US Quidditch Cup 10 Preview: The Tenth Day of Kissimmee

On the tenth day of Kissimmee, we have an all-college team edition with five programs that have reached great heights over the years and are fighting to make sure they don’t slip from their past dominance.

University of Rochester Thestrals

By Mike Pascutoi

The University of Rochester Thestrals surprised many during the fall season by exploding out of the gate with a 10-5 record, not including a 3-1 record during its participation as an unofficial team at the King In The North tournament in Toledo, Ohio. As a team famous for being chronic underachievers except when it matters, the Thestrals outperformed many expectations in a series of snitch-range losses to RPI Quidditch (90*-60), Maryland Quidditch (150*-90), District of Columbia Quidditch Club (110*-100), and an unofficial loss to the Ball State Cardinals (120*-80). Fall captain Perry Wang revamped the Thestrals’ roster by shifting exclusively into the use of the double-male beater set to take advantage of its five-deep male beater line and talented non-male chasers. Emphasizing ball control on offense and scrappy defense, Rochester succeeded in going 3-0 in pool play at the Northeast Regional Championship (NERC), solidifying its ascent from last season’s 8-17 finish.

US Quidditch Cup 10 Preview: The Ninth Day of Kissimmee

On the ninth day of Kissimmee we have a community team looking to outplay its pot five status, a college team making its last hurrah before graduation, two first year community teams, and an established community team looking for a deep run.

Miami University (OH) Quidditch

By Nick Stackhouse

Editor’s Note: The author is the President of Miami University Quidditch

This season was a rebuilding year for Miami University Quidditch after losing 15 players to graduation, 12 of whom attended US Quidditch Cup 9. Its struggle to fill those players’ shoes is apparent in its 11-11 season record, but its losses were important opportunities for its newest members to grow. Even so, Miami has not yet rebuilt its depth from last year, so more of its experienced players have had to shoulder the burden.

US Quidditch Cup 10 Preview: The Seventh Day of Kissimmee

On the seventh day of Kissimmee we have the defending champions on a more than year long winning streak, the last team to beat them, that team’s intra-city community and collegiate rivals, and a mid-tier Southwest team looking to make a name for itself.

Quidditch Club Boston

By Mike Pascutoi

Where do you start with Quidditch Club Boston (QCB), a team that has proven time and time again to be the best in the sport? You can reasonably start with Lulu Xu, one of the best beaters in the game who was arguably the biggest snub from 2016’s Team USA squad. There’s also the 6’3” behemoth Stew Driflot, one year removed from leading the Boise State Abraxans to the quarterfinals  at US Quidditch Cup 9, the unmatchable chaser defense of Kara Levis, and arguably the most underrated beater in the country in Jesse Knowlton. Those four alone with QCB’s deceptively deep supporting cast would make QCB a national title contender, and that does not even count the three players who have changed the face of quidditch in Boston forever.

US Quidditch Cup 10 Preview: The Sixth Day of Kissimmee

On the sixth day of Kissimmee we have a pair of community teams looking to take the next step - be it a title or a deep bracket run and three pot five teams looking to prove that they belong among the country's best.

Rochester United

By Mike Pascutoi

Entering this season with high expectations, Rochester United (RU) performed basically as expected throughout the season, losing two games to regional rival Quidditch Club Boston and a tight affair with Bowling Green State University while without star keeper Shane Hurlbert. Touting an experienced though often shorthanded roster, RU is a well-oiled machine of on-pitch efficiency at best and a slow, predictable opponent at worst. Even when the team falls back on its standard strategy of hero-balling behind keepers Hurlbert and Jon Jackson, the talent of its roster cannot be matched by most opponents. Defensively, a rotation of solid point defenders dictate the pace of the defense, allowing one of the deepest beater corps in the country to help limit opponents to under 100 quaffle points in all but one game this season.

Rapid Reaction: US Quidditch Cup 10 Pools

By Andy Marmer, Austin Wallace, Christopher Dewing, Alex Russell, and Carrie Soukup 

Editor’s Note: The following is a quick analysis. While the Quidditch Post’s editors did their best to ensure the accuracy of all stats and information, due to our desire to provide quick and timely information, some errors may have arisen. We apologize for any mistakes and will do our best to correct any incorrect information that is pointed out to us.

The Tuesday 11 days before a major tournament means one thing: pool draws. A favorable pool can be the springboard to Day Two glory, as it allows for easy wins, high point differentials, and a top seed entering the bracket. On the other hand, a difficult pool can be a death sentence that causes tough games, lower than-expected seeding, and of course the possibility of elimination. With USQ announcing the pool draw for US Quidditch Cup 10, we break down each pool, games, and fun facts on our way to identifying the 36 teams that will advance to bracket play.

Consolation Cup Provides Alternative to US Quidditch Cup

By Danielle Lehmann 

For many teams who did not earn a bid for US Quidditch Cup 10, competing against out-of-region teams is no longer a possibility. Last year, however, Texas State Quidditch changed that prospect for many who just missed out on national-level play. Texas State returns with Consolation Cup II this weekend, when 22 teams (Editor’s Note: One team has dropped from Consolation Cup II, but as of press time the identity of this team has not been confirmed) make their way across the United States to compete in the intense tournament.

International Weekend Wrap-Up - November 11-13

Contributions by Chula Bruggeling, Kyle Carey, Serena Cheong, Rebekah Page, Arjun Patel, Ashara Peiris, Carrie Soukup, Cameron VomBaur, and Austin Wallace

There is a lot going on in the world of quidditch on any particular weekend, and most of us only see the stories immediately relevant to our regions. However, it can be very interesting to look outside of our own bubble every once in awhile and take a look at the rest of the global community. To that end, each week the Quidditch Post collects information about tournaments and events that happened during the weekend around the world.

This week we are covering the Eastern and Western Canada Regional Championships, Coupe de France, the UK’s Northern Cup, the US’s Midwest Regional Championship, Next Best West, Hub City Cup, and Officially BAQC At It.

International Weekend Wrap-Up - October 29-30

Contributions by Chula Bruggeling, François Carabin, Briana Earhart, Neha Korrapati, Jack Lennard, Lena Mandahus, and Carrie Soukup

Another week, another International Weekend Wrap-Up. There’s a lot going on in the world of quidditch on any particular weekend, and most of us only see the stories immediately relevant to our regions. However, it can be very interesting to look outside of our own bubble every once in awhile and take a look at the rest of the global community. This week we cover events from Canada, France, Turkey, the UK, and the US.

MLQ Championship Preview: Pod 3

Fourteen intense teams will come together this weekend, August 20-21, for the second Major League Quidditch (MLQ) Championship. These teams were divided into four pods for pool play and we were able to talk to some of the managers and players who will be fighting for the gold in League City, Texas. To know more about these three Pod 3 contenders, watch our conversation with players from the Boston team and read more about Kansas City with manager Mikayla Hoffman and San Francisco with manager Natalie Stottler.

World Cup From Their Perspective: Team USA Head Coach James Hicks

My name is James Hicks, and I have been involved in quidditch since 2011. I was the head coach of the 2016 Team USA.

Team USA Head Coach James Hicks at the closing ceremonies for the 2016 Quidditch World Cup. | Photo Credit: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

Before I get started, I would like to thank the Quidditch Post, and particularly the sections abroad. For the past year, I believe that your coverage of international teams and events has helped keep us updated on quidditch around the world, not just in America, and I’ve enjoyed following international quidditch because of it. I would also like to thank you for reaching out for a different kind of interview - for giving me a platform to share my personal experience and my feelings after a tough weekend for USA quidditch. Not many sporting media outlets do that after a tough loss, so it’s very much appreciated.

World Cup 2016: Spotlight on the United States

By Danielle Lehmann and Bruce Donnelly  

History

The United States has the honor of saying that quidditch started here, at Middlebury College in Vermont (in the northeastern United States) by Xander Manshel and Alex Benepe in 2005. As freshmen that year, Manshel and Benepe created the groundwork for quidditch, but it was quite different from the sport we know today.

Gender Rule Excludes Womens Colleges

By Taylor Veracka

What does quidditch have in common with horseback riding? For now, the sports’ only similarity is the fact that both allow all genders to compete with and against one another, though many hold out hope that quidditch will eventually join equestrianism in the Olympic Games. Gender inclusivity is something that not only sets quidditch apart from most other sports but also presents many unique challenges, specifically in governing the politics of a full-contact sport where all genders can participate.

Soaring to South Carolina Preview: Pools 10-12

This weekend, April 16-17, 60 teams will fight for a chance to hold up the championship trophy of US Quidditch Cup 9. The University of Texas is the three-time defending champion, but 59 teams will look to unseat it. In the week leading up to the tournament, the Quidditch Post will run through the pools and highlight some of the players, teams, and stories to watch this weekend.

Soaring to South Carolina Preview: Pools 7-9

This weekend, April 16-17, 60 teams will fight for a chance to hold up the championship trophy of US Quidditch Cup 9. The University of Texas is the three-time defending champion, but 59 teams will look to unseat it. In the week leading up to the tournament, the Quidditch Post will run through the pools and highlight some of the players, teams, and stories to watch this weekend.

Quidditch Post Live Coverage of USQ Cup 9

Part of the Quidditch Post’s coverage of US Quidditch Cup 9 will include live tweeting of games. The schedule below indicates what games will be tweeted and from what accounts. There are also game based hashtags that you can use to keep track of specific games.

Our dedicated volunteers have signed up for different games to tweet, so the schedule is subject to change depending on the availability of our tweeters, but we will keep the sheet updated throughout the event.

Soaring to South Carolina Preview: Pools 4-6

This weekend, April 16-17, 60 teams will fight for a chance to hold up the championship trophy of US Quidditch Cup 9. The University of Texas is the three-time defending champion, but 59 teams will look to unseat it. In the week leading up to the tournament, the Quidditch Post will run through the pools and highlight some of the players, teams, and stories to watch this weekend.

Soaring to South Carolina Preview: Pools 1-3

This weekend, April 16-17, 60 teams will fight for a chance to hold up the championship trophy of US Quidditch Cup 9. The University of Texas is the three-time defending champion, but 59 teams will look to unseat it. In the week leading up to the tournament, the Quidditch Post will run through the pools and highlight some of the players, teams, and stories to watch this weekend.

Why American Quidditch Needs to Start Thinking Small

By Kyle Carey

The following piece represents the opinion of the author and not of the Quidditch Post.

For the fourth year in a row, USQ team membership has hovered just above 150 teams. During the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, the number of registered teams in the United States stood at 162 and 169, respectively. In USQ’s inaugural 2014-15 season, after the split with the IQA, the count was 161. For the 2015-16 season, thus far, the count is currently 173; 170 if you do not include high school teams. During the early years of quidditch, the sport expanded exponentially, moving quickly beyond Middlebury College’s campus and across the United States. However, since 2012, membership has plateaued, begging the question of why expansion has cooled down. In answering this question, it is important to first think about the geography of teams that currently comprise USQ.

Mock National Team - USA

With World Cup 2016 – the real World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany – just a few months away, USQ has given James Hicks and Mollie Lensing the well-deserved honor of head coach and assistant coach, respectively, for the US National Team. What we are waiting on now, though, are the names for the roster itself.

Trying to Be Well-Rounded Makes You Worse at Quidditch

By Austin Lillis

Many quidditch players struggle to find their place on the pitch, even when they are not lacking in knowledge, athleticism, or passion for their team. The trait that changes someone from “just another player” to a key part of a team is their identity. Quidditch has four positions that interweave so heavily that it is easy for players to lose sight of where they can be most useful. Players get caught up in trying to imitate too many styles without realizing the potentially negative impact that has on their own skill level.