Quiyk

Flying Fast and Hard: An In Depth Look at Chasers

quiykadmin — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:31:52 -0400

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

quiykadmin — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:12:14 -0400

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

quiykadmin — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:02:33 -0400

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

blatchley2 — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:56:10 -0400

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

quiykadmin — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:58:36 -0400

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

quiykadmin — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:41:00 -0400

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!

Cup Concept Can Collect Cash

mrenn15 — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:38:00 -0500

By: Maxine Renning

As we all know, the World Cup VI is fast approaching and hundreds of Quidditch players will be preparing with their teams, working hard to win the heavily sought after World Cup trophy. Trophies are less about what they look like and more about their symbolic meaning. But, why is the traditional cup trophy shaped like a cup? Is it to hold Gatorade to pour on team’s coaches? Or maybe to hold the tears of the losing team?

This history of the trophy cup dates back to Ancient Greece The word “trophy” stems from the Greek work “tropaion” meaning “to defeat.” Trophies were originally tokens taken from battle to symbolize victory. In the early years of the Olympics, trophies were just leave wreaths and eventually champions were rewarded with a vase or container filled with valuable oils. This is probably where the cup shape took form in history. Good thing some traditions die, right? Since then, victories have been recognized with cups to signify athletic accomplishments.

The WC trophy’s roots stem from college athletics, the birthplace of Quidditch. Originally incorporating a bottle of alcohol in the trophy’s design as a homage to its beginnings, the IQA originally made this a requirement in the design parameters. However, after heated debate with upset fans who wanted the sport to be taken on a more serious level, claiming that a “major sporting event isn’t the proper place for it,” the requirement has since been revised and no longer a must in the overall design.

Now, it’s your chance to make history! This year the International Quidditch Association is having a design competition to decide what the Quidditch World Cup trophy will look like and that winning design could be yours! The first and second place winners will have their design awarded to the D1 and D2 competitions!

Contest Requirements:

Contestants will submit sketches/blueprints/designs for three (3) coordinating (but not necessarily identical) trophies that the winning artist will then construct for the D1 & D2 WCVI champions!
Each trophy should be painted/spray-painted one (1) solid color – gold, silver, & bronze.
Each trophy must include at least one (1) Quidditch-related element – broom, Snitch, hoops, etc.
The cost to produce each series of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies should be no more than $150 total.
Designers are encouraged, but not required to make their look funky & homemade – keeping with World Cup tradition, designers may consider incorporating empty bottles into the schematics.
With your design, please submit a detailed construction plan as well as an itemized budget including all materials used in each trophy.

Ladies and gentlemen “brooms down” or should I say “heads down, pencils up” and get to work! Quidditch history is in your hands!

For more information of the contest visit :http://www.internationalquidditch.org/2013/01/design-the-wcvi-trophies/

Check out the University of Texas looking fly in their brand new...

quiykadmin — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:57:37 -0500

Check out the University of Texas looking fly in their brand new BeQuiyk jerseys. Thanks for teaming up with us, Longhorns!

Meet Our Co-Founder, Eric!

quiykadmin — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:14:10 -0500

Full Name: Eric Wahl
Position at Quiyk: Boss Man, Production Director
Fun Fact: I had a bowl cut until I was thirteen.

Q: What made you get started with Quiyk?
A: Quiyk was the brainchild of Matt and I. It sounds cliché but we literally both thought about the potential of making Quidditch clothing on the same day. Once we talked about it for a few weeks, we began doing some rough product sketches and a very basic business plan. It grew and grew for about a year and half, until we launched last November.

Q: Fun Quiyk related story?
A: Matt and I are both from Seattle, but did not meet until we arrived at Emerson. Our mothers met at some parent’s lunch, and gave us each other’s number. We text each other and played tennis together. We joke that it was a blind tennis date. We are still deeply in love.

Q: How has Emerson prepared you for Quiyk?
A: E3 is the best thing I’ve done at school. It gave us financial motivation to take the class and our company very seriously. To be honest though, I have learned way more from just doing Quiyk related things. I make mistakes but I learn from them and make sure not to make the same mistake twice.

Q: Any tips for any other entrepreneurs?
A: Your start-up DOES NOT have to be tech based. All you hear about these days is people who create and sell mobile apps, or web pages, or anything we based, for billions of dollars. Anything can become a startup. Find something you like, and think about how you can improve on it.

Q: If you could have one superpower? (excluding flight because that’s too easy)
A: Flight – because it is easy. But I would shoot flames out of my hands and feet. That would be super badass. Right?

Q: What is a typical day in your job?
A: I go to class, and then go straight to basketball practice. I get home, shower, eat, do my homework and then answer a bunch of Quiyk emails! It’s amazing how much of job feels like a secretary at times. Lots of emails and phone calls and trips to USPS and FedEx.

Q: What is your soul animal?
A: Bugs Bunny. Not a rabbit. Bugs Bunny.

Q: Do you play Quidditch? Why do you like it? Why don’t you like it?
A: I did my freshman year before basketball started. I have not played since – my coach does not approve of me playing. I plan on playing after the season ends this spring though.

Q: How long have you been playing Basketball? How is basketball like Quidditch?
A: As long as I can remember… They have more in common then I can list. Every aspect of basketball can be applied to Quidditch – but it all starts with passion. If you do not truly love the game, then you are you doing yourself a disservice playing it.

Q: Do you enjoy Harry Potter? Why/why not?
A: I do. It’s fun and whimsical.

Q: So I know from the “About Quiyk” section on your website that you enjoy long walks on the beach and classic pieces of literature. Can you name me some of your favorites?

A: “Oh The Places You’ll Go”, “Pat the Bunny”, and “Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy Part 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers.”

Q: What are your future goals with Quiyk? What should we expect?
A: We just want to work with Quidditch and offer the best products possible. I don’t like speculating because we are so young, but it would be wonderful to continue to expand with the sport itself. Trying to force goals is a recipe for failure. That being said, a basic road map is very important. Y’all can expect some super sweet stuff. Seriously though, I’m not gonna say anything specific, but keep on the lookout.

Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: “Don’t take life too seriously, no one makes it out alive anyways.”

Northeast Regional Championship Recap

quiykadmin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:51:25 -0500

by Chris Dobens

On November 17th and 18th, Fort Adams entered the realm of Quididitch when it became the site of the International Quidditch Association’s Northeast Regional Championships. Fort Adams, located in Newport, Rhode Island, is used to large gatherings and events, but nothing could prepare them for this epic showdown. 25 snitch-hungry teams entered the tournament in hopes of grabbing one of the coveted qualifying spots for the World Cup in April. With such high stakes, teams showed no hesitation or remorse on the field, putting on a display of skill and showing the rest of the competition why they were going to end up on top.

The Teams:
Broomsticks began flooding into Rhode Island Friday night and Saturday morning. A World Cup VI berth in Kissimmee, Florida was on the line as everyone geared up, itching to take the field. The teams that rocked the pitch included:

-        Emerson College (@ECQuidditch)
-        Stony Brook University (@SBUQuidditch)
-        Vassar College (@VassarQuidditch)
-        Middlebury College (@MiddQuidditch)
-        CAMPS
-        Green Mountain College
-        University of Rochester
-        Syracuse University (@CuseQuidditch)
-        University of New Haven
-        SUNY Geneso (@GeneseoQuidd)
-        Macaulay College (@MHCQuidditch)
-        University of Vermont (@UVMQ)
-        University of Rhode Island
-        Hofstra University (@HUQuidditch)
-        Harvard University
-        UMASS Amherst (@UMASSQuidditch)
-        Tufts University (@TuftsQuidditch)
-        Brandeis University (@DeisWizengamot)
-        New York University (@NYUQuidditch)
-        Boston University (@BUQuidditch)
-        NY Badassilisks (@NYBadassilisks)
-        Rochester Institute of Technology (@RITQuidditch)
-        Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (@rpi_quidditch)
-        Boston Riot (@Boston_Riot)

With five pools and two days of non-stop action, games were back-to-back with little break. In case you missed anything, check out all the pool play action below.

One of the most shocking moments of the weekend was Middlebury’s loss to Vassar during one of their pool matches. Middlebury, known for their fierce strategy and dirty skills, have been top-dogs since being named champions of the past five (aka every) World Cups. With this loss bringing Middlebury away from the finals, it became anyone’s game. As Saturday unraveled, the number of teams who were fighting for a spot began to fall, bringing the event closer to its final match-up.

Sunday: Judgment Day
It all boiled down to this: months of practice, bruises, and sweat came down to one day - - one team fighting to prove that they were the best of the best in the Northeast. The question was what team will take home the title? Sunday brought a lot of interesting matches, including an All-Star match-up. The All-Star rosters were created by the captains of each team by choosing two of the “most outstanding” opponents they faced the previous day. The teams were divided into “New York Emperor’s New Grooves” and the “New England Rock Lobsters.”

The Final Match
Although every team who participated in the tournament played great, only two teams had the opportunity to play the Championship Match on Sunday afternoon. From the twenty-five extraordinary teams, the two that rose above the rest were Boston University and Emerson College! BU overpowered Tufts in the semi-finals 160-40, while Emerson quickly caught the Snitch to move on against Hofstra 50-20. Both colleges are from the Boston area and, as stated by the Commissioner of the International Quidditch Association on his Twitter feed, had “solidified [Boston’s] reputation as a [IQA] powerhouse.” With both teams having an incredible weekend so far, it was time for the showdown that would reveal the best of the NERC. Updates were flooding the Twittersphere throughout, until the BU Seeker decided that enough was enough.

Overall, all of the teams did an awesome job and the weekend was a huge success! The final standings of the event were:

1st place: Boston University
2nd place: Emerson College
3rd place: Hofstra University
4th place: Tufts University
(See below for the complete bracket from the tournament.)

However, while they may not have placed, seven other teams earned a bid to the World Cup:

SUNY Geneseo
Macaulay College
Boston Riot
NYU
RIT
UMASS
University of Rochester

With the teams being selected as qualifiers for the World Cup, we now begin the countdown to see what the Northeast is going to bring to Kissimmee when they meet the powerhouses from across the country!

ALSO! Today Quiyk is having a BIG CYBER MONDAY sale. Check it out before time is out! www.store.quiyk.com

And check out Benny’s post from last week: http://bit.ly/Scz9MG

What a Rivalry Means to Me.

bennyflyz — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:27:11 -0500

Flip a coin. Heads, I win. Tails, you win.

Tails.

After our quarter-finals match-ups at this weekend’s Northeast Regional Tournament at Fort Adams, RI, Ethan Sturm of the Tufflepuffs walked up to me and BU’s captains, Max Havlin and Katrina Bossotti and said something that particularly struck me: “We should’ve just stayed in Boston and played each other instead of driving all the way up here.”

I laughed, but it kind of stung in an odd way.

For most of the fall, Emerson, Boston University and Tufts have faced off as the leaders of the pack in terms of Boston quidditch. Quickly on, we found that we had three of the tougher teams in not only the state, but the regional as a whole. At the first tournament of the year, Tufts beat Emerson, Emerson beat Boston University and I breathed a deep sigh of relief to have found success at my first big challenge as the leader of ECQ when we beat Harvard in the finals. However, I knew that the difficulties would only get tougher from there on out.

When we beat Boston University in the semi-finals of the first Massachusetts Quidditch Conference Tournament, I knew we dodged a major bullet. Our offense was forcing poor shots and BU chasers would leak down the field for easy fast break opportunities. The snitch game back and we were down forty. With the attention focused on the seekers, of course, ECQ managed to scavenge a couple goals to pull within twenty. Our seeker narrowly dodged a bludger down around his ankles and ripped the tennis ball out. We had won.

Just like that, victory had been stolen right out from under BU’s feet. They went from up forty to down ten as the final score in a matter of mere minutes. We won, but we were damn lucky to do so.

At the next small tournament, we played Tufts again looking avenge our loss from the beginning of the season. This time, the score was set at 70-20 when the snitch came back. Next thing you know, Tufts scored three straight goals and then snagged the snitch. And this time, as some sort of sick karma would have it, Tufts stole victory out from under our feet. Losing on a snitch grab is a feeling incomparable to another sports moment.

This very tournament, one that was changed from bracket play to just round robin to preserve safety and health before Regionals, saw an interesting scenario arise between Boston University and Emerson College. We didn’t want to play each other. It wasn’t because we hated each other. No, that era of our rivalry is behind us. Today, BU and Emerson stand as friends but bitter rivals, but yet on this day, Katrina and I decided that our two teams shouldn’t face off.

We told each other that we’d like to, but we didn’t know if our teams could handle it. That if someone like Brenden Stack or David Fox got hurt, it would ruin Regionals. That we don’t hate each other anymore, but you get something special in your gut everytime you play a rival. You hit harder, you dive faster, you want to be on winning side of a snitch snatch that much more. We told each other a whole slew of reasons why our teams, the best rivalry in the IQA in my opinion, shouldn’t play in a simple Round Robin game. Before finally deciding to not hold our game, we agreed on one final thing: a Boston University and Emerson game just didn’t feel right unless it took place in an elimination game setting.

So after we survived our semi-finals match-up at Regionals against Hofstra on an amazing snitch grab by our Cameron Wong (once again proving the raw cruelty in quidditch), I walked over to the BU team still celebrating their finals birth after a win over Tufts. I saw Katrina and started our final “friendly” conversation of the day.

“You win?” I asked.

“Yeah, did you?” She replied.

“Yeah, just barely. So it’s us in the finals.”

“Just as it should be.”

Then, we hugged and congratulated each other one more time and I left to get my team ready just as Katrina began to prepare Boston University for our finals showdown. Just as it should have been.

Emerson College and Boston University have incredibly proud programs. From the first brooms up of the year, I knew that they would be a tough team to beat, just like every other year. But I also knew that Emerson was up for the task. Hey, we had already ended up on the lucky side once, why not again? When Ethan Sturm mentioned the odd irony of the three best Boston teams being in the Final Four of a Regional Tournament that consisted of twenty-two other teams, it made me think back on the game we decided to cancel. It made me think back on the game that we managed to win. And it gave me a large pit in the bottom of my stomach.

Part of me realizes that I didn’t want to play BU that second time because I didn’t want to subject either of our teams to the hands of a brutal snitch grab. If our teams took care of business, stayed focused and got a little lucky (Hofstra), it would be our teams facing off at the peak of NE Regional Quidditch. That was a game and moment we didn’t want to waste on a Round Robin game.

So there we were in the finals, captains at the middle of the field as the sun set over our beautiful fort. Just one game remained and the stakes were obvious. Win and you’re champion. I told my team that we worked all year for this game. To play BU in the finals of Regionals seemed fitting. We wanted BU in the finals, it seemed right

There’s a funny certainty about playing your rival. The game starts and someone gets off to a hot start. This time it was BU, last time it was Emerson. Then, the losing team claws back, refusing to lose. This time it was Emerson, last time it was BU.

Then a team comes inches away from pulling the snitch and sending a team into a hurried, frantic race to their seeker so they can raise him up. Then the catch is called off or, by some stroke of luck, the snitch escapes the grasps of sure defeat and you live another few minutes. The first time it was BU who almost caught it, this time it was Emerson. Then you stop breathing. You stop hearing the crowd. You beg and plead for your guy to just grab it. You want to hug and kiss and tackle him.

Then, they get it. Then, they tackle him. Then, they win.

The first time Emerson and BU played this year; we were on the right side of a snitch grab. This time, on the biggest stage of the season, BU grabbed it to catapult themselves into eternal glory as the first NE Regional Champion of all-time. We were heartbroken. We were crushed. Harry Greenhouse, the snitch, told us after that Ryan Barnada was inches from pulling it. Harry told us that he thought he was caught. Harry told us he thought we had for sure won.

There’s something particularly cruel about playing your rival. Even if one team is playing perfect quidditch (as BU did for much of that finals match-up), the other one always hangs around just waiting for their chance to change the course of history. This isn’t just a trait found in quidditch, but in sports as a whole. Rivals play to each other as equals, just trying to land that last punch.

You hope and you pray sometimes that you will be lucky enough to be on the winning side of rivalry game, no matter the context. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the semi-finals, finals or just a pool play game, you want that win because you don’t want that heartbreak. You want it so bad that it keeps you up at night thinking about what could’ve have gone differently. Heads, I win. Tails, you win.

Tails, you win.

I am by no means taking anything away from Boston University’s win this weekend. They proved that they were the best team this weekend, rolling through team after team—that much is undeniable. Their passing is unbelievable and they will clean up on every single one of your mistakes. Make no mistake, world, Boston University is a World Cup contender. But we’ll be hanging around, waiting for our next shot at our friends and regional champions. We’ll be waiting, hoping that we get that final snitch grab so we can get the chance once more to tackle our savior.

As rivals, you’ll always want to win. Sometimes you do; sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you’ll be inches away from glory and have it ripped out from under your very feet. That itself is a feeling you never want to feel. So you leave it on the field all day. Sometimes you flip and coin and it lands on your side. Sometimes it doesn’t. This time, it didn’t. But we’ll be back. I promise.

Heads, I win. Tails, you win.

Congratulations Boston University, you deserve this moment.

The Summer at Quiyk - New Videos, New Photos, and Our Promise to You

quiykadmin — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:45:00 -0400

Hey friends,

Today, we’re very excited to show you the culmination of a summer’s worth of hard work. We’re sure you already know, but this summer we were contracted by the International Quidditch Association to produce the IQA Quidditch Summer Games jerseys for the first ever international Quidditch tournament in Oxford, England. And today, we have never before seen video and photos of the tournament showcasing the awesome athletes and Quiyk product that was there. But first, we want to address the elephant in the room.

Unfortunately, like some things in life, not everything went according to plan. There were manufacturing delays (the first time we’ve ever had to deal with something like that), and regrettably the production of the uniforms was delayed. We take full responsibility for this, even though much of what went wrong was out of our control (if you want details, feel free to email us). We understand that many of you were (and possible still are) upset with us and it saddens us to think of our customers and fans angry with how we have conducted business. One of the biggest problems with the process was how we handled distribution and communication. Because the IQA was selling the jerseys they received many of the inquiries regarding ship times, and unfortunately, there was a series of communication breakdowns between us (the manufacturer) and you (our customers). We have spoken with them regarding this and have resolved it so that this will not happen again. Additionally, we have ironed out the wrinkles (so to speak) in our manufacturing process and resolve to never allow something like this to happen again. We were simply unprepared to handle the large amount of customizations and sincerely apologize for the mistake. We acknowledge that many people were affected by this miscalculation and we want to prove to the quidditch world that we really do care, not only about quidditch, but about those who love the sport just as much as we do.

Like I just said, we love Quidditch. The whole point of this company is that we want to see Quidditch succeed. We want to see it get recognition, to be taken seriously. Our goal is to further the advancement of Quidditch through standardization and legitimization, which we believe we can do through our products. We like to look at Quiyk as a company run by Quidditch kids who make products for Quidditch athletes. We know what Quidditch players want and need because we play the game ourselves. It is for that reason that we don’t just want to print quidditch designs on shirts and sell them to you. We want to improve the way the game is played through our product offerings. Just like the snitch shorts, we have some innovative products on the way that we are stoked to announce later this year. So please stick with us! Just like you, we want to see Quidditch improve and are doing what we can (in the best way we know how) to achieve that goal.

And so, without further ado, we want to show you what we did this summer. Love us or hate us, that’s your decision. We just want you to know that we care, and are here for a reason: to see Quidditch grow. Please check out our new promo video and Quiyk-exclusive, never before seen photos from the 2012 Quidditch Summer Games in Oxford, England.

Much <3

-Team Quiyk

The Video - Quiyk at the Summer Games

(Watch in HD please)

The Photos - Quiyk Exclusive Action Stills

(Taken by the awesome Bernard Taylor)

New Site! New Uniforms! Sale! Awesome!

quiykadmin — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:40:00 -0400

Friends! We have exciting news!

Today, we relaunched a freshly redesigned www.Quiyk.com (in HTML5 so it will work on all mobile devices) with sweet new content and brand new webstore! Go take an internet safari and explore all the new goodness!

Additionally, we’re launching a uniform creation service at www.BeQuiyk.com. If you’re looking for team uniforms, we can hook you and your team up as we offer three different options to accomodate all budgets and quality levels.

And to top it all off, we’re having our first sale (ever)! Everything site wide is 15% off if you use the code BeQuiyk2012. Check out the brand new webstore and get to it!

And most importantly, let us know what you think of our new cyber looks! We’re stoked about it and want to hear from you!

Foto Friday #7

quiykadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:44:18 -0400

This past week has been a little quiet around Quiyk HQ, but we’ve been anything but bored. We’ve got big things rolling out next week and even more things next month, and even bigger things in a couple months!

In the mean time, check out our buddy Jackson repping all Quiyk gear at the Emerson College Quidditch freshman showcase! Thanks to ECQ for the photos!

Foto Friday #6 - Winners of #Quiykworldwide!

quiykadmin — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:25:04 -0400

Hey guys!

For those of you who don’t know, we ran a contest this summer called #Quiykworldwide. We were inspired by all of you last spring who sent us pictures of you repping Quiyk all around the world, whether it was backpacking in New Zealand or exploring the Great Wall of China. It got us thinking about how cool it is that our product is 100% made in the USA, but is still able to reach all corners of the globe.

So we decided to challenge you all, our awesome fans and friendos to wear Quiyk wherever you went this summer, whether it was was to near to home or far across the world. The top three best photo submissions would win a free Quiyk Basics performance wear shirt and forever go down as legends in Quiyk lore.

So, here we have it. The winners of the first ever Quiyk contest, #Quiykworldwide!

1st Place - Jeff Brice aka Conway Cooperson - Unknown Cliff Wall Somewhere

This is definitely one of the most (if not the most) radical shot we received. Scaling cliff walls in a Quiyk Basic is what summer is all about!

2nd Place - Joanne Lam - Deserted Beach in Hong Kong

We’re suckers for jumping shots. Especially jumping shots at the beach. Especially especially jumping shots at the beach in Hong Kong. Here is Joanne Lam showing her mad ups and repping her Emerson College team uniform, on the other side of the world!

3rd Place - Nate Huntley - Santa’s Lap, The North Pole

Let’s be real. You can’t not grow a fu-man-chu mustache, go ALL THE WAY to the North Pole in your Quiyk Snitch Uniform, snap a pic in Santa’s Lap and not place in the top 3 of the #quiykworldwide contest. Mr. Huntley, we salute you.

Honorable Mentions

Rob Snitch lookin’ good on a roof top in Virginia!

Isabel rocking Quiyk on top of a volcano in Nicaragua!

Matt showing off his Quiyk Team USA uniform at a Dodgers game in Los Angeles!

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the contest! We’ll be making sure to have more where that came from! And stay tuned for a full album of our favorite entries to be posted on facebook tomorrow.

What September Means To Me

bennyflyz — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:52:11 -0400

September.

September means classes and books and homework. It means essays and all-nighters and energy drinks.

September means Quidditch starts again.

So, what does September really mean?

September means a fresh start.

It means everyone starts at undefeated records. Everybody has an equal shot at being the best team in Quidditch—even if it’s just for a week. Our brisk season of Autumn is a welcomed month to put away past disappointments and unfortunate snitch grabs. Now, we have try-outs. We have a new team. A team, that for even just a split second, has the potential to be the best team of all-time. Every new practice or team dinner is a chance to be better than you were before.

It’s a fresh start.

It’s a new family, full of smiles and blossoming friendships and a certain purposeful misunderstanding of the dauntingly impossible task that is front of them. Win the World Cup, it doesn’t sound too hard, right?

Wrong.

Winning the World Cup will be the hardest thing you ever do. Harder than your final exams or leaving your dog behind at home. And it will hurt even more when you come up short. Winning the cup means stays after practice and coming even earlier. It means dedicating yourself to a cause that reflects so much of your life. It means playing in the rain until the mud causes slips, slides and bruises. It means pushing yourself harder than you’ve ever gone before.

September means reaching for the stars.

When, by some stroke of luck, I made the World Cup squad my freshman year, the best coach (other than my dad, of course) I ever had taught me some very important things.

We will win, he said. If you don’t believe in yourself and your teammates, what do you have at all? But then he said, nothing is given to you and everything is earned.

Earn it.

So when we lost (by less than legitimate causes) I cried. Cry. Cry because this means so much to you. Cry because Quidditch means everything to you. But smile because every minute, every beat and every late practice is part of the adventure. And the adventure is everything.

Do whatever it takes to win. Stay up late, wake up early. Ride in vans in New York or Virginia or wherever your regionals are this year, it’s worth it. Worth every penny you spend, every tear you shed and every minute you give up. Give Quidditch everything you have and I promise you that our sport will give it right back.

When your seeker wins the game for you, tackle him. Don’t take your time throwing your triumphant hero over your shoulders for all the world to see. Don’t forget about the beaters because they probably did more than you’ll ever recognize. Cheer louder than ever for every player on your team because they’ve worked just as hard to make it on the field for this game or those regionals or this year’s World Cup.

Fundraise like hell. Bake Cookies. Teach it to high schools. Spread our cheer. Don’t forget you have to pay two hundred dollars a pop to fly to Florida. Don’t forget that your hard work on the field must be rivaled by your determination and efforts off the field. Make your school proud of you.

Make yourself proud.

Design dope uniforms. Go crazy. Go outside the box and do things you never thought possible. This Quidditch season only happens once. It is September now and you have no excuse to get started and never stop.

Never stop.

Never stop thinking, planning, scheming to make a better team. Make a better family. Make a better strategy. Plan how you’re going to stop Kedzie Teller even though he has dominated you time and time again. Plan how you’re going to get to Orlando. Think about your team and take them heights that have never been reached before.

It’s up to you.

You could sit back and let someone else take the reins. Watch as someone else leads the team you care so deeply and passionately about. You can just play if you want; go to a few practices here and there but not commit. Or, you can let everybody know how much it means to you. Show it to them on the pitch. But show your pride and eagerness at meetings too.

Broadcast it to the world.

September means new beginnings. A fresh start. The first chapter. This book yours to write, illustrate and publish. Make it your own. Make it a New York Times Bestseller. September means slam-dunks, beat bruises and the most magical snitch pulls you’ll ever see. September means Quidditch.

And September means everything to me.

Snitches Snatching Our Sport

bennyflyz — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:08:00 -0400

THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BY A GUEST BLOGGER - THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS BELOW DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS OF QUIYK LLC.

Think of a world without snitches in Quidditch.

Think really hard.

Well, at the very least, it means that Harry Potter’s career in the sport is probably far shorter.

However, this is not J.K. Rowling’s Quidditch anymore. Which, of course, is why our game, sport or whatever you call it needs a desperate facelift. I, myself, have envisioned a sport without snitches and I will be the first to tell you that it’s perfect.

Imagine it; go on, don’t be scared—do it. If you see what I see, you’ll see a sport that takes away the grab bag element of an unpredictable and unfair snitch. If there are two evenly matched teams playing a game, make no mistake: it will come down to a snitch grab. When was your last snitch grab without the controversy that followed? Every team, I’d guess, has been on either end of the spectrum—fuming over a loss that didn’t quite sit well. I know I’ve had my fair share of games, however, where I knew we got lucky.

We didn’t deserve to win, but we did. But that’s Quidditch, right? But that’s every sport, no? The best team doesn’t always win, silly. If the best team always won, why even play the game? Unfortunately, it means, more often than not, that game comes down to a simple coin flip. Heads, I win. Tails, you lose.

Tails.

We all lose.

The fact of the matter is such: the snitch is holding our sport back in so many particular ways that Roger Goodell would have outlandishly and outrageously banned it years ago. People love the organized chaos that occurs when the snitch comes back to the pitch, when, in reality, it leads to sloppy Quidditch. Snitches lead to pitfalls of unhappiness and bitter hard feelings. It leads to concussions, double concussions and more headaches than smiles.

Name another legitimate sport in which there is a supposed human element involved that is unbiased and fair at all costs. Well, to be honest, every sport has it, that is undeniable.

But that is because they are the referees.

To me, what irks me the most is that the outcome of the game directly comes down to the snitch. Is he paying attention? Is he being too flashy? Is he being fair?

At a game last weekend at the Northeast Fantasy Tournament, there was a controversial snitch grab in which a seeker pulled the ball from behind and instead of coming out cleanly, it got re-attached to the snitches uniform on the side. During which, the snitch has fallen and was now lying on his back, down. Needless to say, our team, on the wrong end of a tough call (even though it ended up being the right one), needed an explanation. And when the snitch ref said he wasn’t sure if the call was good, the snitch ran up into my co-captain’s face at a distance only separated by mere centimeters between their noses and yelled: “I’m a certified ref, I know what I’m doing, get out of my face.”

Is this really the presence we want deciding games? What if this happened on a bigger scale, like at the World Cup? What if it was in an elimination game? It just doesn’t sit right with me. It shouldn’t sit right with anyone.

I know that J..K. Rowling’s Quidditch would have a fit if we changed the rules, but (as Dan Hanson, and many others, have pointed out: her snitch was worth 150 and effectively eliminated the need for any other position in Quidditch) we have adopted a new game. We are a different Quidditch.

So here’s what we should do about it.

There are two solutions, both of which I would be relatively satisfied with.

Snitches should be worth 25 points. This argument has been done to death, so I will leave it at that.

The other, of course, is the elimination of the snitch entirely.

Let’s have halves and timeouts. Let’s allow for strategy to have a legitimate place in the game instead of during the five-minute warm-up you have before the game starts. Once it does, communication and tweaking almost always goes out the window. Timeouts would have a glorious spot in Quidditch, that is almost undeniable. You take away the unpredictably annoying aspect of the snitch and put the entire control of the game in the hands of the players who are actually competing. Wouldn’t that be something else?

I’m sure this will be an unpopular opinion, but I will always stick by it. If we want to be taken seriously, if we want to be considered a real sport, then we need to change the one aspect of it that isn’t found in any other sport. People will say that this is what makes our sport unique, but it also isn’t found in any other sport because it doesn’t make sense. Their sport wasn’t created out of fiction. Their sport understands that this doesn’t equal a fair sport that always creates favorable results.

It’s time to change the game, because our game deserves it.

Although, I don’t think it will ever happen, so I will continue playing the game I love and dreaming of a sport that could be so much better than it is.

Until then, I’ll be daydreaming.

Foto Friday #5

quiykadmin — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:21:13 -0400

Happy Friday! Today we’re posting a #quiykworldwide entry from our friend Matt who was wearing his Broomman shirt while hiking in the Olympic National Park in Washington State.

Don’t forget that there is just 2 weeks left to enter the #quiykworldwide contest to win a free Quiyk shirt! Details here.

Finally (Or; How to Define a Word)

bennyflyz — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 12:51:00 -0400

Finally.

Finally was the word that I finally was able to say as I finally collapsed onto an air mattress in a dorm room that I borderline snuck into at 2:30 in the morning.

If there was any such word to simply describe my experience this weekend between three states, six Quidditch games and hundreds of friends—that was it. Finally is a word that can go so many ways and defining it is just as hard as trying to make the last train in Boston—something that I finally found out can be nearly impossible and frustrating.

Finally.

Finally describes co-captain/coach/GM Zach and mine’s adventure to New York at 6:30am on Saturday morning. We woke up late and started the journey under black clouds and a parking ticket that would suck away any happiness that someone could feasibly contain that early. Finally describes navigating our way through Randall’s Island. Finally describes sitting through the blistering heat, sweating through your shirt for the fourth time.

Finally defines meeting people that you should have been friends with a long time ago. I had chatted with Mike—errr, Yada, at various tournaments before but reminded me within the five minutes of being official teammates: “Benny, you gotta call me Yada or I’m never going to respond.” Befriending the Maryland kids—finally—from Emily and Pat to meeting Harry Greenhouse (the main Boston Summer Quidditch organizer) seemed overdue.

Finally describes getting to play with my buddy and travel partner, Matt Lowe, once again. This is now the third different team that I’ve been lucky enough to play with Matt on (fourth if you count the Quiyk team) and it gets sweeter every time. Every alley-oop or pinball passing just seems to further our chemistry and I always look forward to getting back on the pitch with my bearded ally.

Finally describes teaming up with Sarah Kneiling and Matt Ziff, Team USA’s star beaters, and getting to have that protection and reliability behind me is a feeling that goes without saying. Finally describes hugging Sarah after months of wondering if LSU and Emerson would ever get a chance to play. We may never play against each other, but we played together and I will take that ten out of ten times.

Finally describes missing out on playing with Zach D’Amico. It means waiting again for another chance, another team, another tournament in which we can finally put our efforts together instead of against each other. Since Zach and I became friends after Champions Series, we’ve played together countless times in pretty much everything other than Quidditch. And, today, we must wait again—our finally is not here yet.

Someday.

Finally describes showering in stalls at Grand Central Station before hopping on a four-hour bus ride that slowly dissolved into five when our air conditioning broke down. Finally describes wearing your shorts as a shirt because the air conditioning started working soon after our driver opened the emergency exits on top of the bus for circulation and shivering took over most of my bodily functions.

Finally describes showering in a real shower after sneaking past security at Emerson and digging through a storage room for Matt’s air mattress at 2am after missing the last train after running from the bus station in a dead sprint. Finally describes sitting on a train at Downtown Crossing for fifteen minutes and then having it finally leave as soon as you get off. Finally describes eventually finding your way out of Chinatown, lost as can be in an area that you’ve spent a significant amount of time in for two years.

Finally can only aptly describe your frustration and failures to travel home. It can only understand your plight and only slightly knows what it means to have to leave your team and friends ten minutes before the finals starts. Finally almost made you feel like, for two whole seconds, that the entire trip wasn’t worth it. And then, finally, it hits you: it was worth every second.

I got to spend the whole day with new friends and old. I became friends with Joe from Villanova, Kristin from Macaulay and David from Penn State. I finally got to chat with Jayke from Hofstra. I got thirteen or so new friends yesterday at the very least, and that’s worth a miserable few hours on a bus. Even one friend is worth getting lost in Chinatown.

Meeting these new people had been a long time coming. It finally culminated in a second place finish and a finals appearance, but it really exists on a level so much greater than Quidditch. It’s a new family. It’s new relationships. It’s a new adventure—one that I won’t forget soon. It’s pouring water bottles over you in Times Square. It’s turf burns that refuse to go away and it’s those reminders that tell you that every pass, goal and high five was worth every missed train, turn or hour you could’ve been sleeping.

Honestly, I love Quidditch as much as the next person but it’s often not for the sporting element. I love Quidditch because it has the power to bring hundreds of strangers together like the Northeast Fantasy Tournament did yesterday and turn them into prideful allies and opponents. I love Quidditch because it can create families and bonds that are never broken. It’s not about destination; it’s about the journey.

And as I drifted off to sleep, I remember uttering the word finally one last time. But it wasn’t because I was finally back in Boston, finally in bed or off that damn bus. I said finally for so many other reasons on Saturday night and every single one of them was worth it.

Finally can describe so many things, but above of all, it means you.

Jam City Swag.

Finally.

Check out our new website right meow!

quiykadmin — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:53:30 -0400

Check out our new website right meow!