The hustle-and-bustle of New York City had welcomed a child of rural Vermont.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Steve McGovern</td></tr>
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Five years ago today, I watched quidditch for the first time. It was the fall of 2010 and I was two months into sixth grade. My transition to middle school had been rough. At school, I was unhappy, lonely and discouraged. Looking for refuge, I picked up the <i>Harry Potter</i> series and reveled in the world of Harry, Ron and Hermione. And quidditch. I had always loved sports and I eagerly anticipated the quidditch matches between Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. One day, I fired up my old Dell desktop computer and searched YouTube for quidditch clips from the <i>Harry Potter</i> movies. I wanted to see how directors, actors and computer cinematographers interpreted quidditch. Instead, I found how Middlebury College students made quidditch come to life. I stumbled across an advertisement for the International Quidditch Association's World Cup IV in New York City and began to hunt for more information.<br />
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It was surprisingly easy to convince my parents to take me to World Cup IV. I think my parents knew how unhappy I was at school and hoped that an adventure in the Big Apple would brighten my weekend. I remember counting down the days, trying to envision the spectacle. When my alarm clock beeped on the morning of Saturday, November 13th, I was already awake and ready to go. In the pitch black, my dad and I drove into Philadelphia and boarded a MegaBus at 30th Street Station. I leafed through the World Cup IV information packet on the New Jersey Turnpike, reviewing the rules, scanning the list of teams and tracing the route to the fields. Soon enough, the Manhattan skyline appeared and MegaBus dumped us in the shadow of Madison Square Garden. Then, my dad and I speed-walked 25 blocks through the Garment District and Hell's Kitchen, eager to arrive at our destination.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Steve McGovern</td></tr>
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As we crossed the black gates into DeWitt Clinton Park, hundreds of quidditch players had formed a large oval around one pitch. The three remaining pitches stood eerily silent with chairs, hoops and balls waiting for the day to begin. I cautiously approached the oval and stood on a chair to peer over Penn State's quidditch team. The well-dressed master of ceremonies, IQA commissioner Alex Benepe, was wrapping up his remarks and prompting the congregation to yell "quidditch" at the top of our lungs. Why not? I joined the chorus and shouted "quidditch." I've never looked back.<br />
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<b>Middlebury's Finest Hour</b><br />
Games began shortly after the teams dispersed and I settled into a pitch-side fold-up chair. Once I nailed down the rules, I began to search for Middlebury's top competitors. From reading about quidditch online, I knew Middlebury was the three-time defending champions and I was immediately drawn to the intrigue of Middlebury's dynasty. Early on, I watched an athletic Michigan State squad dismantle its opponents. Physical players from LSU and Texas A&M foreshadowed the Southwest's bright future. Small liberal colleges like Vassar, Emerson and Chestnut Hill notched wins against larger universities. Because I was unfamiliar with quidditch strategy, I was more enamored with athleticism and chaser teamwork than anything else. <i>The QuidKid</i> was only a twinkle in my eye at World Cup IV, but the foundation for JackThePhan was there. I loved picking apart quidditch and finding the impact players.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6xXcl136fYk/VkVH2Fs32yI/AAAAAAAACcQ/0TZSmz1V_e0/s1600/Image%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6xXcl136fYk/VkVH2Fs32yI/AAAAAAAACcQ/0TZSmz1V_e0/s400/Image%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Steve McGovern</td></tr>
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Without a doubt, the highlight of the day was Middlebury's pool play schedule. I don't know how the pools were determined, but Middlebury faced both Pittsburgh and <a href="https://youtu.be/G3JWqepD8u8" target="_blank">Michigan State</a> in the preliminary round. The atmosphere around each and every Middlebury game was electric. Along with many others, I had circled Middlebury's games on my schedule and my dad and I arrived at the pitch early to claim seats. By brooms up, an enormous crowd encircled the pitch and buzzed with anticipation, recognizing that Middlebury's undefeated record was the on the line. Both contests against Pittsburgh and Michigan State were frantic, back-and-forth affairs. Packed four or five rows deep, spectators roared as Middlebury raced up and down the pitch. Out of the chaos, Middlebury produced immaculate passing, daring drives and clutch snitch catches. Pittsburgh and Michigan State proved worthy challengers, but Middlebury landed the knockout punch.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Looking back, I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed Middlebury at the height of its dominance. Of course, Middlebury went on to claim the championship on Sunday, dispatching Villanova, Vassar and Tufts in bracket play.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span>Say whatever you want about the brackets and the snitches at World Cup V, but never question whether Middlebury earned the championship at World Cup IV. Middlebury was the most athletic, most talented, most strategic, most organized team. Without any cupcake games, Middlebury faced the gauntlet and passed with flying colors.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Steve McGovern</td></tr>
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Beyond the competition, World Cup IV truly offered the perfect spectator experience for me and many others. It was a different era and<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> snitch antics and hilarious announcers meshed well with the whimsical mood. As an enthusiastic 11-year-old spectator, I was interviewed by the commentators on one field between games. And I distinctly remember one snitch scaling 20 feet into the stratosphere and perching atop a baseball backstop. It was unbelievable. It perfectly captured the boldness of quidditch at the time. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Yet, I also recall seekers cornering over-ambitious snitches on city sidewalks and securing the snitch catch within minutes of brooms up. Throughout the weekend, it was clear that quidditch was evolving quickly and pivoting towards serious competition. Soon, off-pitch snitch catches and improv comedians would grow increasingly stale. Quidditch was reaching a crossroads, announcing itself to the wider world and enjoying the last hurrah of its Vermont roots.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">When my dad and I left DeWitt Clinton Park around six o'clock, I knew that I wanted to stay connected to quidditch. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Walking back to the MegaBus terminal, I wondered whether a nationwide college sport had a place for me.</span> I dozed off to sleep somewhere between New York and Philadelphia, dreaming up endless possibilities for my quidditch future.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Back to the City</b></span><br />
I can't honestly predict where I would be today without quidditch. I've attended five World Cups, worked hours and hours for US Quidditch, attracted almost 100,000 hits for my blog and organized two tournaments in my hometown. When everything else fails, quidditch has given me happiness and purpose. World Cup IV was the beginning of my personal quidditch journey, but its significance is even more far-reaching.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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Located in the heart of New York City, World Cup IV jumpstarted an era of rapid growth for quidditch. Along with thousands of spectators, media outlets flocked to DeWitt Clinton Park. <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131144212" target="_blank">NPR</a>, <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/quidditch-world-cup-flies-into-ny/" target="_blank">CBS</a>, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/quidditch-grows-college-campuses-world-cup-tournament-held/story?id=12025127" target="_blank">ABC</a>, <a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/the-scene/events/Quidditch-World-Cup-Comes-to-NYC-107736313.html" target="_blank">NBC</a>, <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/blogs/ireport-blog/2010/11/15/colleges-fight-for-quidditch-world-cup" target="_blank">CNN</a>, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/12/quidditch-takes-flight-harry-potter-muggle/" target="_blank">FoxNews</a>, <a href="http://www.wired.com/2010/11/gallery-quidditch-world-cup/" target="_blank">Wired</a>, <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2010/11/12/quidditch-world-cup-2010" target="_blank">Entertainment Weekly</a>, <a href="http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2031655,00.html" target="_blank">Time</a> and more all covered World Cup IV, capitalizing on the convenient location of the tournament. Perhaps more importantly, many of today's leaders within the quidditch community were deeply inspired at World Cup IV. The thrill of media, spectators and the city energized new captains and new recruits alike. Manhattan breathed life into quidditch, enabling unprecedented growth within the world of sport.<br />
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It's no secret that three consecutive South Carolina World Cups has limited publicity for quidditch in recent years. Media outlets only travel to South Carolina regularly for presidential primaries or college football. For quidditch's premier event, the spectator attendance in North Myrtle Beach and Rock Hill has been disappointing. Yet, South Carolina has a purpose for US Quidditch. Smaller cities offer financial incentives, including cheaper hotel rooms and cheaper food. Here's what I propose.</div>
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Every five years, World Cup should return to a major metropolitan area. The tournament should be held among skyscrapers, street vendors, subways and taxis in a true urban environment. Suburbs like Rock Hill and small cities like Columbia aren't good enough. The quidditch community would have to shoulder the burden of higher costs, but it would be an incredibly smart investment for the future. Every five years, a new major city would give quidditch a pick-me-up, helping to preserve and enhance quidditch's record-breaking growth. As US Quidditch narrows its choices for next year's national championship, I would encourage upper management to pause and remember the magic of World Cup IV. Five years ago today, an immature, young sport won my heart and captured my mind. And I was not alone. Now imagine combining an exciting urban atmosphere with the hard-hitting, fast-paced modern game of quidditch. Somewhere, the future bloggers, organizers and leaders of the quidditch community are out there, waiting patiently for quidditch to roll into town.</div>
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JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-47199623562051633562015-10-16T14:36:00.002-07:002015-10-16T15:19:26.524-07:00Triangles, Transfers and Keystone Cup II<i>It's mid-October and another Keystone Cup has come and gone. Once again, I feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to host my own tournament in my hometown. Since late July, I've worked hard to provide competitive opportunities for top quidditch programs and present quidditch to my local community. I recruited and selected teams and I laid the groundwork for a timely tournament. I am a perfectionist and I can proudly say that Keystone Cup II was another all-around success. Now, let's get down to business! Last year, I didn't have the opportunity to write about my tournament. Luckily, I found some time this year to share my thoughts on an exciting day of quidditch!</i><br />
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<b>RPI Engineers a Cinderella Run</b><br />
As the inaugural Major League Quidditch season wrapped up in mid-August, I began to consider extending an invitation to RPI for Keystone Cup II. Teddy Costa was zipping around pitches for the Boston Night Riders and Mario Nasta was playing consistently for the New York Titans. I believed that Costa could provide some offensive fireworks and Nasta could duel with the tournament's top beaters. I did not imagine that RPI would unfurl an effective triangle offense and surge into the <a href="http://livestream.com/accounts/14425014/events/4414736" target="_blank">championship</a> <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5NcE81-uxrE&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">game</a>.<br />
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RPI's breakout performance at Keystone Cup II was definitely unexpected. RPI's chasers are undersized and inexperienced. Without Costa, RPI lacks a go-to scorer. It was reasonable to predict that RPI would struggle offensively. After traveling four hours to Haverford, Pennsylvania, RPI had other plans. Contrasting with direct, linear offenses, RPI has mastered quidditch geometry and adopted a skillful triangle offense. RPI's triangle offense compensates for lack of size, lack of physicality and lack of playmakers. Chasers zip the quaffle around, passing unselfishly and moving constantly. It's like a pinball machine or <i>tiki-taka</i>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Caleb Eckert</span></td></tr>
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Undoubtedly, RPI's triangle offense stems from Ball State's rhythmic ball movement and high-percentage passing. And indeed, both Ball State and RPI have been accused of slow-balling. Right now, I see no problem with possession-oriented quidditch. For the past two years, Keystone Cup has hosted Ball State and RPI. I am confident that both teams have produced attractive quidditch and enhanced the spectator experience at Keystone Cup.<br />
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<b>Second Time's the Charm</b><br />
After falling short to Ball State at the inaugural event, NYU dispatched RPI in the championship game and took home the Keystone Cup trophy. Mostly, NYU showed us more of the same. Once again, NYU played to the level of its opponents and caught snitches. On Saturday, NYU played down to the level of its opponents, narrowly escaping snitch range contests with George Mason, Virginia, DCQC and RPI. Yet, NYU's undefeated day seemed to indicate that the Northeast would be an evenly-matched region.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Caleb Eckert</span></td></tr>
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When the Eighth Man announced Kyle Jeon's departure for QC Boston, I was definitely surprised. Stepping away from his alma mater, Jeon did not want to interfere with NYU's new leadership or steal minutes from new recruits. I respect Jeon's decision and I'm semi-optimistic about NYU's future. Nevertheless, as a quidditch analyst, I'm disappointed. I can't imagine that NYU will compete with an upgraded QC Boston roster anymore. Adding beater Leeanne Dillmann to last year's winning formula, NYU's beating will never be completely overwhelmed. However, QC Boston's potential beating duo of Max Havlin and Kyle Jeon could be unrivaled in the history of East Coast quidditch. If NYU (or anybody else) somehow stays within snitch range of QC Boston, Harry Greenhouse, Tyler Trudeau and Kyle Jeon, who caught three game-winning snitches at Keystone Cup, will be waiting.<br />
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<b>Community Outlier</b><br />
As analysts quickly pointed out, community teams seemingly underperformed at Keystone Cup. DCQC finished 3-3, falling to the Warriors and NYU twice. Despite inserting chaser David Fox into the lineup, the Warriors unexpectedly dropped matches to Virginia and RPI. In August, I announced that I would reserve six Keystone Cup spots for college quidditch programs, leaving two spots for community teams. I stuck to my word and I always expected that one or both community teams would play in the finals. As the Eighth Man livestreamed the championship game between two colleges, my proclamations about the decline of college quidditch must have seemed ill-considered. However, I believe Keystone Cup misrepresented the college/community dynamic and my tournament will be remembered as an outlier. Let's look more closely at both community teams.<br />
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My patience is definitely running out with the Warriors, but I'm prepared to give New York City's premier community team one final chance. At Keystone Cup, the Warriors immediately threw unfamiliar players into significant roles. Whereas new additions to Rochester United or QC Boston gelled with old players during the Major League Quidditch season, the Warriors' summer acquisitions were not involved with the New York Titans. David Fox starred for the Boston Night Riders, Ricky Nelson appeared for the Washington Admirals and Santiago Gonzalez did not play for an MLQ franchise. If they continue to practice regularly, the Warriors will likely turn it around. Nelson upgrades the Warriors' historically imperfect beating corps (although failing to add Luke Changet, who moved to the New York area and joined Tri-State Lightning, could still be costly). Fox, who shut down RPI's triangle offense in the semifinals, strengthens the Warriors' defense immeasurably. I might be making excuses, but I believe the Warriors's semifinal exist belied sunny days ahead.<br />
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The future looks even brighter for DCQC. At the beginning of the season, quidditch pundits predicted that DCQC, the Washington area's premier community team, would revolve around chasers Max Miceli and Darren Creary. Unfortunately, Creary could not attend Keystone Cup; I wondered whether DCQC could handle its tough schedule. Despite three losses, DCQC clearly exceeded expectations. DCQC played two snitch range games with NYU, looking on-par with the eventual tournament champions. James Hicks eased concerns about DCQC's beating game with a positive performance. When Hicks cleared out defenses and Miceli combined with former teammate Andrew McGregor, DCQC bore striking similarities to last year's UNC. Once Creary returns to the lineup, DCQC could meet and exceed 2014-15 UNC's finishes at regionals and World Cup.JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-1341885875454690032015-09-14T13:15:00.000-07:002015-09-14T13:47:33.029-07:00The Organizational X-Factor<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What if I told you, the players didn't determine the outcome of the game?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With the 2015-16 season on the horizon, the time has come to identify favorites, contenders and dark horses for each region. For the past few years, I've settled into a tired routine, examining graduations and rosters to predict the future. I've weighed the effects of losing players and adding players for countless teams. I've tried to imagine whether chasers can outscore opponents or beaters can command bludger control. I've looked into my crystal ball, wondering about styles of play and matchups. I've guessed about what will happen on the pitch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I think it's time to take a step back and consider quidditch happenings off the pitch. Beyond chasers, beaters, keepers and seekers, there's an x-factor that determines wins and losses in quidditch. It's not referees. It's not snitches. It's not match-fixers. It's the captains, presidents, coaches, treasurers and executive boards that operate quidditch programs across the country. While bad organization can spoil great opportunities, good organization can open exciting, new possibilities</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. Without a doubt, well-organized quidditch programs will be the best prepared to navigate the yearlong quidditch season and keep improving throughout the season. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Quidditch success is a function of the players and the organization.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Nicole Harrig</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The organizational x-factor is not a secret or a new phenomenon. The three-time defending champions at the University of Texas have enjoyed outstanding leadership and organization. <i>Ain't No Ho in Me </i>provided a behind-the-scenes look at how Augustine Monroe and company recruited, trained and guided new players to an improbable World Cup VII title. Last year, New York University shot into the upper tier of quidditch thanks to a rigorous tournament schedule. The early years of all-star community teams were littered with off-field and on-field problems. Lack of cohesion or coordination off the pitch often translated into losses and disappointment. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In recent ye</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ars, poorly-organized college programs have underachieved and experienced </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">persistent roster issues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe off-field organization impacts the success of quidditch programs in three ways. Good </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">organization...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Improves<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> recruitment by maintaining an active presence in the local community. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From college </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">campuses to communities, quidditch programs work hard to craft a positive reputation. Social media</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">accounts present the best face of the team for potential recruits. When Twitter, Facebook and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instagram depict a close-knit, competitive and talented team, teams are more likely to attract friendly, competitive and talented new players. As teams become more successful, social media accounts begin to look like self-fulfilling prophecies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Provides more opportunities to get better by scheduling more practices and tournaments. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Intuitively, highly-organized programs will utilize their organizational skills and load up the calendar.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> It's no coincidence that the best programs research tournaments months in advance. However, well-organized programs are also highly selective, knowing that excessive travel can overwhelm the team. For great presidents and executive boards, the calendar is a precise recipe that must be meticulously planned. Thinking long and hard about</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> tryouts, practices and tournament schedules is the hallmark of a well-organized program. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Nicole Harrig </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Inspires confidence and purpose in rank-and-file players. The best quidditch presidents, captains and executive boards are hard-working, dedicated and impressive people. With<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> ambitious, attainable goals, quidditch organizers captivate new recruits and set the tone for the season. As the season progresses, the microscope only tightens on quidditch organizers. Will team leadership stay </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">determined and focused despite the challenges of life and school? Rank-and-file players will be watching closely. Without a doubt, the actions of team organizers rub off on the players. For example, rank-and-file players </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">will be more willing to make sacrifices of time and money for captains and </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">coaches that make similar sacrifices. The difference between overachieving </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and underachieving begins at the top.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Organizational X-Factor and the 2015-16 Season </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The organization x-factor matters more than ever. As the 2015-16 season kicks off, the organizational</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> edge has swung decisively towards community teams. Until recently, college teams enjoyed an organizational advantage thanks to </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">financial support, easier recruiting and more motivated leadership. First-year community teams could not compete with the organizational machines of Texas, Texas A&M, Emerson and Maryland. However, today's community teams have never been more sophisticated. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Community teams have secured sponsorships to finance travel, uniforms and more. The leaders of many community teams appear determined and confident. Operating popular social media accounts, community teams advertise tryouts and fundraisers to the quidditch community. Most impressively, community teams have created B teams and practice squads to accommodate high levels of interest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Fresh off 2014-15 season victories, the losses of World Cup VII have faded into the history books for community teams. Last year, community teams placed seven teams in the Sweet Sixteen and won </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">regional championships in the Southwest, South and West. Lone Star, Florida's Finest and the Lost </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Boys are the early favorites to retain their regional titles. And Blue Mountain, QC Boston, the Warriors, Rochester United and DCQC will challenge for </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">regional championships in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes. C</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ommunity teams won't be invincible. Nevertheless, only highly-organized college programs will stand a chance against today's sophisticated, all-star community squads.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Nicole Harrig </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">College programs with the organizational x-factor <i>and</i> identity, postgraduates or history will pose the most dangerous threats to community teams. Here's why and which college squads to watch for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Identity</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">First, community teams should watch out for college programs with strong identities. Identity describes a unique and distinctive style of play that has been mastered by a quidditch team. Shaped by a team's strategies, personnel and temperament, identity should be tweaked throughout the season, but should not be changed. The</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> middle of the season is not the time for an identity crisis. Historically, the strongest identities have become engrained in quidditch vocabulary (the Baylor zone, Kansas-ing). </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ball State has perhaps the most recognizable identity today. Easing into a patient, methodical rhythm, Ball State's chasers circulate the quaffle with short, high-percentage passes. When an opening appears, Ball State pounces and collects ten points. If Blue Mountain falters, Ball State will </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">be ready to spring an upset and claim the top spot in the Great Lakes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Staring down Lone Star and QC Boston, Texas State and Tufts should also benefit from strong identities. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">With chaser Tyrell Williams and beater Jackson Johnson stepping into larger shoes, Texas State will probably stay loyal handoffs and one-and-half beating. And Tufts will most likely return to the winning combination of Andrew Miller's smart, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">calculated beating and David Stack's direct, efficient ballhandling. Both Texas State and Tufts know who they want to be. Therefore, both teams can focus on integrating new players into their system.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Postgraduates</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Second, college programs with postgraduate coaches and players will also be more prepared to defeat community teams. Providing experience and maturity, <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">postgraduates stabilize reloading processes for college programs. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">From tryouts to practices to tournaments, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">postgraduates understand that slow and </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">steady wins the race. Last season, Augustine Monroe secured eligibility to play the entire season for </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Texas and guided the Longhorns to a third consecutive title. Although Monroe has since departed and formed the Texas Cavalry, other high-profile players are planning extended stays with their alma mater for</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> the 2015-16 season. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Nicole Harrig</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Opening a new(-ish) chapter of his career, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Dan Daugherty has rostered as a beater for BGSU. Whether Daugherty can transition to beater is unimportant. Daugherty's reassuring presence alone makes BGSU more threatening to Blue Mountain. In the Northeast, Kyle Jeon has confirmed that he will return to NYU as a player and unofficial coach. As NYU soared up the rankings last fall, Jeon's on- and off-field impact was almost unmatched in the quidditch world. Jeon will ensure that NYU keeps opponents guessing and remains a major obstacle for QC Boston. Finally, after a season-long </span>hiatus, chaser Sean Beloff and keeper Stephen Ralph will be back with the University of Miami to </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">give Florida's Finest a run for their money.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">History</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When lacking identity or postgraduates, college squads will fall back on the historical strength of the program. The most successful college programs are often well-prepared for the future. B teams and well-trained senior leadership can weather the storm of graduations and manufacture respectable tournament performances. For example, the three-time defending champions are not going anywhere. Under the leadership of breakout keeper David Acker and Michael Duquette, who has evolved into the Southwest's best beater, Texas will never be an easy matchup for Lone Star. In the Great Lakes, Ohio State could easily avenge World Cup 8's losses with chaser Jeremy Boettner slashing across pitches and beater Julie Fritz securing the defense. Even Maryland, who lost Harry Greenhouse, Erin Mallory and Bryan Barrows to graduations, will stay relevant in the weaker Mid-Atlantic.</span><br />
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Happy new season! And remember the organizational x-factor!</div>
JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-91287650441160249902015-09-03T10:42:00.001-07:002015-09-03T10:56:11.561-07:00Interview with MLQ Creator Ethan Sturm<div>
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<b><i>On August 22nd, <a href="http://mlquidditch.com/" target="_blank">Major League Quidditch</a> wrapped up its first season with MLQ Championship Weekend in Toledo, Ohio. I talked with MLQ creator Ethan Sturm about the past, present and future of MLQ. Enjoy!</i></b><br />
<i><br /></i><i>What was the greatest success of the inaugural Major League Quidditch season? As the founder and the visionary, what made you proudest?</i><br />
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The greatest success, was, by far, the comprehensiveness of the coverage. The fact that we have video and stats of every game for the entire season, and live stream of most of the season and all of the championships, is a place that quidditch has never been before, and it's really exciting to be there. We no longer have to base assessments on anecdotal account of teams or players, it's finally all out in the open.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahHuddleArt" target="_blank">Hannah Huddle</a></td></tr>
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<i>During the 2014-15 season, MLQ was brainstormed, planned and brought to life. What was the most important behind-the-scenes decision that contributed to the success of MLQ?</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My personal most important decision was bringing on Amanda Dallas. Her logistical acumen is basically unmatched in quidditch, and she turned what almost definitely would have just been an idea into a smooth-running [reality]. The most important thing we did as a league was bring on Savage as a sponsor. Being able to provide all of our teams with high-quality apparel for a low price went a long way in proving the legitimacy of our league.</span></div>
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<i>As a highly respected referee, how would you evaluate the officiating throughout MLQ's inaugural season? </i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Refereeing turned out to be the single biggest challenge of our inaugural season. Needing to put referee crews of purely non-playing referees, week in and week out, was an incredibly tall task, and simply highlighted the severe officiating shortage our sport was having long before Major League Quidditch started. All of that said, we had a group of referees that were extremely committed and consistent in their performance, and we would not have been able to pull the season off without them.</span> Still, we are going to need to redouble our efforts going into next season if we hope to continue to deliver a high-quality product.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahHuddleArt" target="_blank">Hannah Huddle</a></td></tr>
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<i>MLQ's Gameplay Department introduced timeouts and eliminated the snitch from overtime this season. Will MLQ's rule changes carry over to next season? What rule changes would you like to be considered for next season and beyond?</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Based on feedback from our player base, timeouts were incredibly popular. And I can’t help but to agree: allowing teams to take a breather, step back from the game, and reassess strategy is a great thing to have in the often chaotic world of quidditch. Overtime without a snitch, on the other hand, was more of a mixed bag. On one hand, it reduced the singular effect a seeker could have on the game. On the other, the overtime period often devolved into one team getting out to a 10-point lead and then just killing the clock. If either would be changed come next season, I think it’d be the overtime one. As for more changes, I think we’ll have a better idea once we assess how playing under</span> Rulebook 9 goes for USQ.</div>
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I<i>n 2016, MLQ will expand with new divisions centered in Texas and California. How will MLQ determine which cities to award franchises to?</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It will be similar to the formula we used to choose our first eight cities: a combination of size of the quidditch playing population in the area, our trust of potential leadership in the area, and travel times that won’t be over the top for other teams in the division.</span></div>
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<i>Quidditch talent is not evenly divided between cities. Will MLQ ever take steps to impose parity across divisions and/or the entire league?</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If we ever got to a point of being truly semi-pro, where there was no cost to players and even some amount of a stipend involved, we could consider having teams truly draft their team. But for now, </span>there’s no getting around teams being location based.</div>
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<i>New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and the Bay Area each support multiple professional sports franchises in the same league. Would MLQ considering awarding any city two franchises? </i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There would definitely be consideration for a two-team city, potentially as early as a 2017 expansion. But two-team cities will not be considered in the 2016 expansion.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahHuddleArt" target="_blank">Hannah Huddle</a> </td></tr>
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<i>MLQ presents the sport of quidditch in an aesthetically-pleasing way. How would you evaluate the spectator experience at MLQ regular season and playoff events? </i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Spectator numbers were definitely hit or miss throughout the season, often connected to location and how well a match was advertised. The Boston vs. New York series had by far the best spectator turnout of the regular season, and I know a few people that attended have even come to pick-up </span>quidditch since. The finals also had sizable attendance numbers, and all over Toledo people were aware of the sport. That said, quidditch, even MLQ, has a long way to go to be truly presentable. Better live streams, more serious media coverage, and game video with announcers and graphics would go a long way in getting us there.<br />
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<i>MLQ's original eight franchises will all return next season. Can MLQ teams attract more spectators and build fanbases? How?</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It’s all about getting the word out there. Boston drew a big crowd simply by posting on the Boston events calendar, which then got picked up by Boston Magazine. The finals got attention thanks to radio and TV station coverage. We need to keep pushing our way into the media in order to build up fan bases.</span></div>
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<i>The quidditch community has been unhappy with several USQ decisions this summer. Does MLQ </i><i>depend on USQ in any way? If so, will MLQ try to lobby or work with USQ in the future?</i></div>
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If college quidditch dies, MLQ can only survive for so many years following. We won’t be imposing ourselves on USQ, but we will be counting on them to hold up their end of the deal.</div>
JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-44264674514723189072015-09-02T11:58:00.002-07:002015-09-03T10:11:40.902-07:00Boston's Time to Shine<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thousands of miles away from Texas, there is a shining city on a hill. And it's called Boston.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last Saturday, the Boston Night Riders claimed the first Major League Quidditch Championship, completing a 13-0 perfect season. After out-of-snitch range blowouts throughout the regular season, the Night Riders faced a surging and determined New York Titans squad in the finals. During the regular season, the Night Riders had swept the Titans in Brookline, Massachusetts. Two weeks later and 750 miles away, <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">the Titans were playing their best quidditch of the summer. With reinforcements Kyle Jeon, Michael Parada and Jaime Colon, the Titans commanded the field for portions of the championship best-of-three series. Without a doubt, the Titans' growth was remarkable. But thanks to timely snitch catches from Harry Greenhouse and Tyler Trudeau, the first Major League Quidditch Championship was the Boston Night Riders' time to shine.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1gcRm_P1KDsbj0H59t8cA73cwczQ7OADk5HCnwirmxLyf584gdf0dldtCmThTogQXWr12p7lRckmEt4iRHi4AOgLVtdVbwaq7ABqzlVKGfcCTECAPUJnwRF521xCzTI1xCFeHwaXsYBX/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1gcRm_P1KDsbj0H59t8cA73cwczQ7OADk5HCnwirmxLyf584gdf0dldtCmThTogQXWr12p7lRckmEt4iRHi4AOgLVtdVbwaq7ABqzlVKGfcCTECAPUJnwRF521xCzTI1xCFeHwaXsYBX/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessicajiaminlangphotography?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">Jessica Jiamin Lang Photography</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Boston Night Riders were not your everyday quidditch team. That was clear from the beginning. In mid-July, I was attending a pre-college program at Brown University. I had been following MLQ scores, but I hadn't watched any MLQ film except the sleep-inducing opening series. But I had just played quidditch for the first time. It was a beautiful day and I had some free time. I found a spot on the quad and opened YouTube on my iPad. I decided to watch the Boston Night Riders take on the Washington Admirals.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;">After traveling to the nation's capital, the Night Riders exploded out of the gate with a dazzling display of high-energy, high-quality quidditch. It was electric. As a part-time quidditch blogger, I'm supposed to stay impartial. Unfortunately, I like watching great quidditch. I like fastbreaks, alley-oops and hyper-aggressive beating. I like teams and athletes that blow the competition out of the water. Right away, I felt that the Night Riders were something special.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple weeks later, I traveled to Brookline, Massachusetts and watched the Night Riders dispatch the Titans. Once again, I was extremely impressed by the Night Riders. I began searching for an explanation. Why had the Night Riders overwhelmed the MLQ East Division? How did the Night Riders make world-class quidditch look so easy? I found an answer within Boston's quidditch history. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Let's go back to the beginning.</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A History Lesson</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In the rolling hills of Vermont, Boston produced the first challengers to Middlebury's dynasty. With a burgeoning quidditch program, Emerson College advanced to the finals of World Cup III and battled Middlebury tooth and nail. Boston University's Kedzie Teller dashed around pitches, foreshadowing his illustrious, two-time Team USA career. When World Cup IV brought quidditch to New York City, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Tufts University stole the show</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> with a miraculous run to the finals. While Tufts garnered national media coverage, Emerson and BU were reaffirming their place among the quidditch elite with pool play blowouts and bracket play runs. Back in Boston, Emerson and BU settled into an intense cross-city rivalry.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Soon enough, World Cup V arrived and Boston's quidditch teams drove down I-95 en route to Randall's Island. With new challengers from Florida, Texas, California and the Midwest, the city of Boston was overshadowed at World Cup V. Although Emerson and BU</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> breezed through pool play, the Boston rivals were stopped abruptly in the Sweet Sixteen. In the Florida heat and humidity, World Cup VI also felt pedestrian for Boston. Once again, Emerson and BU advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, but both rivals wanted more. The quiet showings at World Cup V and VI belied the bright future of the Boston quidditch scene. Emerson's intramural league was thriving, BU was racking up regional championships and Tufts was rebuilding for the future. The Massachusetts Quidditch Conference provided regular competition between Boston's powerhouses and kept smaller programs like Harvard University and the University of Massachusetts engaged.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Culminating with World Cup VII, the 2013-14 season saw the Boston quidditch scene rise above the rest. BU's trio of keeper Brendan Stack, chaser Michael Powell and beater Max Havlin proved </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">unstoppable for most of the season. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Emerson and Tufts traveled to the University of </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Maryland's Turtle Cup III and took the gold and the silver back to Boston.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> David Fox romped over the competition for Emerson and the new-look Tufts introduced the quidditch world to David Stack, Hannah DeBaets and Noah Schwartz. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Neither Emerson or Tufts had to make the nine hour trip to College Park, Maryland. Historically, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Boston's quidditch programs don't travel much. Turtle Cup III signified that Emerson and Tufts were talented, eager to improve and hungry for World Cup success.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In North Myrtle Beach, Emerson's trip to Turtle Cup III paid off. After falling short to BU all season, Emerson made a dramatic run through bracket play and dispatched BU in the quarterfinals of World Cup VII. Although Emerson and BU's Elite Eight clash was overshadowed by Texas A&M versus Lone Star QC, an all-Boston quarterfinal was not insignificant. Only three cities have ever produced two or more quarterfinalists at the same World Cup: Austin, Los Angeles and Boston. With Emerson carrying the flag, Boston's World Cup VII showed that the city would not fade away like Middlebury and capes. Boston could handle springtime World Cups and compete with warm-weather teams. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With new confidence, Boston capitalized on the momentum and enjoyed a terrific summer of 2014. Everyday Boston summer quidditch practices generated unending hype about new players and brought the Boston quidditch community closer together. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hannah DeBaets, Harry Greenhouse, Max Havlin and Kedzie Teller represented </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Boston for Team USA at the Global Games. Most importantly, QC Boston underwent a momentous transformation under the leadership of Jayke Archibald. Hitting the reset button, QC Boston became less antagonistic towards local college quidditch programs. QC Boston's shift helped diffuse cross-city tensions and made the Boston Night Riders possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The 2014-15 season came next and produced new surprises. Graduations had exacted a toll on long-time powerhouses Emerson and BU. Ready for the challenge, Tufts and QCB quickly stepped into the spotlight. Yet, while Tufts and QCB revolutionized beating and claimed tournament titles, Emerson and (especially) BU began inspiring rebuilding efforts. For college quidditch programs, successful rebuilding efforts have been increasingly rare thanks to the heavy hand of community </span>teams. However, BU began to do the unthinkable, regrouping and recruiting new athletes to replace</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">quidditch legends. With the 2015-16 season on the horizon, BU's rebuilding effort will attempt to progress further. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although Tufts and QCB flunked out of bracket play at World Cup 8, Boston's top quidditch players improved and matured throughout the 2014-15 season. When Ethan Sturm and Amanda Dallas unveiled Major League Quidditch, Boston was ready. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">From the beginning, Boston had all the parts to build a champion. Old teammates reunited. New teammates fit together perfectly like puzzle pieces. By the end of the season, the Night Riders' </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">success could be explained by</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> four key cogs. Each cog represents an aspect of the city of Boston's championship formula. Without a doubt, Boston's recipe for success will not be easy to replicate. Nevertheless, the four ingredients for the 2015 MLQ Champions are listed below.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4R6bWzJbsVc/VedA8UEA2CI/AAAAAAAAB5c/0UPNIDioeHE/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4R6bWzJbsVc/VedA8UEA2CI/AAAAAAAAB5c/0UPNIDioeHE/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahHuddleArt" target="_blank">Hannah Huddle</a> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>The Blue Bloods</b> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">exemplify Boston's storied quidditch history. Over the years, the Blue Bloods have led Boston's most successful quidditch programs, drawing eyes nationwide to Boston. Like great musical artists, the Blue Bloods have reinvented their style and adapted to the times. The Blue Bloods have kept Boston ahead of the curve.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">David </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Fox's illustrious four-year career for Emerson began in the bygone era of World Cup V. Indeed,</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Fox's stardom has spanned monumental changes in quidditch. Evolving from an</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> unstoppable power keeper to a fearsome defensive stopper, Fox's trophy case includes the Champions Series, Turtle Cup III and World Cup VII's Final Four. After showcasing mind-boggling athleticism throughout the summer, Fox's resume now boasts the Benepe Cup. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;">Max Havlin was not always a beater. However, Havlin's lasting imprint on Boston quidditch has been made with bludgers. For BU, Havlin cleared out defenders and allowed Stack and Powell to wreak havoc on defenses. After claiming gold at the Global Games, Havlin and QC Boston forced the entire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Northeast to practice and develop two male beater sets. Facing stiffer competition like NYU's Kyle</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Jeon and Tufts' Andrew Miller, Havlin</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> refined his craft during the 2014-15 season. With the Night Riders, Havlin rightfully earned the MLQ East MVP.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaUPYn2roY3NQufRyAWBROgc1pc9IRleVj-96mAYb0GlZ4f0JBGRJNrdE-nmq6Qe1d56TNeSH568TLpTaZEVK1TB6pzkI0S9tp2ie5gpuvtIhAgltsiwWtWGdyzVSk77k53dkzc31hlmw/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaUPYn2roY3NQufRyAWBROgc1pc9IRleVj-96mAYb0GlZ4f0JBGRJNrdE-nmq6Qe1d56TNeSH568TLpTaZEVK1TB6pzkI0S9tp2ie5gpuvtIhAgltsiwWtWGdyzVSk77k53dkzc31hlmw/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahHuddleArt" target="_blank">Hannah Huddle </a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>The Born and Breds </b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">found opportunities to develop and improve over the years thanks to Boston's unique quidditch scene. The Born and Breds entered the quidditch world without fanfare and set to work. Allowing their skills to speak for themselves, the Born and Breds eventually joined the company of the Blue Bloods. The Born and Breds show that great quidditch cities must provide competitive opportunities for all levels. B teams and lower-level college teams can produce unlikely superstars and help make quidditch cities more vibrant. In the age of community teams, quidditch cities must redouble their efforts to sustain lower-level quidditch teams.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;">Away from the spotlight, Harvard's Carli Haggerty quietly scored goal after goal for Boston's smallest quidditch program. Yet over time, Haggerty gained experience against national powerhouses in the MQC and participated in Boston's summer quidditch scene. This summer, Haggerty brought her scoring and passing ability to the Night Riders' deep and talented female chasing corps.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;">Tyler Trudeau began his quidditch career on the Boston Riot, Emerson's off-and-on B team. By the 2013-14 season, Trudeau lifted Emerson to Turtle Cup III and World Cup VII glory. Since North Myrtle Beach, Trudeau has matured as an on-pitch leader and improved his playmaking abilities. With Trudeau dishing out assists, Greenhouse-Fox-Trudeau-Baer was the Night Riders' most dependable chasing line.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4VOj3aIumnQ/Vec96jWQmPI/AAAAAAAAB4c/wOMiGqnH3B8/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4VOj3aIumnQ/Vec96jWQmPI/AAAAAAAAB4c/wOMiGqnH3B8/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahHuddleArt" target="_blank">Hannah Huddle</a> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Homecoming Kings and Queens</b> played college quidditch outside of New England, but quickly joined the thriving Boston summer quidditch scene. For years, Boston summer quidditch practices have been a laboratory for position changes, all-star scrimmages and new strategies. Seeking fresh ideas and renewed energy, Boston's summer quidditch scene has enthusiastically welcomed the Homecoming Kings and Queens. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When MLQ was unveiled, the Homecoming Kings and Queens had already built strong chemistry with the Blue Bloods and the Born and Breds from past summers. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">MLQ expands, quidditch cities with strong summer quidditch scenes will enjoy a considerable advantage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No one brings more energy than Harry Greenhouse. From his pregame hype routine to his snitch catches, Greenhouse exudes confidence and determination. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a leader, Greenhouse sets the tone of high intensity and high expectations. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">With years of Boston summer quidditch practices, Greenhouse reached new heights as a player on the Greenhouse-Fox-Trudeau-Baer line. When Greenhouse was clicking, the Night Riders truly approached the level of World Cup VI's legendary University of Texas squad.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_44qnbNqnfXJpMv7aWv2O7eULif-U3-TGv-pjKBPoWyCXt88zaCxhAT_dvZY0zoEjak6M3k2PAIyvewLKE3h3plkIfNq72Lt7yjM1mJQzOSfyi0R2Hdei6rR-8sBbFc8gJlWyDiTNQoi/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_44qnbNqnfXJpMv7aWv2O7eULif-U3-TGv-pjKBPoWyCXt88zaCxhAT_dvZY0zoEjak6M3k2PAIyvewLKE3h3plkIfNq72Lt7yjM1mJQzOSfyi0R2Hdei6rR-8sBbFc8gJlWyDiTNQoi/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahHuddleArt" target="_blank">Hannah Huddle</a> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Transplants</b> came to Boston as college graduates and infused Boston's quidditch scene with life. Helping to maintain the city of Boston's national profile, the Transplants have steered Boston's premier community team, QC Boston: The Massacre, away from disaster. When the new season arrives, QC Boston will be prepared to compete for championships thanks to the Transplants. As a Mecca for young professionals, Boston will always have advantages over Detroit or Cleveland. However, Boston's Transplants have taken enormous strides and<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> seized big opportunities to improve the prospects of tomorrow for Boston's quidditch scene.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Hofstra University, Jayke Archibald and company always flew under the radar. Why? Hofstra couldn't beat Emerson or BU on the big stage. When</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Archibald ventured to Boston, QCB promised an invincible superteam, but couldn't deliver in the first year. Meanwhile, relations between QCB and Emerson worsened and the future of community quidditch in Boston was unclear. In the summer of 2014, Archibald captained a sinking ship to safety, embarking on a multi-year plan to claim the top spot in the Northeast. Indeed, the Night Riders, MLQ and the Benepe Cup might only be the beginning. When rosters are unveiled, QCB could be the best team outside of Texas.</span></span></div>
JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-83553194474856191182015-07-29T12:38:00.002-07:002015-07-29T17:29:44.095-07:00College Quidditch Needs Help Now<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">For too long, I've been missing-in-action. I produced minimal World Cup coverage and I barely commented on the departure of Alex Benepe and Alicia Radford. I passed on my departing players database to the Quidditch Post. I failed to blog about the start of Major League Quidditch. I still haven't written about Major League Quidditch. I never expressed any opinions about the European Games. As the quidditch landscape has changed, I've been silent. </span><div><br>Now, I'm going to be loud. <br><br>1) A couple days ago, I returned from a pre-college program at Brown University. After countless hours watching quidditch, I finally had the opportunity to play quidditch at Brown. Shutting down offenses and assisting the perfect alley-oop reaffirmed my love of quidditch. Now, I know definitively that I want quidditch to be part of my college experience. College quidditch must still be around for me. <br><br>2) Yesterday, I read Augie Monroe's<i> Op Ed: A Call for Separation</i>. In an insightful, well-written piece, Monroe highlighted the appeal of intercollegiate competition for new recruits and the necessity of intercollegiate competition for club sport councils. Monroe proposed separate college and community divisions for the 2017 USQ Nationals. <div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by Sofia de la Vega</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With a newfound love for quidditch, I am proposing separate college and community divisions for the 2016 USQ Nationals. I am not an alarmist. I never use my blog to warn that quidditch is on the edge of an abyss. Nevertheless, the reality is that college quidditch has been drained by community quidditch. The separation of college and community teams must take place at the 2016 USQ Nationals. The 2017 USQ Nationals will be too late.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Problem: </b><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Failures of Building and Rebuilding</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">World Cup 8 was not a good World Cup for college quidditch. The University of Texas' snitch-range victory over Lone Star Quidditch Club in the championship masked greater problems facing college quidditch. I saw several college quidditch programs kicking the bucket. I was even more troubled by the widespread stagnation of college programs. After World Cup 8, the way-too-early favorites for the next season were all the same universities or new community teams. No new college programs had made the jump into the upper echelon of competitive quidditch.With 50 percent of quarterfinalists and semifinalists, bracket play revealed the increasing dominance of experienced, all-star, postgraduate club teams.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by Isabella Gong</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As community teams enjoy success on the national stage, younger, inexperienced players on up-and-coming teams will miss out on magical World Cup runs. At World Cup 8, Virginia surged into bracket play and shocked Tufts in the opening round. Out of nowhere, Virginia was clicking on all cylinders and threatening a deep run into bracket play. Then, Virginia ran into the Lost Boys and the clock struck midnight at eight o'clock. Virginia's World Cup 8 run was ended prematurely. Deep World Cup runs are game-changers for newer college programs, providing momentum for the next season. Beyond Virginia, World Cup 8 lacked game-changing bracket play runs. Accordingly, I've heard </span>little discussion of up-and-coming college programs. I've looked around, region-by-region, and I believe up-and-coming programs are disappearing. <br><br>
Even at thriving college programs, successful rebuilding efforts have been exceedingly rare thanks to the heavy hand of community teams.Former regional champions UCLA and Miami never regained their World Cup VI-era noteworthiness. At the beginning of each season, each school still attracts new athletes. Yet, neither school has enjoyed sustained momentum. With UCLA and Miami alums, local community teams like the Lost Boys and Florida's Finest have triumphed over college programs again and again, demoralizing younger, inexperienced teams. In addition, Texas A&M was poached into irrelevance after World Cup VII. Texas A&M's rebuilding effort never really had a chance as long as Lone Star QC was looking for players. College programs need room to grow. Right now, the building and rebuilding efforts of college programs have been cramped by community teams.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by Jessica Jiamin Lang</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;"><b>The Solution: A Call for Action</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;">To renew and stimulate growth for college quidditch, USQ Nationals 2016 should feature separate college and community divisions. An intercollegiate division will give college programs room to grow and develop. Building and rebuilding efforts will not be stunted by community teams. College programs will earn more wins on the national stage, garner momentum for the next season, bring new recruits into quidditch and feed community teams for years to come. The community division would </span>allow post </span>graduate players to compete amongst themselves and stay involved with their alma maters or local college program. <br><br>
An intercollegiate division will also increase the marketability of quidditch. I was drawn to quidditch by familiar college powerhouses like Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, Michigan State and LSU. I liked seeing familiar colors and jerseys. I felt like I had a connection to this weird and unfamiliar sport through familiar schools. Now, first-time quidditch spectators watch a weird and unfamiliar sport with unfamiliar community teams with weird names like Blue Mountain or LA Gambits. It would be much easier for USQ to advertise intercollegiate competition at the national championships. USQ can interact with the social media accounts of universities, reaching an eager audience of future quidditch fans. Once familiar intercollegiate competition hooks new quidditch spectators, then the new spectators can begin to understand community teams.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO35qr46OAiGrZpNt0NhNKh4oMSN_ZbAdaMQ13HjXh3amARuxUIe5tRToPCim6MMR0wZfaldw_WxH9oiVQ6CADCZAfDP8RXVTJth4mdDdeZJSDkIYaZrUt3MU8RhH3mGjiEvgHf1Ao42ff/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO35qr46OAiGrZpNt0NhNKh4oMSN_ZbAdaMQ13HjXh3amARuxUIe5tRToPCim6MMR0wZfaldw_WxH9oiVQ6CADCZAfDP8RXVTJth4mdDdeZJSDkIYaZrUt3MU8RhH3mGjiEvgHf1Ao42ff/s400/image.jpg" width="400"></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by Jessica Jiamin Lang</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;">Separate divisions for college and community teams at USQ Nationals will not reverse the stagnation of college programs alone. The problem begins at a regional level. However, separate college and community divisions for regionals and the regular season would be unwise until the 2017-2018 season. Even without a regular season split, the quidditch community can further help resurrect college quidditch. Community teams can develop healthy, sustainable ties with local college programs and resist the urge to actively or passively poach college players. USQ can target college programs with strategic grants and resources. For USQ, an investment in college programs will pay off with more dues-paying members.</span><br>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: inherit;">As the Tournament Director for Keystone Cup II, I can also help reenergize college quidditch. The Keystone Cup is an eight-team tournament aimed at the best teams in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes. Right now, I am pledging to reserve six of the eight spots for college programs. It's not that I hate community teams. Most of my friends within the quidditch community play for community teams. I recognize the hardships faced by community teams and I know community teams have contributed greatly to our sport. It's that college quidditch is dying. And if college quidditch dies, the whole sport will begin to die. College quidditch needs a bailout. Separate divisions for college and community teams at USQ Nationals 2016 is only the beginning. College quidditch needs our help now.</span></div>
</div>JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-56248920733686702202015-07-27T18:44:00.001-07:002015-08-27T15:09:38.569-07:00From the Press to the Pitch<span style="font-family: inherit;">This summer, college and quidditch came two years early.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kind of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After an up-and-down sophomore year of high school, I signed up for a two-week pre-college program at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. I would take a three-hour class in the morning and have a "real college experience" for the other twenty one hours. It sounded like a fun idea to me. I arrived, made it through the orientations and settled in at dinner with kids from my hall. I politely listened to conversations about anime (not my cup of tea) until one kid piped up about the activities fair. Did I know that there was a quidditch team?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I blinked. Suddenly, I was living a story that I've heard a million times. I was surprised that a pre-college program sponsored organized quidditch and even more surprised that other kids were genuinely interested. At the activities fair, I wandered past a capella, ultimate frisbee and touch rugby until found the quidditch table. I hinted at my vast experience around quidditch to the guys at the table, who had recently discovered our sport. Pick-up, non-contact quidditch would be played on Tuesdays and Thursdays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When Tuesday night arrived, quidditch was the cherry on top. My non-quidditch college experience had been going really well. I felt alive. As quidditch time approached, I tightened my shoelaces, filled my water bottle and walked a block from my dorm to the lower quad. I arrived to find a crowd of kids encircling Scott, an RA with four weeks of experience running organized quidditch for high schoolers. As I sat down near my hallmates, Scott labored through the rules, lacking the efficiency </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and clarity of experienced quidditch-explainers. Nevertheless, Scott was doing his best and my </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hallmates only asked me for a couple of minor clarifications. It was a group of quick and eager </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">learners. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I helped line up the balls and showed the other kids the proper starting position. And then I </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">waited...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the "B" sound of "Brooms Up!" I surged toward a bludger, leaving my confused teammates in the dust for the first and only time in my quidditch career. I snagged a bludger, beat a few chasers, sent a few beaters back to the hoops and backpeddled out of the chaos with bludger control. For the next five minutes, I played shutdown defense. It really wasn't fair. I was employing a hyper-aggressive beating strategy, taking out passing options, rushing at panicked ball handlers and winning every beater battle. If my beating partner listened to me, I was invincible. I was even uncorking irresponsible long-range beats, but I couldn't seem to miss. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the first-time snitch sprinted onto the field, I knew I had to keep track of the opposing seeker. I quickly learned that I would need to practice seeker beating. I couldn't help my team get out of snitch range and I lost track of the snitch, who darted between trees way beyond the non-existent hard </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">boundary. Despite turning heads with my beating, my quidditch career began with a loss. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The remainder of Tuesday's games and Thursday's games went more or less the same. I would slip a black headband over my backwards IQA hat and make scoring difficult for my opponents. As my opponents improved, I had to sharpen my skills. I couldn't stop a speedy opposing chaser from scoring amid the chaos of brooms up. I had to ease off the unnessecary long-range beats. I had to play without bludger control sometimes. Everytime I made a beginner's mistake, I could hear my own criticisms from my blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Friday, my hallmates and I were invited to join the Providence Ashwinders practice at India Point Park, a 25-minute walk from campus. My hallmates were thrilled to play quidditch with the "professionals" and asked me how many "professionals" to expect at the practice. I wasn't sure, but I </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">reassured my hallmates that we would play a full scrimmage. I was wrong. It was summer and only </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">two able-bodied Ashwinders could attend the practice. I was worried my hallmates would be </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">disappointed and want to head back to campus. Thankfully, nobody seemed to care. We stretched, ran</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> three-on-three drills and enjoyed playing quidditch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As my hallmates and I scurried back to campus through the sketchy neighborhoods of East Providence, I was overwhelmed with an enormous respect for small quidditch teams. On <i>The QuidKid</i>, I spend a lot of time glorifying the biggest and the brightest programs in quidditch. However, small, rag-tag quidditch programs have earned my admiration. I appreciate players who endure team hardships and who continue to practice because they love the game. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Around friends and family, I'm always trying to persuade people that quidditch is not a waste of time. It was comforting to join a small community where quidditch's worthwhileness was never in question.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To complete my Friday night, I dropped by Chipotle for after-practice burrito and waited for (what seemed like) the rest of the pre-college program to return from a Waka Flocka Flame concert in Downtown Providence. That weekend, I probably missed a couple opportunities to strengthen my new friendships with my classmates. I was disappointed, but I looked forward to another week of quidditch with my hallmates. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Tuesday night arrived soon enough and I called for the black headband instinctively. In the first mini-game, I played poorly. I missed easy beats and surrendered easy goals. I was also growing more and more frustrated with hard-headed keepers who refused to play offense. I decided to take matters into my own hands and show the other kids the beauty of an offensive keeper. I lined up for brooms up and told my beaters to cover for me defensively. I was determined. I darted to the quaffle and charged at my opponents. In no-tackle high school quidditch, I scored again and again. I played bold, aggressive and fast. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I thought back to the days of World Cup IV when teams debuted offensive keepers, leaving their opponents dumbfounded. I would intercept passes on defense and bolt immediately down the field for another goal. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This time, my opponents would not steal the game with </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a snitch catch. Soon enough, my team was out of range.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The other kids continued to improve and began to overcome the shock of an offensive keeper. My beater teammates quickly adapted to my offensive keeping with a smart, conservative strategy. By Thursday, my hallmates and I sneakily created a super team for our last pickup game. And that last game really wasn't about me. It was about Kenny and Zach's give-and-goes and field awareness. It was about Jake and Sam's dominant beating. It was about Peter's crazy vertical leap and jump dunks. As our score approached the triple digits, I realized the best part of my quidditch experience was watching the other kids show up and improve every practice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In two years, I'll be back at college and I'll be looking for information about quidditch tryouts. Here's what my future college quidditch coach should know... I can beat or chase, but I don't know if I can take a hit. I'd like to practice seeker beating. I shouldn't really be taking long or mid-range shots or beats. I like fast-paced quidditch. I believe the perfect jump dunk is the pinnacle of quidditch plays. I like scoring, but I love making the players around me better. For me, that's what quidditch is all about.</span></div>
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JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-46575747698922478852015-05-06T16:42:00.003-07:002015-10-16T15:21:45.718-07:00Continuity and Change in Rock Hill<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three years have passed since the World Cup fled the crisp fall of the Northeast for the sunny spring of the South. Along the way, a regular season emerged from unregulated exhibitions and whimsicality drifted into the forgotten past. Regions crystallized with the dawning of regional championships. Pitch shapes, seeking and officiating witnessed astounding transformations to serve a rapidly evolving sport. A new dynasty replaced the old perennial champions, sparking a distinctly new effort to copy and dethrone the best. Small liberal arts colleges virtually disappeared as large universities seized the spotlight. Community teams became legitimate contenders, raising difficult questions and challenges. The original governing body shed its international obligations, allowing distant lands to flourish or fail. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After three years of adventurous experimentation, a new landscape has emerged. A calmer, more sustainable landscape. A landscape where the World Cup has developed into a consistently on-time and successful championship, fostering competitive and healthy gameplay. A landscape where triumphant wins do not guarantee permanent success and heartbreaking losses do not signal permanent decline. A landscape where each new season and each new World Cup is a new beginning. A landscape where the opportunity of tomorrow beckons.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahHuddleArt" target="_blank">Hannah Huddle</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quidditch has reached a stage where continuity is acceptable and change is acceptable. Ever since cramming onto Randall’s Island for World Cup V, the quidditch community has gathered at our national championship with a clear vision for how the drama should unfold. Passionately, the quidditch community picked out heroes and villains. With speed, physicality and finesse, the heroes represented the unlimited possibilities for quidditch. The heroes could propel quidditch forward, past the backwardness of capes. Like a superhuman slugger or a lethal scorer, the heroes were heralded and rewarded with infinite name-drops on blogs and spots on Team USA.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The villains embodied the opposite of progress, holding quidditch back from mainstream appeal. The villains rejected the beautiful game and relied on lucky snitch grabs and pesky beating to eliminate the heroes. Each World Cup, new nameless faces were vilified and accused of playing dirty and taking cheap shots. The unexpected accomplishments of the villains were denied, discredited and ridiculed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From Randall’s Island to North Myrtle Beach, the struggle between heroes and villains headlined the World Cup. As heroes and villains exchanged blows, the quidditch community desperately clamored for continuity or change. If the heroes were the defending champions, we sought continuity. We wanted the continuation of progress and the triumph of athleticism. If the villains were the defending champions, we desired immediate and radical change. We hoped for restoration of the rightful champions, erasing memories of ugly and unearned victories. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s begin with World Cup V. Played in the breezy autumn of New York City, World Cup V was the </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">precursor to the modern era of quidditch. World Cup V bid farewell to the past and foreshadowed the future. Yet World Cup V was far from perfect. Amid a shaky tournament, the quidditch community was screaming for change. We wanted to see Middlebury lose and a new champion emerge. We began a “Beat Middlebury” campaign to unite hundreds of quidditch players behind our common goal. We were disappointed and angered with the events leading to Middlebury’s fifth World Cup title.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A year and a half later, a rejuvenated quidditch community reunited in the sweltering heat of Kissimmee for World Cup VI. Middlebury was gone and change was inevitable. We were hard-pressed to find a proper villain. However, with certain change on the horizon, we wanted to find the perfect hero. We wanted to see a champion that truly embodied the growing athleticism of quidditch. We needed a shining example for quidditch players across the world. We hit the jackpot. We left World Cup VI elated, celebrating the championship of Texas and imagining the bright future of quidditch.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fast forward a year to World Cup VII and the quidditch community began searching for continuity in the agreeable air of North Myrtle Beach. We anticipated another epic battle in the finals, pitting the best against the best. We wanted to see another uncontroversial, clear and undisputed champion. We thought we had it all figured out. Suddenly, World Cup VII revealed our misconceptions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We didn’t expect Texas to win back-to-back championships. We weren’t looking for that kind of continuity. We had longed for undefeated Texas A&M to carry on the illustrious legacy of Texas’ World Cup VI squad. We felt that Texas A&M had been denied a shot at the championship in an ugly semifinal marred by stoppages and injuries. We pointed to the opportunities seized by Texas. We weren’t satisfied, but unlike World Cup V, we weren’t 100% ticked off. The attitude was not the same. We began to move on.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Photo by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SofiadelaVegaPhotography?pnref=story" target="_blank">Sofia de la Vega</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why? We began to see the imperfections in our heroes and the virtues of our villains. We didn’t feel as strongly about upholding continuity or motivating change. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ain’t No Ho in Me</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> recolored our views about Texas’ physical juggernaut, showcasing the likability, resiliency and work ethic of the nation’s top program. After losing captain Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M abandoned their beautiful passing and flawless off-ball movement for illegal hits and yellow cards. The Lost Boys, the darlings of the quidditch community, experienced a ugly and public breakup that quickly threatened their title hopes and avid fan base. The unattractive physical tactics of Texas State were watched, emulated and incorporated into the “beautiful game.” New experiences made us closer, prompting mutual respect and less blind hate, and the increasing size of the quidditch community made us farther away, diffusing flared tempers and bad blood.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With more complicated characters in the drama of the World Cup, we lifted our habitual pressures off the heroes. The usual intrigue about heroes and villains (Could the heroes retake the World Cup title from the villains? Could the heroes defeat the villains again, retaining the World Cup title?) mattered less. The new World Cup experience would not be defined by complete heroism or complete villainy. The great triumph of heroes at World Cup VI and the crushing victory of villains at World Cup V became a relic of the past. Now that heroes had faults and villains had virtues, desperately screaming for massive continuity and change each year was too tiring and too unrewarding. It wasn’t the end of the world if villains succeeded or heroes failed. We settled for little continuities and little changes, </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">perpetrated by both heroes and villains. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">World Cup VIII was the living proof that continuity and change are now an expected and welcome part of quidditch’s national championship. When Texas claimed its third straight championship, we didn’t rush to </span><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">conclusions and bemoan the state of quidditch. We reveled in the invincibility of Augustine Monroe and applauded the results of Texas’ sprawling intramural system. We cautiously applied the word “dynasty,” recalling Middlebury’s hated dynasty. When community teams avenged their World Cup VII disappointments, we adjusted comfortably and turned the spotlight onto the virtues of postgraduate quidditch. However, we wouldn’t have questioned the state of the sport if community teams had fallen once again. World Cup VIII came and went quickly because there was less built-up anticipation for absolute continuity or change. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/igongphoto" target="_blank">Isabella Gong</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As memories of snitch range thrillers, no-look passes and improbable long-range beats faded away, </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">we confronted the sudden and unexpected resignations of CEO Alex Benepe and COO Alicia Radford. Before panicking, we peered around and evaluated the current state of quidditch. We looked deep inside, discovered our acceptance of continuity and change and concluded that quidditch will withstand the inevitable shocks of new league initiatives, new champions and new gameplay debates. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At World Cup VIII, we accepted quidditch for what it is. An ever-evolving sport with infinite possibilities for growth and expansion. A well-established sport with enjoyable competition and enthusiastic players, coaches, snitches, referees and volunteers. A flourishing sport made stronger and more resilient in Rock Hill.</span></span><br />
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<i>JackthePhan's World Cup VIII coverage is not over! The second part will focus on World Cup VIII's continuites (May 13th) and the third part will analyze on World Cup VIII's changes (May 20th).</i></span></div>
JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071693565849271352.post-90250366154228153972015-05-05T10:06:00.000-07:002015-09-18T19:20:09.625-07:00The Texas Dynasty and Continuity<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Texas captured its third consecutive World Cup championship. And by Sunday morning, it was kind of inevitable. Quietly, Texas eased through Swiss play, dispatching Arizona QC, Crimson Elite and Tufts in relatively low-profile matches. Victory after victory produced a perfect rhythm of success. The time and place for constructive losses had passed. A brief scare from Blue Mountain forced Texas to gear up, showing off its vaunted and unmatched Sunday willpower. Ultimately, tougher preliminary competition allowed Texas to transition seamlessly into single elimination. Unlike World Cup VII, Texas faced no close calls, walking over the LA Gambits, Blue Mountain and the Lost Boys. Nevertheless, as the thrill of bracket play arrived, Texas became a formidable locomotive, steaming across rickety train tracks at a breakneck speed. With an uphill battle ahead, Texas exploded into a higher gear with a surge of physicality and aggressive </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ain’t No Ho In Me </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spirit. At the bends, Texas proceeded with caution and avoided disruptive mistakes. Texas would not be derailed before reaching its destination. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rooted in World Cups VI and VII, Texas has mastered the art of controlled chaos. Beaters Michael Duquette and Freddy Salinas teetered on the edge of command and chaos, racing up and down the pitch and flying into tackles. Chasers Paden Pace and Ryan Davis pushed the limits of composure, while Monroe subbed in to restore a confident and relaxed calm. Amid the action-packed quidditch, Texas definitely made defensive miscues, fumbled away possession and earned yellow cards. However, the shortcomings were never enough to seriously threaten the three-time defending champions. The errors were always corrected appropriately and in time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By sunset, Texas’ controlled chaos confronted its biggest challenge yet. With the World Cup title on the line, Texas stared down the former teammates and quidditch legends who had built the foundations of controlled chaos years ago. To defeat Lone Star, Texas could not abandon either control or chaos. Texas needed the perfect storm.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During its entire championship run, Texas’ win over Lone Star was the most eerily reminiscent of World Cup VII. Although World Cup VIII Lone Star was more battled-tested than World Cup VII Texas State, Texas reacted to both teams similarly and overcame almost identical challenges to claim the title.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At brooms up, Texas barreled into gameplay and quickly fell into a 20-0 hole. In back-to-back years, chasers Tyrell Williams and Chris Scholtz capitalized on an unorganized Texas defense and notched a pair of goals. Almost by design, Texas was forced to play from behind. Like a true dynasty, Texas barely blinked and proceeded with unshakable trust in the system. If they could erase an early 20-0 deficit, why couldn’t a mix of experienced leaders and gritty role players propel Texas into snitch range later? At World Cup VIII, keeper David Acker and chaser Marty Bermudez heeded the call and fired back with two goals. With any hidden doubts or perceived weaknesses flushed away, the time for Augustine Monroe had arrived.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every season, quidditch analysts obsess over flashy scorers and new impact players from coast to coast. Who will be the difference at World Cup? Who will make the clutch snitch catch or score the go-ahead goal? Predictions and speculations about the World Cup litter quidditch articles and discussion. However, when the dust clears, Monroe has clearly claimed the Most Valuable Player award and quidditch analysts collectively shrug and move on. With the entire quidditch community gathered around one pitch, how has Monroe’s World Cup championship game dominance escaped the spotlight? Indeed, Monroe is the ultimate silent assassin. Projecting a cool confidence, the quidditch community expects Monroe to dance through defenses and pick out the perfect pass. For three consecutive years, Monroe has jogged onto the pitch and seized control of an evenly-matched championship game. By World Cup VIII, it was entirely predictable and mind-bogglingly unbelievable deja vu.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At World Cups VII and VIII Monroe’s heroics verged on hero-balling. However, Monroe’s hero-balling never seems like a desperate attempt to cover up his teammates shortcomings. Monroe takes the temperature of the opposition and jumps into the action at the ideal time. Like a true superstar, Monroe’s heroics always make Texas appear more invincible. Whether it’s the spectacle and pressure of the World Cup or the never-failing loyalty and support of his teammates, Monroe has defied the odds and solidified a preeminent place in quidditch history. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, history is never clear and certain until it happens. As the seconds ticked away in Rock Hill, Lone Star weathered Monroe’s storm and unleashed a series of well-timed goals to stay in snitch range. All signs still pointed to a Texas three-peat, but reasonable doubts loomed larger with each resilient, high-energy response. For a deep team like Lone Star, crunch-time plays overwhelmingly came from Texas A&M alumni. Players who have been knocked down repeatedly at the World Cup. Players who have chased an elusive championship for years. Players who have felt cheated, outplayed, outmuscled and unlucky. Players who bounce back from adversity year after year. Wasikowski scored twice, defiantly exploding down the side of the pitch. DuPont lunged for loose balls. Was it a desperate hunger to avoid falling short? Or was it a liberating, nothing-can-hurt-me-now feeling of invincibility?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of the day, Wasikowski and DuPont left without a championship trophy. Yet, World Cup VIII was not a loss for Texas A&M’s tortured alumni. Texas A&M alumni weathered a blistering performance from Monroe and answered with grit. Thanks to Wasikowski, DuPont and Lensing, Lone Star and Texas were neck and neck. In crunch time, Texas A&M alumni carried the flag for Lone Star. For the first time since World Cup V, the quidditch community enjoyed a snitch range championship game. Texas A&M alumni stepped up and exceeded expectations without winning the World Cup.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall, World Cup VIII belonged to Texas. Overcoming opponents, injuries and graduations, Texas hoisted three straight championship snitchsocks into the World Cup air. As Texas stormed the pitched, smiled for pictures and lit the tower, the quidditch community contemplated the future of the Texas dynasty. Next fall, throngs of athletes will show up for tryouts. Newer faces will step into leadership roles. Undoubtedly, Texas will have the athleticism and hunger to win a fourth consecutive championship. But will they have the composure? </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Clutch will be gone. The Texas dynasty could become the Augustine Monroe dynasty, a de facto Longhorn dynasty extended by the Texas Cavalry. Or the Texas dynasty could be finished. For the first time in quidditch history, a defending World Cup champion could be dethroned at the World Cup. Lone Star QC and Texas State University will be back. Whatever the future holds, the continuity of the Texas dynasty has defined the past three years of quidditch. The Texas dynasty has been fun to watch. </span></span></div>
JackthePhanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956241963772487087noreply@blogger.com0