DCQC: 2015 Mid-Atlantic Regional Champions

By Andy Marmer

The District of Columbia Quidditch Club (DCQC) captured the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship 200*-110 over the Penn State University Nittany Lions on a snitch catch by Darren Creary.

Although the game was in snitch range, 80-60, at the end of the seeker floor, DCQC quickly extended its lead to 100-60 and was able to keep the game out of snitch range for the remainder, despite a valiant Penn State comeback attempt. Max Miceli and Andrew McGregor led the DCQC offense in the finals. The story of Penn State’s tournament was one of dramatic victories, but it was unable to provide a final one in the championship.

DCQC is the 2015 Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion | Photo by Rebecca Martin

“I'm so proud of everyone on this team for helping us reach this goal,” said DCQC Coach James Hicks. “Celebrating with everyone was an incredible feeling after the work we have put in and all the great teams we played this weekend.”

In addition to the finalists, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Quidditch (UNC), the University of Richmond Quidditch, George Mason Club Quidditch (GMU), Lock Haven University Quidditch (LHU), the Appalachian Apparators Quidditch, Maryland Quidditch (UMD), Rutgers University Quidditch, and Virginia Quidditch Club (UVA) all qualified for US Quidditch Cup 9.

The drama of each round seemed to top the one before it. Last year, UNC was eliminated in dramatic fashion, on a single goal, in overtime, 160*-150 (OT) by Maryland. This year, history repeated itself as the squad was again eliminated in overtime by a single goal, this time by Penn State with a final score of 140*-130 (OT) in the semifinals. DCQC cruised over Richmond 130*-40 in the other semifinal.

Perhaps more climatic than Penn State’s semifinal victory was its quarterfinal victory. While UMD entered the tournament as the unquestioned favorite and two-time defending champion, it exited in the quarterfinals courtesy of Penn State 130*-90. Richmond also reached the semifinals in dramatic fashion with a 170^-160* win over GMU. DCQC advanced to the semifinals with a 130*-80 win over LHU, while UNC took out state-mates Appalachian 160*-50.

It was GMU who was responsible for the first dramatic storyline as it became the first No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1 seed with its Round of 16 victory over Rutgers 100*-90. PSU also required a snitch catch to advance to the quarterfinals as it took an 80*-60 win over the Philadelphia Honey Badgers.

Rutgers and UVA each qualified by way of the consolation bracket, with Rutgers taking a 110*-70 win over the Honey Badgers and UVA taking out James Madison 150*-110.

Rutgers, UNC, UMD, LHU, and DCQC were the top five seeds respectively, each going undefeated in their pools. Penn State took the sixth seed after a 110*-100 loss to LHU in pool play.

Whereas in past years the Mid-Atlantic has traditionally been dominated by a few programs in any given year, notably UMD, Villanova Community Quidditch, and more recently UNC, this year featured a larger amount of parity amongst the teams.

The Quidditch Post will have more coverage of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship in the coming days.

Steve Minnich contributed to reporting