Flying Fast and Hard: An In Depth Look at Chasers

by Christopher Dobens

Imagine this: You are running full speed at the center of a field. A single ball lies there, waiting to be put into play. At the sound of the ref’s voice booming “ Brooms Up!”, three brutes from the opposing team start sprinting at you, full force, no regard for the impending collision. The game is on. The teams battle for the upper hand, going head to head, putting everything they got to do what they were chosen for: to score. Jumping, diving, dodging from side to side, skills that only these players know how best to utilize to lead their team to the victor’s circle. When it comes to playing defense, jersey grabbing and body checking are sometimes the only way to knock someone off their track. Using aggressive tactics to steal the ball and block others from getting possession is what it takes to keep your team at the top. These skills come from the dedication they have in order to be the best at what they do.Their persistence to score and the connection they have with their team is more than just the functionalities of their position. It’s the way they bring their morals into the game, showing others that they will not give up, and that they came to win.

To be a Chaser, it takes more than just scoring points with the toss of a Quaffle - - it takes endurance. It takes the drive to push yourself to no limit, constantly seeking out the open lanes and zooming past your unworthy opponents who dare to get in your way.

The Chaser is unlike the other players on a quidditch pitch. Sure, they run around on the same type of broomstick and rep their team’s swag, but it’s what’s on the inside that sets them apart from the others. They have the opportunity to show off their killer moves and quick footwork, finishing off plays with a skillful finesse. They are strategists, planning out their attack with their fellow Chasers, playing to make the catching of the Snitch void and place their team at the top of the podium. Intense, right? Well, that’s only the beginning, my friends. Being a Chaser means a lot more than just scoring the points. It takes the attitude of a true team player. It takes dedication and athleticism. It takes heart.

A Chaser is not just the team’s main source for racking up points, but they are also known for protecting their side of the pitch. A Chaser needs to possess a sense of the Quaffle’s location on the field as well as the opposing Chasers. It’s a game of strategy for Chasers and the only way to outscore your opponent is by outsmarting them. Intellect, endurance, and passion are what makes the perfect Chaser on the pitch.

So if you think you got what it takes, its never too late to become part of the team. Remember though, being a Chaser is not for the faint of heart. It’s for those who know how to bring it, from the time they take off on their brooms to final pull of the Snitch. Who knows, the sooner you join a team, the sooner you may realize that you could be the next Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, or Michael Phelps of Quidditch, racking up points, bringing your team to the Winner’s Circle, and having more gold medals than you know what to do with!

World Cup Team Coverage: NYU

by Samantha Stringfellow

New York University is located in the heart of the most exciting city in America. New York City is home to the widest variety of cultures, businesses, and activities, so naturally Quidditch has a home there. While college Quidditch originated on the East Coast, New York University was out of the Quidditch loop until 2010 when their Quidditch team, the Nundu, became an official team after fighting with the NYU Club Budget Committee. Previously known as the Hipster Horcruxes, NYU changed their name to the Nundu, after the ferocious African leopard, to prove just how competitive they could be. Currently ranked number fifty in the world, the Nundu have only been around for a few years, even though many other Eastern teams have been flying for six years or longer. But if you think these players were going to be intimidated, you’re in for a surprise.

After less than a month of training, the Nundu picked up and headed to World Cup IV in 2010, where they defeated University of Maryland 140-60 and Ringling College 50-40, but were knocked off their brooms by Emerson College 150-10. Though they were defeated, NYU continued striving for victory. They fought hard all through 2011 with many ups and downs, defeating UMass and Stony Brook University but falling to Vassar, UMiami, and Ithaca Community. Their real triumph, however, came at World Cup V in 2012, where they defeated Brandeis, Harvard, UMass, and Syracuse and placed at 38th after being knocked out by UMiami yet again. Regardless, they finished out World Cup V with their aims high for the next year.

(Nundu hunting an elephant. DAMN.) 

In their preparation for the upcoming World Cup VI in Kissimmee, the Nundu have defeated their local New York rivals, the NY Badassilisks, three times: 80-20, 100-60, and 70-20. At the qualifying Northeastern Regional Championships, NYU placed 7th after being knocked out by Hofstra 60-30 in the quarterfinals. Their NY counterparts the Badassilisks will not be meeting the Nundu at the World Cup this year after not qualifying at the NERC. NYU’s players have established themselves as up-and-coming fighters with the ability to take down teams and fight for their victories. Having started as a small group of 20 who just wanted to play Quidditch, the NYU Nundu Quidditch Club has grown to a team of over 100 dedicated players and members who train hard and have their eyes on the prize for this coming World Cup Tournament. Keep up the hard work NYU! Go Nundu!

If your team or a team you know would like to be featured on the Quiyk blog, feel free to email us at william_blatchley@emerson.edu with the Subject: FEATURE ME!

World Cup Team Coverage: BU

by Christopher Dobens

You know those teams that dominate the minute they step on the turf? The teams that seem to throw bludgers harder, run a little faster? A team that isn’t afraid to put it all on the line and constantly brings their competitors to their knees? Well, Boston University Quidditch is THAT team. Founded in 2008 by then sophomore Sean Culleton, BU Quidditch has grown considerably over the years, currently boasting a roster of 70+ members.

The team most recently competed in the Northeast Regional Championships (NERC) at Fort Adams, Connecticut in November this past year, walking out of the tournament with the gold medal. BU started off the tournament with a strong lead, destroying Tufts University 160 –40, who had just come off a big win over Middlebury, the four-time  reigning World Cup champions. BU continued their winning streak, going undefeated into the following day.

As expected, nothing changed for the powerhouse, however, tension started rising as they faced their final team to beat, ECQ. With broom grips tightened, the teams battled it out, throwing everything they had down on the pitch. Chasers zoomed passed one another, getting physical and violent knowing that the game would be their biggest challenge of the tournament. Beaters lodged bludgers at any person willing to risk themselves for the point, only adding to the mayhem. In a nutshell, the game between BUQ and ECQ, the two biggest cross-city rivals in the city of Boston,  was enough of a spectacle to get any Quidditch fan to be absorbed in the match of the tournament. Even though both teams were able to dominate at some point in the match, BU was just too strong to let ECQ take them out. With a final score of 150-80, BU walked away with the NERC title and the top qualifying spot for the Quidditch World Cup.

BU fans should expect a performance to remember at WCVI.  BU is one of four teams from the Boston area that will be bringing their advanced skills and gold medal attitude to sunny Kissimmee, FL. .  Boston University should expect to have its fair share of tough match-ups, especially if they get paired up with ECQ again. In fact, the only team to beat BU so far this season has been Emerson with a snitch-grab victory back in October with a score of 80-60. With that said, Emerson will seize the opportunity to show BU that they are still a force to be reckoned with just like at the beginning of the season. With BU’s track record, this threat may be the only issue at the World Cup.

BU is currently ranked fifth in the world of more than 1000 teams, making their chances at taking home the World Cup title pretty good. However, the number one ranked team Texas A&M has a 93% winning rate that will make it difficult  for BU to take home the World Cup title. However, statistics don’t reflect the spirit and drive of a Quidditch team, and BU has plenty of that. Boston University has more than what it  takes to dominate on the pitch in Kissimmee, and with that they could very well be crowned the new World Cup champions. With less than a month away, let’s see if Boston University can use their high morale and advanced skills to take out their global competition. Let’s go Terriers!

If your team or a team you know would like to be featured on the Quiyk blog, feel free to email us at william_blatchley@emerson.edu with the Subject: FEATURE ME!

Interview with Nadav

 

Full name: Nadav Swarttz

Position at Quiyk: Director of New Business

Fun Fact: I’m only 5’10, but I can dunk a basketball. For some reason, that I have not figured out, I was blessed with the ability to jump pretty high. Also, I have abnormally long toes.

Q: What inspired you to join Quiyk?

A: When I was in the E3 program [Emerson’s entrepreneurship competition, taught by Professor Karl Baehr] I had an idea that I thought was awesome and I was really passionate about it. But for a variety of reasons it turned out that it simply wouldn’t work. My options were to start over or join another team. I was already friends with Matt and Eric and I saw that they had a great idea which really did have potential. We talked about it and me joining just made sense. I wasn’t so much inspired to join them as it was really just the right choice.

Q: What’s your favorite part about Quiyk?

A: My favorite part about Quiyk is that it’s exciting and something is always happening. It’s not like a normal job where the work gets repetitive, in fact it’s the opposite- every day is new. Also working with my friends is great. When you like the people you’re working with it makes the whole experience that much better.

Q: What makes Quiyk different?

A: Quiyk is different because we specialize in a sport that is not mainstream yet and we have lots of room to make a huge impact on the sport. Also, most sports as new as Quidditch do not have as big a following as the sport currently does. It’s pretty exciting to know that there are over 650 teams worldwide that we could potentially reach. And also, our quality sets us apart for sure. We really do care about the quality of our garments and they have all the features of the high end merchandise out there. Ask us about the specifications of our stuff and we’re always happy to tell you!

Q: What’s the best part about start-up companies? What are some downsides to start-up companies, and what have you (or Quiyk) done to work around that?

A: Startups are a lot of fun because there’s something new every day. But at the same time that’s also a downside in some ways because things can get pretty hectic. It depends how much uncertainty you think is fun and how much you think is too stressful. The unpredictability of a startup is something you need to manage as a company and work together to do so. I’m more on ‘it’s exciting’ end of the spectrum but it’s not for everyone.

Q: What piqued your interest in doing business and sales?

A: I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship, I think the idea of starting something from the ground up is really cool and really challenging. With that comes knowing the world of business and inherent in that, whether people like it or not, comes sales. The three are always going to be linked and it all really just intrigues me. Above all else, starting something and then growing it is a great thing to experience.

Q: What’s a typical day like at your job at Quiyk?

A: My typical day at Quiyk is filled with emails. Tons and tons of emails. I do sales here and that’s primarily how I communicate with teams and customers. I also talk a lot with Matt and Eric and we try to set aside as much time to meet as we can, even though it’s pretty hard sometimes during the school year. The reason that it’s so difficult to make time to meet is that we don’t just do Quiyk. Myself, Matt and Eric are all students as well and have to do school work and study. Eric and I are both athletes at Emerson which takes up a large amount of time as well. Then the three of us have all held jobs and different times as well as internships. Oh, and Matt is also an RA. So between all of that coordinating our schedules can be difficult.

Q: How has Emerson College prepared you for your job at Quiyk?

A: Emerson is a great school and has prepared me well for working at Quiyk. Emerson is really big on communication as you know and I think that’s been a big part in my role at the company as well as everyone at Quiyk. I also think Emerson trains you to multi-task and that is definitely a helpful skill.

Q: If a Chaser, Beater, Keeper, and Seeker got into a bar fight, who do you think would win and why?

A: The real winner would be the team they’re all playing tomorrow of course.

Q: Do you have any tips for budding student entrepreneurs?

A: Tips for an entrepreneur on a budget would be to cut unnecessary expenses. I know that sounds obvious, but really when you take the time to look at your finances I’m sure there will be a few charges that are not totally necessary. If you cut those out it could lead to some decent savings in the long run.

Q: What should we expect from Quiyk in the future?

A: We’re coming out with some game changing products. I can’t talk about them yet, but they really are going to be awesome so I hope people are ready and that everyone stays tuned. We’ll also be coming out with a new line for the spring and of course we’ll be preparing for the World Cup.

Q: What are your future goals with Quiyk? Your personal goals outside of Quiyk?

A: My future goals for Quiyk are to develop it as best we can and really see where we can take this company. Who knows what will happen after school, that’s something we’ve talked about but don’t necessarily have plans for yet, but it will definitely be interesting. As for myself personally, I’m really not sure at this point. There’s a lot I’d like to do but in terms of what actually happens, I’ll just have to wait for now and see how this semester unfolds.

 

World Cup Team Coverage: PSU

by Christoper Dobens

Last year, Middlebury took home the trophy after a close game with University of Florida on Randall’s Island, NYC, continuing their unstoppable rampage through the Quidditch World. With Middlebury taken out of the equation, who is ready to stand atop that podium with gold in their eyes?  

 

Penn State University is looking to bring the heat and take the top spot in the Quidditch world. Currently ranked twenty-fifth in the world and are one of eight Mid-Atlantic teams traveling to Kissimmee, FL, PSU is ready for some fierce competition. Since 2010, Penn State has made appearances at each World Cup. In 2010, they were able to make it past the first round, beating NYU 70-30, but fell in round two, forcing them into a bracket with heavy hitting Middlebury, losing 110-0. The following year they made it one round further before dropping a game to Emerson College 170-80 and then getting knocked out by McGill University.They placed 21st out of 60 teams, proving that they were able to hold up long enough to make it in the top 50%.

At this year’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships, Penn State placed fourth out of the nineteen teams, giving them an automatic bid to World Cup VI. On the first day of the tournament they hit a little rough patch, losing to Villanova 140-80. However, their luck seemed to turn around when they slammed UNCG 200-40, Carnegie Mellon University 210-40, and Steel City Quidditch Club 180-80. Their skills carried over into Sunday where they beat UVA 180-70 and Johns Hopkins 80-40. With a 5-2 record for the MARC, they advanced to the semi-finals. Penn State had to go back up against Villanova, reliving the same loss, only by 30 points, a Snitch-grab some might call it, ending their winning streak. With their pair of loses, PSU is not a team to be taken lightly. Their record is enough to ensure any team that tries to take them down that it will NOT be an easy task. Any team at this point could rise victoriously among the rest, so does Penn State have what it takes to bring home the title? I’m sure they are looking to take down Nova in tournament play. We’ll see what happens in April! Best of luck to the Nittany Lions!  

 

If your team or a team you know would like to be featured on the Quiyk blog, feel free to email us at william_blatchley@emerson.edu with the Subject: FEATURE ME!

World Cup Team Coverage: UCLA

by Samantha Stringfellow

College Quidditch may have just started back up on the East Coast, but the weather didn’t keep the West Coast teams from getting on the pitch. UCLA, currently the top team in the West and number three in the world, has only been around for a few years, unlike East Coast counterparts who have been flying around for six years or longer. Founded in 2009 by current Captain Tom Marks, UCLA played and practiced unofficially until being recognized as an official club spot in 2010 by the university. But it was 2011 that became the Year of the Bruins in Quidditch.

At the Western Cup in April of that year, the team set themselves apart from the other West Coast teams by sweeping their broom-riding competition to snag Third Place. Some of their competition went down easy, such as San Jose State who lost to UCLA 90-0 or the Silicon Valley Skrewts who went down 140-10, but other teams put up a decent fight, like ASU who was defeated by only 20. But in true Southern California fashion, the real test for this team was the rivalry grudge-match with the USC Trojans.

The two teams met in October 2011 for a close and captivating best of three series where the Bruins came out on top. The first game seemed to be setting up for an easy victory, with the Trojans losing 90-0, but the second and third games were the real nail-biters for both teams. Game Two ended with a 50 point difference, 110-60 in the Bruins favor and Game Three with a minimal 10-point victory for the Bruins. The two teams would rehash their fight in January 2012, but UCLA once again took the Trojans down. To finish off their successful 2011 season, the Bruins competed fiercely at the World Cup in Randall’s Island, New York. They made it into bracket play of the Cup and played their way all the way to the quarterfinals with wins over USC and Michigan State. UCLA was unfortunately defeated by eventual champion, Middlebury College, but still snagged their current rank of fifth in the world.

UCLA’s winning streak picked up again all through 2012, culminating in a remarkable twenty victories against Western and Southern teams, some by a margin of almost 100 points. As 2013 heats up, it looks like UCLA is a team to beat, having just taken the Western Cup for their own on February 22 in Roseville, CA. The Bruins had an undefeated first day at the Western Cup, soaring into bracket play. They then continued the streak through to the finals, defeating the Lost Boys 130-60 to snag the Cup as their own. UCLA is on an unstoppable upward spiral and will continue that momentum to the Quidditch World Cup in early April. With rivals USC getting a bid as well, WCVI is shaping up to be the strongest brackets the sport has ever seen. The team that once started as an unofficial group of freshmen enthusiasts is now a seasoned, top ranked Quidditch team, whose players are looking to make an unforgettable World Cup run. Best of luck to UCLA - - go Bruins!

If your team or a team you know would like to be featured on the Quiyk blog, feel free to email us at william_blatchley@emerson.edu with the Subject: FEATURE ME!