Quidditch readies for World Cup

Photo courtesy of the Winthrop Quidditch team’s Facebook page.By Jeff Brodeur
brodeurj@mytjnow.com

Who says Quidditch isn’t a sport?

 Winthrop’s Quidditch team is taking a leap towards silencing all of their non-believers by competing on the national stage next weekend in New York City.

The two day tournament (Nov. 12-13) will be held on Randall’s Island and comprise of approximately 120 of the best high school and college Quidditch teams from around the globe.  The bracket that Winthrop will be competing in includes Green Mountain College, Kutztown University, Swarthmore University, and Illinois State. 

A total of 16 Winthrop students will be making the long awaited trip up to the Big Apple, including mathematics major, Makenzie Davenport.

“The trip is absolutely free for people to go,” she said. “We have funding in our account that paid for the hotel and transportation up there.  All the members have to do is have money for transportation while in the city and food.”  

Davenport and the rest of her teammates have been raising money for the trip by organizing car washes, collecting dues and selling T-shirts in preparation for the tournament that they have been anticipating since last September. 

The 2011 Quidditch World Cup is currently in its sixth year as an official event, and has grown exponentially, currently representing 22 states and four nations. Over the course of the two days, the tournament will feature over 450 games and more than 2,000 students on their nine different fields. 

The weekend of family fun will also include live Harry Potter themed music, Quidditch merchandise, Quidditch lessons, as well as entertainment and food. Worldcupquidditch.com said the event could best be described as “a cross between the Super Bowl and a medieval festival.”

This will be the first time that Winthrop will be competing in a national tournament, so while nerves may be higher than expectations, Davenport believes her team has a lot of potential.

“We have a very deep team, so many of our subs could start as well and we wouldn’t miss a beat,” she said. “I think we will be a little bit nervous but once we are there and the commissioner yells ‘brooms up’ all the nervous will switch to adrenaline.”

Regardless of the end results, anytime a club sport makes it to the national stage is an accomplishment in itself, and the team is having fun in the process.

“It feels awesome, I’m so proud of my team and how we are a close- nit dedicated team,” said Davenport. “I can’t believe its almost here and I’m ready to just go play other schools and get to enjoy the experience.”

So while much of Winthrop’s campus is celebrating the various Homecoming festivities, be sure to keep your fellow Quidditch athletes in mind as they compete among the best of the best.