Southwest Regional Preview

We asked a number of writers to help out with our Southwest preview and tell our readers about the teams of the region. Teams are organized by pool.

Craig Garrison: Lone Star Quidditch Club, University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech Quidditch, Austin Quidditch, Clone Star Quidditch Club

Justin Peters: Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Baptist University, University of Arkansas

Hank Dugie: Osos de Muerte, Tribe Quidditch, Baylor University, the Silver Phoenix, Texas A&M Quidditch

Joshua Mansfield: Louisiana State University, Tulane University, San Marcos Sharknados, Loyola University of New Orleans

Azeem Hussain: University of Texas at San Antonio Club Quidditch, Sam Houston State University Quidditch, Texas State University - Marcos

Morgan McGrath: University of North Texas

Hayden Applebee: Wichita State University

Pool 1 

Lone Star Quidditch Club (LSQC)

LSQC continually plays the best teams and beats them. It has had one loss to the University of Texas at Austin at Alamo Cup of 140*-110, a few more snitch range games against Baylor University and the University of Texas, and that’s it. Every other team that has played LSQC has not touched it. The team has had a lot of personnel changes and the fact that it doesn’t practice in the same town must make it hard for the players to develop chemistry. The team is still voted the No. 1 team because of the caliber of players on the team and the track record of those players.

LSQC will continually play with individual high-caliber levels. It will even have chemistry from players that have already played on the same team together before joining. If LSQC is to survive more and more scares against teams like Texas or Baylor needs to “develop.”  This means develop the chemistry that Baylor has on defense, or bring the same heart to the game that UT has brought to quidditch season after season. If you want to beat this team you have to be ready to stop the best players in the game from playing their game. Be physical on defense, have crisp passing, and wait for the openings and you can beat LSQC.

Oklahoma State University (OSU)

Oklahoma State University is a strong team with a record of 18-8, losing to almost all top-tier teams. The bond that the players make off the field in regular team events and outings has definitely played a role in the growing success of this team as it builds on-field chemistry amongst its players. One player who particularly stands out is Hayden Applebee. Applebee is built like a tank and is able to shoot accurately from a great distance. In addition to his offensive prowess, Applebee is a competent defender and a strong seeker. Applebee isn't the only chasing force for this team; there is also the speed of Connor McEwan and Jack Osborn to help bring in the buckets. After taking last season off, Andy Iverson is back as beater to show that old dogs can learn new tricks. Iverson will also be a driving force for this team, as he uses his aggressive beating style to pressure offenses. For a first year player, Jacob Widstrom has performed with a surprising amount of physical ability and natural understanding of the game at the keeper position. All of these players mixed in with the rest of their team makes them a well-rounded force that can play a good game against any team.

Osos de Muerte

Keeper Gabe Garcez is the key player for Osos de Muerte . If he can contribute significant playing time, buckets and defense alongside the experienced beating of Blake Stroncek and clutch seeking of Cordell Clark – Osos de Muerte might be able to sneak into World Cup 8. If a game goes to overtime, you can all but chalk up a win for the Bears. Oses de Muerte has won all four of its overtime contests this season. I predict Osos will be left on the outside looking in once the dust settles in San Marcos, Texas. It may win one in snitch range game, but it doesn’t have enough experience or skill to power through the amazing depth of Southwest teams. 

Louisiana State University (LSU)

After losing the majority of its starters from last season, LSU goes into the regional championship as the largest underdog in its program’s history. Add to this the loss of captain Cole Travis to graduation in December, and LSU's place looks shaky entering next weekend. To qualify, LSU will need to rely heavily on the quaffle-handling expertise of chaser Charlton Tramel and recovering keeper Chris Rank. Furthermore, with a beating corps that is completely new to quidditch this year, LSU must have this unit fortified if it hopes to carry the team anywhere. If beater Bryan Cascio can heat up, the fate of this team may very well turn around, especially if he can clear lanes for his chasers on offense. LSU's target to beat Saturday will be Osos de Muerte, whom it’s played twice this season and gone 1-1 within range. If LSU's improvement has continued dramatically since it last played in October, it may be able to walk away with a bid to Rock Hill, South Carolina, but it will take adept play by the team as a whole on both Saturday and Sunday.

Pool 2

University of Texas at Austin (UT)

UT has lost to just two teams this year: Lone Star (130*-70) and Texas St. (160*-130); in its last two games, however, UT beat both teams back-to-back at Alamo Cup. The key for UT has been a strong offense that sees each player dish the ball at about half pitch, avoiding beats and tackles, waiting for its beaters to create an opening and then making a cut the hoops. UT’s defense is stout, aggressive, and picks up at half pitch. Its chasers famously man up and physically push you away from the “paint.”  UT players from its starters to its last subs may not all be elite, but they will all be on the pitch, and they will all want to win more than you. (Though in chasers Aryan Ghoddossy, Kenny Chilton, Audrey Wright and Kaci Erwin as well as beaters Michael Duquette and Freddy Salinas they certainly have their fair share.) If you want to beat this team, keep bludger control and use your beaters wisely to pick off Texas’ overpowered chasers. 

University of Texas at San Antonio Club Quiddditch (UTSA)
UTSA is well known for its ability to hit hard and fast and leave everything on the pitch. The team’s raw athleticism runs as deeps as it did last season, and despite the complete remake of the team it looks like the recruiting paid off. Led by captains Luke Langlinais, Taylor Tracy and Ruben Polanco, and coach Azeem Hussain, the team was able to bring the fresh meat up to speed and all of its efforts seem to show results by consistently proving results at tournaments this year. Placing second at Brooms on the Brazos Showcase and fourth at Alamo Cup over its last two tournaments, it’s clear to see the team is really starting to come into its own. Its biggest weakness, however, is the team’s inability to transition into later stages of the game, especially against the Big Three. With its innate athletic abilities, along with a new and improved beater core, UTSA will have no trouble snagging a World Cup bid. If, however, it can fix its mid to late game issues, there could be a possibility of UTSA pulling off an upset in bracket play.

University of North Texas (UNT)

Since starting a team in spring 2012, the University of North Texas quidditch team plans to take the region by its talons this weekend. The mean green team showed its potential during Oklahoma Baptist University’s Oklahoma Kickoff tournament in September, when it beat the University of Arkansas Quidditch Club and tied atop its pool with Oklahoma State University and Arkansas (who both qualified for World Cup last year). Though its numbers are few going into the regional championship, the team believes that it has some winnable games with the players who are traveling with the team. Its key players are Sam Kalash, a chaser who is said to be physical and do everything he can for the team and Scott Spurgeon, another chaser who leads the team. Its beaters’ skill set will set it apart from the rest of the teams because many teams underestimate it. Donovan Bruce, a beater, has the most tournament experience on the team, and while she’s only been with the team for the season, Destinee Holland has picked up her role as beater very well. Its solid defensive strategies will allow the team possible victories, despite its lack of numbers and physicality. It is a team to watch against Tribe Quidditch, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and UT this Saturday.

Tribe Quidditch

Tribe Quidditch is a team that can either make a huge splash at the Southwest Regional Championship or fall flat. If what I hear is accurate, many of its players are coming to San Marcos, Texas at full strength and doing so for the first time collectively this season. 

Its success rests largely on the shoulders of Oscar Hernandez, Justin Peters, Ian Strickland and Justin Lamb, who are all very fast and strong individuals. Along with the veteran leadership of Vincent Berrios, this roster as a whole boasts a lot of size, speed and physicality. It will be interesting to watch if it is able to incorporate a group of talented supporting quaffle players in Zach Houston, Misha Thomas, Brent Rowland, Emilee Jones and Brittany Ridenour. So far this year it has proved to be a team with great drivers, but has had limited success in facilitating the scoring ball to open teammates. 

In the beating game, expect Mandi Amigh to have an impact. She’s benefitted from the playing time she has received this year as one of the few committed females on its roster. The team’s founding members have high hopes for this tournament. Mine are more reserved. I predict it qualifies easily, but that it loses as many games as it wins.

Pool 3

Baylor University

To say Baylor enjoys the annual regional championship would be an understatement. This team consistently performs well when the greatest region in the world comes together to compete. Trent Miller and Jacob Bruner will indubitably score a lot of points while David Gilbert and Brittany Ripperger maintain bludger control for the majority of every game. As much as analysts like to say teams figure out the “Baylor D” more as the season progresses, it’s not that simple. Beating its zone isn’t a simple math equation. It takes crisp execution by elite athletes to put points on the board against such a refined machine. And with the development of Pearson Reese and Hannah Johns at beater, there will be less pressure put on the starters to log major minutes. I predict Baylor to run away with wins in its pool and easily obtain the No. 1 seed. This is a finals team. After that, anything can happen between two powerhouse programs.

Sam Houston State University Quidditch (SHSU)

Sam Houston State University has come a long way since last year’s regional championship. While it started off this season rising through the standings, it seems to have lost its groove over the last few months. Keepers Grant Boren and TJ Goaley do a great job leading the offense, and with the influx of new players, SHSU is definitely not a team you want to underestimate. Sam Reagan and Erin McDonald have done a solid job keeping up with beaters from other teams and adding to Sam Houston’s defense, however the biggest issue could arise from the inexperience of all the new players. There’s no reason SHSU should not get a bid for World Cup, but we’ll have to see if it’s able to have a standout performance.

Tulane University

Tulane enters its second year of quidditch a little older and a little wiser. This is a very new team; the average Tulane quidditch player has around a year of experience in the sport. As such, expect to see Tulane rest on the backs of its more athletic players while struggling with advanced strategies utilized by other teams. With an offense based around the athletic talent it can put together, look to see chasers Todd Mathieu and Elle Wong, as well as keeper Nick Gobert, putting together the majority of scoring options for Tulane. They're backed up by a solid beating corps, headlined by Sam Weisser, whose talent can easily lead to mismatches on both sides of the beater game. Tulane sits right on the edge of qualification from the region, and with the right couple of snitch grabs, Tulane might just sneak its way onto the lineup for Rock Hill, South Carolina. Like Loyola University New Orleans, Tulane must fight through its post-Mardi Gras recovery in order to have any shot at playing well at the regional championship. Tulane's Saturday performance will likely determine how the tournament goes for it. Close games against Wichita State University and the Silver Phoenix will show where this team stands.

The Silver Phoenix

The Aggie community team is set for a long, hard weekend of games on its quest to qualify. No matter how difficult though, it is sure to have a good time. It may be in the lower tier of Southwest teams when it comes to talent, but when it comes to exuding the quidditch spirit few can compare. Shawn Erwin, Genaro Cantú, Alex Stewart and Alyssa York will need to have big weekends to help punch a ticket to Rock Hill, South Carolina.

I predict Silver Phoenix will nab one of the last qualifying spots and that at least once during the tournament a spectator from another field will hear a loud, celebratory ruckus from their direction and incorrectly assume they are in the middle of a huge upset. The team is much more likely to be down 120 points, although, thoroughly enjoying themselves. 

Wichita State University

Wichita State University’s entire defense revolves around Kristian Jacobson. If he is not in the center to make quick beats off of passes, its chasers don't have enough physicality and athleticism to either take point and get someone to the ground or stay on man defense. Its man defense is not disciplined either. When a quaffle carrier drives in it loses its assignments. It doesn’t break down. It is very resilient in the fact that even if a team scores a few times in a row it stays to its strategy and it doesn’t really give up at all. If teams pull out their starters and expect their second stringers to keep them down they won't. Wichita State knows how to slow play the ball and it can control the ball a good amount when it is in possession.

Pool 4

Texas State University - San Marcos

After ending last season with a second place finish at World Cup, Texas State looks bigger and better than before. With its dominating performance over the season, there’s no question that Texas State will earn a World Cup bid. Most people always question what makes Texas State so good. Some people chalk it up to the fact that its beaters are as swift and aggressive as velociraptors, others say that Eric Reyes gained magical powers after eating an entire five pound bag of gummy bears by himself and can frustrate beaters with his ability to twist and turn and block any bludger thrown his way. The thing about Texas State is it works well together as a team. Ryan Peavler (AKA blonde Johnny Depp), Jackson Johnson, Beth Clementi, Kathryn Miller, and Gabby Olivas are always on the same page when it comes to beater play. Throw in a half-giant, Romie Lof, bringing the ball down as a keeper backed up with the athleticism brought from Tyrell Williams, Richard McEvoy-Kemp, Reyes, Justin Lopez, Josh Eureste, and countless others, Texas State has an incredibly consistent starting lineup and bench players to help carry it to victory. It’s always incredible watching Texas State set up an offense, and execute it in such a selfless manner. If Texas State can keep it up through the regional championship and World Cup, I have no doubt in my mind we’ll see it back in the finals this year.

Texas Tech Quidditch

Texas Tech is 6-4 on the season, which means that it has not reached its potential. The rumors are that it plays hard physical defense, and its beaters are crafty. It seems it generally beats the lesser teams, loses to the better teams (not too badly), and has only been held to snitch range by Crimson Elite and Loyola. It split two games with Crimson Elite (a 90*-30 win and a 60*-40 loss) and lost to Loyola (80*-60). With a very experienced captain, Josh Carroll (who plays beater), and current coach Drew McBrayer (who was previously a Baylor keeper), Texas Tech should have a well-balanced quidditch game.  If one can stop the keepers of Texas Tech before they make a good cut across the middle or stop their fast breaks, one can beat this team. This means dealing with an aggressive offensive beater game to boot. It is deeper than most teams, so it’s necessary to play a full game against this team.

San Marcos Sharknados

As the B team for Texas State University San-Marcos, the San Marcos Sharknados are going into World Cup fighting hard to qualify for the first time in program history. Though only a two-win team going into the regional championship, expect the Sharknados to be a rough matchup for most teams. The Sharknados are an especially physical team and one of the teams most hurt by the Rulebook 8-enacted prevention of lead blocking. The key for the Sharknados will be to use the physicality they have in strategic and effective ways. Leif Montgomery, Sean Greene, and others all have the ability in the quaffle game to make space and play physically, but it's going to take a concerted team effort for the Sharknados to make a dent. They will likely struggle against Oklahoma Baptist University's developed beater game on Saturday, but expect to see a win against Lumberjack. From there, their chances of qualification center on how motivated they are on Sunday; as a team that’s been fundraising for World Cup since October, expect to see a force to be reckoned with for the last bid.

Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU)

OBU is one of the mid tier teams in the Southwest fighting to earn its ticket to Rock Hill, South Carolina. Chandler Smith and Tylor Mclaren are dedicated and outstanding members of the team. Smith is a well-rounded player able to play any position efficiently, but he is mainly known for his hyper aggressive and sometimes unorthodox beating style. Mclaren is a power through-style chaser who likes to drive his defender into the ground and score. These two compliment each other well, with Smith opening up lanes for Mclaren to fill. OBU is a very offense-oriented team, which has allowed it to keep up in score with every team it has played this season. However, the holes in its defense and fatigue from lack of players has ultimately led to numerous defeats as it enters the regional championship with a 4-8 record.

Pool Five

University of Arkansas Quidditch Club

With an almost completely new roster this season, Arkansas has been off to a good start, coming into the regional championship as No. 19 in USQ’s rankings. Even though Arkansas has not played any of the elite teams in the Southwest this season, it has still proven itself a strong team with an 11-2 record and wins over top teams such as Kansas Quidditch. A pair of returning players who have switched positions – Kat Stewart to beater and Jordan Key to keeper – will make a huge impact on the team’s play. Although players who only seek are rare in the game, Eric Dreggors is one of the few remaining. Dreggors has been key this season with Arkansas, having caught 10 out of 14 snitches. Two of the four non-catches were out-of-range losses. The other miss was by Key in overtime against the University of Missouri. Some of the players who could shine at the regional championship are Eli Mahlum-Priest, Wilson Turner and Tyler Troppman, all of whom are getting better with every game this season. This team may not have the flash and flair that makes teams popular in the quidditch community, but it plays a textbook game and it plays hard, which will take it a long way.

Loyola University New Orleans

After a very solid recruiting year, Loyola is entering the regional championship in a great position to snag its very first qualification for a World Cup. Keeper Etefia Umana is easily Loyola’s biggest threat on offense and is flanked by a huge depth of skilled chasers who can succeed well in a pass-heavy offense. On top of this, beaters Tad Walters and Michael Gallaty add huge skill to the Loyola beating game, and if they can work magic with their partners, expect to see a highly aggressive beating style attempt to break up other teams' offenses and defenses. Loyola's largest weaknesses are in its female players. Loyola has the least experience at female chaser and beater, and with many of them coming off injuries, their effectiveness will be up in the air. With the entire team having to recover from almost a week of revelry from Mardi Gras, Loyola's biggest worry will simply be to qualify. While it should have a lock on one of the 17 Southwest spots, it needs to do well on Saturday in what looks like the most even pool. With a deceptively good seeking game, Loyola could go 4-0 Saturday if it can keep things in range with the University of Arkansas, but an 0-4 result is also possible. While unlikely, every team in its pool has shown to play close games, and Loyola cannot allow an upset from Austin Quidditch or Clone Star Quidditch Club.

Austin Quidditch (AQ)

Austin Quidditch’s games are very telling of where the team stands in the Southwest – somewhere near the bottom of the middle. The closest games that we can compare are its worst loss to Sam Houston State of 170*-10 and its loss to Loyola (80*-70). The team’s chaser depth is still at a level comparable to what it was at World Cup VII, but it still lacks strategy against decent beaters. Austin Quidditch has a deep chaser line that will do anything to win. This team has the same heart and determination as UT. In order to beat this team, you must play a crisp and precise passing game. If you can use your beaters to clear a whole for your best driver, you should be able to score against AQ, but beware of its fast-break transition game. 

Texas A&M Quidditch

I know... I know… This is the year that A&M sucks. This is one of the few times, as a proud and flaming University of Texas graduate, that I have every right to list off all the attributes that prove just how bad the team has become. About how overhyped it has been these past few seasons despite all the team’s wins and that its performance as of late is the real Aggie quidditch program, but I can’t.

This is Texas A&M’s time to shine. Its time to rise from the ashes like the Silver Phoenix its B team claims to be. After what can only be described as a miserable season, the Aggies will take the Southwest Regional Championship by storm – redemption is to be found in San Marcos. Look for Keegan Adlis and and Clay Enderlin to contribute on and off the field as they rally the troops, many of who will be participating in their first or one of their first tournaments. Newcomers Cody McKenzie and Brady Thomas should provide a spark in the quaffle game along with Nick Wilson. But its real key for success this weekend will be how this team manages the beating game. Daniel Sobarzo and Harris Coleman must continue to be physical presences while wearing the black headbands. They have all the physical abilities to be top beaters, but need to really focus on protecting their counterparts and maintaining control. If these two can be successful dealing with the bludgers, the team has a great chance to go undefeated in pool play and secure itself a high seed for bracket play. Perhaps more importantly this team can prove to itself that it can win games without the deserters.

Clone Star Quidditch Club

Clone Star is 1-11 on the season. Its one win came against Sam Houston State, and many would call it an upset. Clone Star has an amazing starting line that includes Hank Dugie (chaser) and Eric Bilanoski (beater). Unfortunately, after its starting line up, the team’s depth decreases dramatically because of inexperienced players and retention of female players. Clone Star doesn’t get to practice, and doesn’t get to keep the players it has on its roster. Yet this team is full of players with heart. Clone Star matches up well with almost any team for the first five minutes of the game. After that it has a hard time keeping up because of fatigue.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article mentioned the possibility that Daniel DePaula might play. This was written prior to rosters locking and not edited prior to posting.

Coaches Poll

The Southwest voters were asked to pick their top 10 teams prior to the Southwest Regional Championship (and following Alamo Cup). Thirteen voters participated in the poll. Points were allocated in the following manner: 10 points for a first place vote, nine points for a second place vote, eight points for a third place vote, etc. The votes have been tabulated and listed below in order of total votes. The number in parentheses indicates how many first place votes a team received. A “+” or “-” indicates a change from the last poll, with a plus indicating a team is ranked higher, and a minus indicating a team is ranked lower (as well as the difference). An “X” indicates a team’s standing is unchanged from the last poll.

Southwest Coaches Poll Results

1. Lone Star Quidditch Club – (11) 128 (X)

2. The University of Texas at Austin – (2) 119 (+1)

3. Texas State University - San Marcos – 103 (-1)

4. Baylor University – 92 (X)

5. University of Texas San Antonio – 74 (+1)

6. Oklahoma State University – 52 (+2)

7. Sam Houston State University – 50 (-2)

8. University of Arkansas – 47 (-1)

9. Loyola University New Orleans – 23 (X)

10. The Silver Phoenix – 9 (+1)

Also receiving votes: Texas Tech – 8, Texas A&M – 7, Oklahoma Baptist University – 2, Louisiana State University – 1

Voters Explain Their Decisions

“The only reason I switched to Baylor being behind Texas State is because I could only ignore the head-to-head for so long. Baylor – with 11 players, no excuses but it deserves to be mentioned – lost to Texas State at Diamond Cup. I left Lone Star at one based purely on consistency. It is the only team in the nation that has shown to be able to beat the other top teams regularly.”

“I think Baylor and Texas State are on equal ground. I wish we had gotten a chance to see Baylor play Texas State before the Southwest Regional Championship, though. But with UT's win over Lone Star that puts it above the next two for sure, at the moment. But I don’t think that this one loss means Lone Star drops to second.”

“One through four are always within snitch catch except Lone Star and Texas State. Lone Star just matches up great against Texas State. I thought OSU performed excellent with 13 people, even playing a 45 minute game with half a roster. Although any team that figures out its strategy will beat it. I can't put Arkansas above many teams down in Texas because the team simply doesn't come play the talent down there. Middle level teams were competing against Lone Star (yes I know it didn't play all starters) but I don't think Arkansas could keep as close as some of the teams did this weekend. I would still put Texas A&M above the Silver Phoenix because as soon as Texas A&M gets its act together the athleticism will be too much for the Silver Phoenix”

“1. Texas: Arguably, the top three teams can all be tied. Texas came out strong against the other two team at the Alamo Cup. Although both games against Texas State and Lone Star were down to snitch pull, a back-to-back snitch pull against two of the top teams in the country has led them to break the tie until the regional championship.

2. Lone Star Quidditch: Always playing at the top level I have no doubt that it will fight to take back the title of the best of the Southwest.

3. Texas State: I have it below Lone Star just based on head-to-head against Lone Star. The team hasn’t played against each other since November. Still a solid team with only losses against Lone Star and a recent loss to Texas by snitch pull.

4. Baylor: Still a top team. Offensively, the team is aggressive and uses its speed to its advantage. Defensively, its zone defense is pretty solid, but against the top Southwest teams it gets broken down due to teams adjusting to it. I honestly think that Baylor could use its speed to its advantage during defense and could change it up to throw off team. Still a contender for World Cup due to the teams outside of Southwest that are not use to the team’s zone defense.

5. Oklahoma State: Despite losing by snitch to teams outside of the top four, Oklahoma State has shown that it is not afraid to come to Texas and compete against the top teams in the nation. It is a physical team that I would consider the top team from the outskirts of the southwest.

6. Arkansas: Another top team from the outskirts; it has beaten Oklahoma State by a snitch catch but has won by less of a margin than Oklahoma State. It also plays the ranking game by playing the lower teams of the Southwest and avoiding Texas. I just don’t see it taking number five until it has proved its worth against the top four.

7. UTSA: Unable to put up points against the Top Four shows lack of experience. It’s still a physical team but it needs to work on playing at a higher level. With losses against A&M and SHSU I can’t justify moving it up. I know the team will show its worth at the regional championship but until then the loss against A&M really sticks in my mind.

8. Texas Tech: It has shown potential with some of the talent that it has brought in this year. I believe that the team only has one or two players who have played more than two full years. It has a tournament win at the University of Northern Colorado which it played six games and won by snitch pull. This shows that the team has the athleticism but lacks the experience to really move up in rankings.

9. SHSU: Dropped way down in rankings due to losing to Clone Star who claimed its first team win, with two losses to Osos and one to Loyola. It also only beat UTSA, LSU and A&M by only a snitch pull. The team can easily jump into the top again once it starts being consistent on the field.

10. Loyola: The team’s ability to keep the pace of the game slow to keep games close has really kept Loyola higher than other teams in the Southwest, but this can also be its downfall. With losses by snitch pull to lower ranked LSU and close wins by snitch pull against lower ranked Osos, Tulane, SHSU, Texas Tech, and Arkansas this team can secure wins by controlling the seeker game. I can’t justify moving this team up until it can show me that it can control the quaffle game and pull out of snitch range.”

Observations

Voters seemed very comfortable with the top five, placed in that order, with each team receiving over 10 votes in its slot. Teams ranked No. 6-8 each received a minimum of 10 votes in those slots, though voters were unsure of the relative rank of the three teams. Loyola was comfortably voters’ No. 9 pick and many were unsure who else to rank, with many voters opting to complete their ballots with the Silver Phoenix or Texas Tech. Texas A&M received seven points, but was named on just two ballots.

Predictions of Qualifying Teams
Josh:

Winner: Lone Star Quidditch Club

Runner Up: Texas State University - San Marcos

Semifinalists: Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin
Additional Qualifiers: University of Arkansas, University of Texas at San Antonio, Oklahoma State University, Loyola University New Orleans, Texas Tech, SHSU Quidditch, Texas A&M, the Silver Phoenix, Osos de Muerte, Tribe Quidditch, Austin Quidditch, Tulane University, and Oklahoma Baptist University

Justin:

Winner: Lone Star Quidditch Club

Runner Up: University of Texas at Austin

Semifinalists: Baylor University and Texas State University - San Marcos

Additional Qualifiers: Louisiana State University, Loyola University New Orleans, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma State University, SHSU Quidditch, the Silver Phoenix, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tribe Quidditch, Tulane University, University of Arkansas, University of North Texas, University of Texas at San Antonio

Craig:

Winner: Lone Star Quidditch Club

Runner Up: The University of Texas at Austin

Semifinalists: Baylor University and Texas State University - San Marcos

Additional Qualifiers: Oklahoma State University, Osos de Muerte, University of Texas at San Antonio,  Tribe Quidditch, SHSU Quidditch, Tulane University, Silver Phoenix, Texas Tech University, Oklahoma Baptist University, University of Arkansas, Loyola University New Orleans, Austin Quidditch, Texas A&M University, Clone Star Quidditch Club