80 in 80: Tribe Quidditch

As part of our efforts to preview all 80 teams competing in USQ World Cup 8, the Quidditch Post is chatting with representatives from each team. Today we spoke with Mandi Amigh, captain/coach of Tribe Quidditch.

Photo by Bradley Garrett


Quidditch Post: Tribe qualified for World Cup in its first year of existence. What does that mean to the team?

Mandi: To achieve such a great accomplishment in our first year of existence proves that we have a great base to build on. We're very happy with our qualification.

QP: The Southwest has a lot of really strong teams. What has it been like competing against top-tier teams, like the University of Texas at Austin (UT), and also more middle-tier teams such as the University of Texas at San Antonio Quidditch Club (UTSA)?

Mandi: The top tier teams allow us to identify our weaknesses and correct them. Looking at our games, we actually had a very similar record to UTSA, and our respective matches against UT only differed by 20 quaffle points. Our game against UTSA was the closest game we played. Even though one of our starters received a questionable red card within the first few minutes of play, our game was in snitch range nearly the entire match. I'm especially proud of how our new players handled that game.

QP: Who have been some of the key players in the team's success?

Mandi: It goes without saying that my co-founders, Ian Strickland and Justin Peters, have put forth a lot of effort and experience on the team. But we have some new players this year, including keeper Justin Lamb, who in his first year of the sport has adapted well and contributed greatly to our play. His straightaways are incredibly speedy, and his reach is no match for longshots. Chaser Brittany Ridenour and I have been to every tournament, and she was the only woman at Lone Star Cup to compete with our team. I've been able to stop fast breaks, show a physical beater offense, and regain bludger control while our new beaters learn the ropes. Brittany has learned the sport in an incredibly short amount of time under the direction of Ian and starts many of our games. Brent Rowland, coming from UAFS Lions Quidditch, has never missed a practice and has grown immensely since the switch.

QP: Can you talk a bit more about Justin and Ian? What do they bring to the team?

Mandi: Justin actually tore some tendons in his knee at the 3rd Annual Oklahoma Kickoff before our season started and hadn't played much until the Southwest Regional Championship. However, he's been an asset to us as a coach because his knowledge of the game can rival anyone. Expect him to make a full comeback at World Cup.

Ian Strickland is an excellent ball handler. He knows where to put the quaffle and can put it in anyone's hands. Justin and Ian haven't gotten to play too much together, but they are a serious threat when put together on the pitch.

QP: What are your goals for World Cup?

Mandi: We want to make a name for ourselves. Coming out of the Southwest with a bid as a first year team was already the highlight of my season, but now we won't stop until every region knows who Tribe is.

QP: How are you going to do that?

Mandi: As in, how will we make our name known? We want to convey that even though we're in our first season, other teams shouldn't sleep on us. We want to put up a fight in every game.

QP: Thanks for your time, Mandi; we appreciate it.
Mandi: Thank you!