Chasing Perfection

This round saw three GMs pick up beaters, and not necessarily the ones we expected to. We are starting to see regional diversity, with no more than three picks from a single region this week and a new region represented. Let’s get into it:

Round 3, Pick 17: David Fox, Emerson College (K) GM: Alex Wilson Previous Picks: Sarah Holub, David Gilbert

With commentary by Ethan Sturm and Third Bludger Rewind, Fox’s stock has taken a big hit in the last week or so. Fox is a proficient passer in the context of moving the quaffle around the perimeter of the defense, but isn’t the kind of player who will thread a pass through traffic to a teammate by the hoops. Although he plays keeper for Emerson, his best position may actually be an off-ball chaser who can make the second pass and plays as a point defender on defense.

With this pick, Wilson hasn’t filled his biggest need in a distributor who can get Fox and Holub the ball. Wilson also has chosen 3 support players. He’ll also need to grab some beaters but without a pick for another 2 weeks,  he’ll need to make some great picks to put him back in the game. The good news for Wilson is that Fox may be one of the best drivers in the game. If Wilson picks up a great distributor later in the draft and Fox leads Emerson to a deep WC7 run, this pick will be validated in the face of strong criticism from the likes of Sturm and Third Bludger Rewind authors Lee and Seto. The key will be seeing how Fox fares against teams outside of the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic.

Round 3, Pick 18: Katrina Bossotti, Boston University (B) GM: Amanda Dallas Previous Picks: Tony Rodriguez, Max Havlin

Bossotti has pretty much cemented herself as the best female beater in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic combined. Her dominance allowed BU to play a two-female beater line last year with great success. The emergence of Havlin has led her to successfully play a lesser role so far.

Pairing Bossotti with Havlin lets Dallas solidify her starting beating lineup, and gives Dallas the chance to grab a point defender and off-ball chasers who would be great fits with Rodriguez. We really like Team Dallas so far, and are eager to see her add some pieces to combine with her star keeper. Depending on what chasers are drafted in the next week, she may not have fallen behind in the quaffle department by picking two beaters early on.

Round 3, Pick 19: Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M University (C) GM: Dan Hanson Previous Picks: Drew Wasikowski, Chris Seto

In Kifer Gregoire, Hanson acquired an excellent all-around chaser who is physically and technically on par with other quaffle players drafted in the first two rounds. Gregoire’s speed, like that of his Quiyk fantasy teammates, means his opponents will have to find a way through him rather than around him. This is easier said than done against a point defender who boasts a similar build to Kody Marshall - short but powerful. On offense, Gregoire’s agility and finishing ability allows him to cut through defenses and score with ease.

Not only does Gregoire join his A&M teammate Drew Wasikowski, but all three of Hanson’s players also joined forces on the Burgundy team at the past summer’s Southwest fantasy tournament. We don’t want to exaggerate the familiarity that can be built in two days of playing together, but these two, along with second-round pick Chris Seto, have proven the ability to be successful on the same team. While Seto earned considerable recognition by being credited for Burgundy’s run to the finals, Gregoire was the one who turned snitch ranges losses in pool play into close victories in bracket play With Seto providing hypothetical protection for Gregoire in the coming Quiyk bracket matchups, the underrated utility seeker is a viable choice to best elite competition when it matters.

Gregoire and Wasikowski are both strong point defenders, which may make this pick seem slightly redundant, so Wasikowski may be shunted over to keeper. Having stated his flexibility in changing Wasikowski’s role, it will be interesting to see if Hanson picks up a top-notch keeper to play alongside Wasikowski or if he intends to hand Wasikowski the green headband.

Round 3, Pick 20: Chris Rhodes, Baylor University (B) GM: Evan Bell Previous Picks: Brittany Ripperger, Brendan Stack

Bell joins fellow GM Dallas in playing the chemistry card by drafting a pair of beaters who usually play together in their club teams. The chemistry argument is compelling, but it’s also remarkably boring. Speculating about how talented players from different teams would work together is part of the fun in this draft, and we’d like it more if the GMs mixed it up!

Round 3, Pick 21: Hope Machala, Lone Star Quidditch Club (B) GM: Beto Natera Previous Picks: Stephen Bell, Mollie Lensing

Speaking of mixing it up, Natera is now 3 for 3 in reaching for a Lone Star teammate and has temporarily pulled ahead of fellow GM Dugie in the contest for the title of Biggest Homer. Machala burst onto the national scene as one of the University of Texas’s beaters who had bludger control 100% of the game against UCLA’s beaters, who many consider to be the best beaters ever (although Andy Abayan didn’t play and Kara Levis could barely move). Machala played a role as a “back beater” who made sure that her team kept bludger control.

While she is good in that role, her defensive responsibilities for both Texas and LSQC have hardly been expansive, which makes sense when you are surrounded by such dominant quaffle players. It’s difficult to imagine Natera being unable to find a beater who can play this role similarly well much later in the draft. If Machala is meant to be Mollie Lensing’s backup, Natera wasted his third round pick on a luxury, rather than a necessity. But if he plans to follow through on his hint that Lensing and Machala could play together, then Natera clearly paid no heed to our Round 2 Roundup, in which we made the case for him to pick a fast, aggressive beater with a strong arm to complement Lensing’s brains.

Round 3, Pick 22: Adam Richardson, University of California, Los Angeles (C) GM: Andrew Canto Previous Picks: Augustine Monroe, Kody Marshall

A quick, physical player with a strong shot, UCLA’s Adam Richardson was a key player last season for the Western Cup winners and World Cup runners-up. His impact on offense and at the point of the defense earned him the nod for The Eighth Man’s Third Team All-Americans. Richardson is perhaps not as adept at driving as his teammates, but his superior ability to shoot accurately from range keeps defenders honest and adds an extra dimension to Team Canto’s attack.

As captain of UCLA this season, Richardson has taken more of a back-seat approach to competition, organizing the team from the sideline more often than not. In brief minutes he has shown flashes of the ability we saw last season, but for Canto’s sake, Richardson must lead by example and play a more visible role in UCLA’s success this spring - especially given the unlikelihood of the Bruins matching last year’s lofty heights.

Round 3, Pick 23: Zach Luce, University of California, Los Angeles (K) GM: Zach D’Amico Previous Picks: Vanessa Goh, Peter Lee

D’Amico followed up Canto’s selection with Richardson’s UCLA teammate Zach Luce to fill his hole at keeper. Luce probably played his best last April at World Cup, where he was able to hit a series of tough shots to keep UCLA in the game against Texas. That game highlighted his greatest strength - his shooting ability. Luce is lethal from the edge of the keeper zone and his Quiyk teammate Peter Lee can clear a path to get him there.

Although not an elite distributor who can carry its offense on every possession like Rodriguez can, Luce can still pass the ball and often makes a quick secondary pass to an off-ball chaser near him, looking for the ball back to get an open look at a shot. With this pick, D’Amico should also look for another chaser who can be comfortable handling the ball and dishing it back and forth with Luce.

This team’s weakness is still in the size department. Although Goh is a physical player who can take down anyone who underestimates her and tries to truck through her, this team still lacks the size to hang with some of the other teams in the draft. Luce is a solid tackler, but lacks the pure athleticism to consistently stop most players he will face in this draft. D’Amico should look for a tough point defender or another beater with his next pick.

Round 3, Pick 24: Daniel Daugherty, Bowling Green State University (C) GM: Hank Dugie Previous Picks: Simon Arends, Chris Morris

Not only is Dugie’s pick not a former University of Texas player, but he’s also the first selection from the Midwest. Not content to rest on his laurels after showing D’Amico what a “best available chaser” really looks like, Dugie took our retrospective advice to heart, showed Natera how to diversify in sourcing talent, and leads the pack in showing up fellow GMs. Bravo, Hank.

Dan Daugherty was arguably the biggest star of World Cup VI. With the ability to hit incredible long shots as well as make blocks in his own hoops by coming out of the middle of nowhere, the Eighth Man’s Sportsman of the Year became a Quidditch household name. Undeniably the most popular in the Midwest and as one of the best chasers, he plays an interesting role in this team. Dugie’s reference to Daugherty’s performance in the “Hero Ball Bowl” against the Lost Boys alludes to the fact that Daugherty carries the Bowling Green offense. Without the burden of having to carry his own team and bringing the ball up, Daugherty can play a smaller role where he can most importantly be a floor spacer who stretches opposing beaters and chasers, but will he thrive in that role?

WIth his first three picks, it seems that Dugie is picking the best players left in the draft as opposed to looking for fit and chemistry. Dugie does have three fantastic quaffle players who may or may not be able to play well with each other. What he doesn’t have are any beaters or female players, players who are crucial in a team’s composition. This is a team that would be fascinating to watch play together, as the players don’t fill any obvious complementary roles so far. Unfortunately, we won’t get the chance to see it for ourselves, which means voters will have to decide whether to take Dugie’s word that the talent he has collected will be cohesive. Then again, there are still 13 rounds for this team to take shape and Dugie could surprise us all by leaving it late to show his hand with some complementary picks.

Closing Thoughts

Introduction

Round 2 is over! With the first round over, we expected GMs to pick contrasting players to fill other needs and skillsets that their first round picks lacked. With popular picks, especially those of male beaters, Round 2 was filled with many predictable picks of great players. There isn’t much debate that these following players are some of the best at their positions.

Round 2, Pick 9: Chris Morris, Lone Star Quidditch Club (C.../K/B/S?) GM: Hank Dugie

Dugie’s selection of utility chaser Chris Morris seemed to signal his intent to draft the best available talent, without worrying about position or role. The key to this strategy revolves around Dugie’s claim that both Morris and his previous pick, Simon Arends, have the athleticism, talent, and versatility to play any position or role at least as well as any other player he could have picked. If this is the case, Dugie will have earned an advantage by freeing himself up to take the best player available in many rounds to come while other GMs scramble to fill holes in their rosters.

However, he would be wise to fill his own roster with players who will allow Morris to play in his best role, which seems to be some form of chaser. Morris has certainly shown to be a capable keeper when personnel shortages have forced LSQC or UT to play him there, but it is also a position dominated by those who exclusively ply their trades there. Would he measure up to Tony Rodriguez, Stephen Bell, or Augustine Monroe as a shot stopper and ball handler? As for the possibility of playing Morris as a beater, Dugie will have to come up with a stronger case than he “has logged minutes [there before]” to sway voters.

Nevertheless, Morris is an exceptional athlete, a proven winner, and a leader who can provide a strong foundation for Dugie’s team. It will likely take several weeks, if not more, before we get a clearer idea of Dugie’s team composition.

Round 2, Pick 10: Peter Lee, Lost Boys (B) GM: Zach D’Amico

D’Amico made the first move on an elite male beater in the game by choosing Lee. Lee, who had played at Vassar College but really burst out onto the national scene at the fantasy Firemercs tournament last July, has justified his position as an elite male beater this season thus far. An elite male beater can affect the game in many ways, perhaps most importantly securing bludger control for his team as well as amplifying the play of the quaffle players’ offense and defense. That Lee is quick and smart helps his well-rounded game.

There are a few downsides to D’Amico’s selection. The first is that he mentioned to neglect Lee’s most valuable skill, his catching ability, which separates him from most other beaters. Lee also isn’t the quickest player out there, which might explain why he doesn’t even start for his own team. Moreover, with Lee and Goh headlining his first two picks, D’Amico’s team may have the skill, but doesn’t have the size that other teams do. It’ll also be interesting to see if D’Amico tries to start a two-male beater lineup, which is the type of versatility that choosing Goh offers.

D’Amico hasn’t through his first two rounds found an elite ball-carrier who can get past an elite point defender that many of the other Quiyk fantasy teams have to get to the hoops and score or distribute to someone like Goh. Who D’Amico chooses as a keeper or the primary ballhandler in the next few rounds may determine his team’s ceiling.

Round 2, Pick 11: Kody Marshall, Lone Star Quidditch Club (C) GM: Andrew Canto

If there’s a player who punches well above his weight, it’s Kody Marshall. Chasing Perfection has seen him literally run through entire defenses and score with bodies draped all over him, despite his diminutive stature. It’s something he does with nonchalant regularity; when Marshall drives, he combines the raw strength of legs that never stop moving with a low center of gravity and ends up an unstoppable force. To be fair, we’ve also seen him get tackled on numerous occasions, but only when he chooses to stop driving and make an accurate pass with a defender wrapped around him, which only highlights his awareness and unselfishness.

On defense, Marshall brings the same brains, power, and technique to defending the point, where he is one of the best in the league. Canto’s pick reunites Marshall with former teammate Augustine Monroe, forming a duo that has proven to be quite deadly in the last couple of years. So far, Canto is one of the few GMs who won’t have to answer questions about his players fitting in and combining effectively with one another. In this early stage, he has arguably the strongest quaffle game, so we expect to see his next pick to address his beater needs.

Round 2, Pick 12: Mollie Lensing, Lone Star Quidditch Club (B) GM: Beto Natera

When Evan Bell took Brittany Ripperger in the first round, we questioned the logic of using his first pick on a female beater, even one as talented as Ripperger. We have no such qualms with Natera’s selection of Mollie Lensing here. In fact, she is the pick of the round for us, and here’s why:

Lensing has great speed, agility, and arm strength, but more importantly the ability to put it all together into the complete package. Her movement and positioning is impeccable, which is why LSQC trusts her with their only bludger when they don’t have control. She knows how to pressure opponents and rush them into a turnover, and when to throw the bludger.

What we love most about this pick though, is the years of experience and leadership qualities she boasts. Lensing was the captain of Texas A&M prior to graduation. After that she coached their B team, the Silver Phoenixes. Finally, she co-captained the US team at the 2012 Summer Games. Her communication and command of the field means Natera can have his choice of a deep field of male beaters. He won’t need the best in that position; he can simply select the most coachable and athletic of the bunch to complement Lensing’s understanding of the game and the duo should be competitive with the best combinations other GMs can field. Lensing’s leadership also fills a void in the team following Natera’s first pick of keeper Stephen Bell, who isn’t known for that quality. While Bell is the two-way centerpiece of the team, Natera just picked up the engine that will make it run. Lensing’s season may be over as she is set to spend six months out of the country, but she’s done enough this past fall to cement her place among the sport’s current best.

Round 2, Pick 13: Brendan Stack, Boston University (K) GM: Evan Bell

Stack headlines the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic’s premier team, the Boston University Terriers, whose play can be characterized by strong, aggressive beater play which leads to turnovers that lead to easy fast break points. Stack is the leader of the pack in that whenever there’s a turnover, the rest of his chasers are already running to the opposing hoops, confident that Stack will deliver a perfect pass.

Other positives include the fact that his mobility lets him intercept errant passes, but that he’s also big enough to take down David Fox of Emerson, who has a body-build more similar to that of a Southwest player. Moreover, his elite stamina and ability to stay on the field for whole games means that Bell doesn’t need to pick another keeper until much later in the draft, if at all.

However, Stack, who is well-known in the Northeast, is the least well-known second-round pick that has been chosen so far, and may even be the least well-known pick through 3 or 4 rounds. This may change with a deep run at World Cup, but Bell is taking a risk with the popular vote. Furthermore, we believe that Bell could’ve picked up Stack at a later round, at least in the third round. Thus, we believe that Bell should’ve been able to pick an elite male beater such as Havlin to pair with Ripperger or a mobile point defender like Gregoire to pair with Stack.

Round 2, Pick 14: Chris Seto, Lost Boys (B) GM: Dan Hanson

After Lensing’s pick, the choice of Chris Seto by Dan Hanson was probably as predictable as Dugie picking another University of Texas player with his second round pick. Hanson probably feels incredibly lucky that Seto had fallen that far, and he’s right to feel that happy.

As a first-team All-American this past fall, the two attributes that differentiate Seto are his speed and his smarts. His blinding speed makes him possibly the fastest beater in the country. As perhaps the smartest beater in the country (not an exaggeration), he uses that advantage to retain bludger control and play effective defense with his quickness and shorter beats, allowing him to collect ricochets more quickly.

Furthermore, with a strong showing at Southwest Fantasy as the runner-up MVP (after being allowed to switch to beater on the second day), playing at Emerson College (albeit as a chaser/keeper) through undergrad, and now for the Lost Boys, Hanson has helped himself win a portion of the Southwest, Northeast, and West votes, respectively.

By pairing Seto and Wasikowski, Hanson has the pre-existing chemistry of the Burgundy Southwest Fantasy team, and now can focus on choosing either a defensive keeper or a female chaser or beater to supplement his two stars.

Round 2, Pick 15: Max Havlin, Boston University (B) GM: Amanda Dallas

Picking who most would agree is the best male beater in the Northeast, Dallas chose Havlin as her second-round pick to pair with Tony Rodriguez. Having an aggressive beater who can support Rodriguez on offense by beating elite point defenders who can wrap up Rodriguez, and on defense by forcing bad passes that Rodriguez make Havlin and Rodriguez a good fit. Havlin also inarguably has better arm strength than both of the male beaters picked before him, Lee and Seto.

The downsides are that Havlin makes a lot of long throws, which can lead to long ricochets. His aggressiveness also lets him get beat on the other side of the field, and while his catching ability is better than most, it is not elite the way Lee’s is.

In the end, pairing Rodriguez with an elite male beater is a very good idea, which led to great results at Firemercs last July, when Rodriguez as a captain surprisingly chose Lee as his first pick, and won the tournament. If Dallas wants to follow the Kryptonyan model of a two-male beater lineup, she’ll need to choose some competent female chasers to supplement Rodriguez. Otherwise, she’s free to pick up preferably a point defender.

Round 2, Pick 16: David Gilbert, Baylor University (B) GM: Alex Wilson

With the snake draft finally winding its way back to Wilson, he chose beater David Gilbert. As we’ve said before, the positioning, speed, and awareness of Baylor’s beaters are what make its unique defensive system so effective. Gilbert is no exception, and he also boasts a cannon arm.

In the Baylor captain, Wilson has picked up someone very used to having bludger control for large majorities of games, and will surely feel he can compete with the other GMs who have selected beaters thus far. Like D’Amico though, Wilson currently lacks a distributor, a shot-stopper, and a physical presence in the quaffle game. With the second of his back-to-back picks imminent, expect him to address at least two of those needs.

Closing Thoughts

California All-State Team

In response to Luke Changet’s all-state Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio teams, we decided to rack our brains and create a roster that was composed of the best players that California has to offer. We got to see a lot of these players when we made the trek to Snow Cup a few weeks ago, and firmly believe that only with the exception of Texas, California contains some of the best that quidditch has to offer.

The name of the game for this roster is versatility - with some of the best male beaters in the country, as well as females who can seamlessly transition between beating and chasing, the All-California team can play with any gender combination, whether it be a two-male or female beater lineup without hesitation.

Current players on official rosters only, names within positions in alphabetical order.

Keepers

Ren Bettendorf, Santa Barbara Blacktips Tony Rodriguez, Lost Boys Zach Luce, UCLA

Honorable Mentions: Nebraska Huggins, Thundercats; Ryan Parsons, USC; Salvador Sánchez Jr., UC Berkeley.

The keeper position contains All-American Tony Rodriguez and Zach Luce, who have solidified themselves as perhaps the two best keepers in the Western Region. Ren Bettendorf also impressed at Western Cup, helping the Blacktips get the #1 seed after pool play (and did you see his flip shot at Snow Cup?)

The toughest decision here was the omission of Nebraska Huggins, who we believe has potential to become one of the best keepers in the Western Region. He already is one of the West’s best drivers, and his football experience coupled with natural athleticism helps him blow by many point defenders as well as hit mid-range shots. However, his lack of experience as well as his distributive skills left him off the list this year. Hopefully, we can see him in this roster come next year.

Male Chasers

Alex Browne, Lost Boys Brandon Scapa, UCLA David Demarest, USC Jake Tieman, Lost Boys Jeff Lin, Lost Boys Tye Rush, Riverside

Honorable Mention: Alex Richardson, Long Beach Funky Quaffles; Ben Harding, Santa Barbara Blacktips; Corey Osto, UCLA; Michael Binger, UCLA.

A position of depth, the 3 Lost Boys chasers have impressed this year. Browne has seamlessly transitioned from UCLA’s keeper to a chaser who can move well off the ball as well as make the second pass to find his teammate for an even better shot. Lin is one of the West’s best point defenders, and his hustle has him picking up loose balls to do the dirty work. Tieman plays a physical game that helped him excel and be UCLA’s most effective chaser against the Longhorns last April, when he was able to drive into Texas’s defense without being taken down. Scapa, who plays 3 positions for UCLA, is possibly its most important player. Rush is a fantastic off-ball chaser whose speed and vertical leap make him very difficult to defend, and he is Riverside’s most lethal scorer. Demarest is an incredible athlete, who plays at a high level on both sides of the ball while excelling in any role necessary.

Female Chasers

Alessandra Ché Pisaño, Long Beach Funky Quaffles Missy Sponagle, Lost Boys Vanessa Goh, Lost Boys

Honorable Mention: Katelynn Kazane, UCLA; Sarah Sherman, USC; Tiffany Chow, Lost Boys.

Female chasing is where California lacks elite depth, but it is top heavy. Goh and Sponagle, who both starred for Team USA a couple of years ago, are in the top tier of female chasers across the country and are no-brainer picks. The fact that they are versatile and can also play well at the beater positions well only adds to their value.

Pisaño may be the most surprising pick on this roster - but her smart off-ball movement, above-average passing skills, and toughness (did you see her get up right after getting tackled repeatedly at Snow Cup?) showed to us that she deserves to be on this roster.

Male Beaters

Chris Seto, Lost Boys David Saltzman, Stanford Michael Mohlman, Lost Boys Peter Lee, Lost Boys

Honorable Mention: Brandon Rylee, Thundercats; Logan Trudell, Thundercats; Michael Aguilera, Long Beach Funky Quaffles; Nick Metzler, USC.

The Western Region has a reputation for having some of the nation’s best beaters, and in our opinion, it is also Calfornia’s deepest position. Any of these beaters, including all of those in the honorable mention, can excel in any of other regions. Seto and Mohlman, who didn’t get enough attention (due to Rodriguez and DiCarlo) for their important roles in reaching the Elite 8 last year, were able to both impress in the Southwest. Saltzman also impressed at Western Cup with his smart play, strong arm, and ability to catch bludgers.

Female Beaters

Alyssa Burton, Riverside Amanda Nagy, Lost Boys Sarah Simko, UCLA

Honorable Mention: Kyrie Timbrook, Silicon Valley Skrewts; Madeleine Wojdak, Lost Boys; Misty Gray, Lost Boys.

Another position of depth, Burton impressed us when she played well as a beater alongside Rylee of the Thundercats at Snow Cup. Nagy has transitioned from an already good chaser to a top-tier female beater. Simko has done a great job of keeping UCLA in games with her beating so far this year.

Seekers

August Luhrs, USC Steve DiCarlo, Lost Boys

Honorable Mention: Chris Lock, Santa Barbara Blacktips; Jerome Gage, Riverside

Every week, we’ll be covering the Quiyk fantasy draft, which is explained in more detail here. Fantasy tournaments have become an intriguing staple of quidditch, and with all-star teams sprouting around different regions of the country, the Quiyk fantasy draft is the best of both worlds. On an also more important note, it’ll allow players in the later rounds who aren’t as well known to be introduced to the quidditch world before the World Cup.

With the whole quidditch world watching, it’ll be interesting to see how the 8 general managers selected will be able to mold and create elite teams. While the GMs will have a popular vote to worry about, Chasing Perfection will be primarily focused on evaluating the gameplay aspect of their picks. Without further ado, here’s a look at how the first round panned out:

Round 1, Pick 1: Sarah Holub, Lone Star Quidditch Club (C)

GM: Alex Wilson

Wilson shocked the Quidditch world last Monday when he chose Sarah Holub as his first pick. It was a polarizing pick that was scrutinized by analysts and observers alike. Wilson then described that he made picked a female chaser over a male beater, two positions that analysts have deemed scarce, due to the fact that “the number of elite girls that can put points on the board is lower than the number of elite or near elite male beaters.” He then later stated that he didn’t think he would win, and that he wouldn’t make any picks based on the popular vote, but that he’d rather “draft the way that will get me the best team.”

Sarah Holub is inarguably one of the best female chasers in Quidditch right now. However, Chasing Perfection strongly believes that by picking Holub, Wilson failed on both fronts. It’s a pick that will neither help him win nor get him the best team.

Don’t get us wrong. Holub is a fantastic, complete player. She’s probably the best female chaser on the end of an alley-oop. There is every reason to believe that Holub is more adept in each of the following areas - driving, distributing, and tackling - than all but a handful of other females, and clearly better than all her peers at all three combined (with one possible exception).

However, that’s the problem. She wasn’t chosen by Wilson to distribute or drive the ball, nor to be the main point defender or guard the hoops. If she were among the sport’s best in any of those roles, she would have filled those roles for the University of Texas or Lone Star Q.C., instead of consistently cutting to the hoops for a quick putaway. It’s not the fact that Holub was chosen first, it’s the idea that Wilson chose her as a glorified role player. Armed with the first pick, Wilson should’ve picked a Lebron type of player, one who drastically impacts both sides of the pitch, elevates the level of play of his/her teammates, and can make a big tangible impact on defense. Holub is simply not that player. On the plus side, selecting a female with the first overall pick of a league-wide draft may have won Wilson some feminist votes.

Round 1, Pick 2: Tony Rodriguez, Lost Boys (K)

GM: Amanda Dallas

This was the pick that Alex Wilson should’ve made. Tony Rodriguez impacts both sides of the pitch in ways that force opponents to adjust their play. He’s been deemed quidditch’s best offensive player by JackthePhan, and it’s easy to see why. Looking at the highlights, it’s easy to see why. He’s a dynamic scorer that’s able to dunk the ball over opposing keepers, can hit the mid-range shot to stretch opposing beaters, and may be even better at distributing than he is at scoring. The distribution aspect is particularly important, as this is what really sets him apart from the very good players. He really elevates his teammates, and makes them look a lot better than they would be with other keepers.

On the defensive side of the field, his long arms, high vertical jump, superb instincts, and anticipation help him be arguably the best shot blocker in the game today. Looking at the film, it is true that Rodriguez isn’t a top tier tackler the way that Drew Wasikowski and Kody Marshall are. We also disagree with JackthePhan’s assessment that this makes Rodriguez a sub-par defensive keeper. As a keeper (and not the point defender), Rodriguez shouldn’t be expected to make a lot of tackles the way a point chaser defender is. The way he discourages opposing teams from making passes through the hoops more than makes up for that.

Regardless of his supporting cast, Rodriguez is a bulletproof pick, as he can both carry a team like he did for the Lost Boys last year and make his teammates better by drawing defenses and dishing passes as he has done for a stronger LB chaser line this year. On top of that, he is maybe the best shot blocker in quidditch, the most important defensive quality a keeper can have.

Round 1, Pick 3: Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M University (C)

GM: Dan Hanson

Like Rodriguez, Wasikowski is exactly the type of player you would want to build your team around. His physical attributes are clear to see - tall, muscular, and incredibly fast - his athleticism justifies his lofty place in the draft order. With great tackling form, an accurate shot, and strong passing that was recently highlighted by Third Bludger Rewind, Wasikowski has the technical skills to match. However, Hanson hit the nail on the head when he pointed to veteran of three world cups’ leadership and experience. Wasikowski’s mental aptitude isn’t limited to smart decision-making in games; he brings out the best in his teammates through his communication, cool head, passion, and empathy. Anyone who has met the Texas A&M captain can attest that Wasikowski’s character invites trust, an essential ingredient in getting others to follow one’s lead.

Round 1, Pick 4: Brittany Ripperger, Baylor University (B)

GM: Evan Bell

Bell was the first GM to select a beater, and his choice of Brittany Ripperger was a mild surprise. The Baylor star broke out last spring as a freshman, helping her team win Southwest Regionals and reach the semifinals of World Cup VI. Her performances, in particular her strong and accurate arm, along with ferocious physicality, earned her widespread recognition as one of the best female beaters in the league. But it was her speed and tactical understanding, which allowed her to cover vast expanses and quickly snuff out goal threats, that made Baylor’s unique zone defense tick.

Though there only a few female beaters who can arguably match Ripperger’s skillset (Mollie Lensing, Katrina Bossotti, and Amanda Nagy come to mind), we are not sold on the wisdom of picking her fourth overall. For one, in his recent Eighth Man article Kevin Oelze pointed out that Ripperger herself has not matched that level this season, as she has been sidelined with a wrist injury. The possibility of Ripperger failing to return from injury to compete this season, or underwhelming due to lack of form or fitness, makes this a risky pick.

Furthermore, while the impact beaters have on the game as a whole undoubtedly justifies the choice of the right one in the first round, it is male beaters such as Peter Lee, Chris Seto, and Max Havlin who typically lead the line for their teams. The difference in quality between the top male beaters and the top female beaters is such that picking one of the males would have provided Bell more bang for his buck, even if it meant losing out on a top-notch player like Ripperger to partner with. And as Oelze pointed out, Ripperger may excel in a different defensive system than the Baylor zone, but there is scant concrete evidence this is the case.

Round 1, Pick 5: Stephen Bell, Lone Star Quidditch Club (K)

GM: Beto Natera

Natera was the first GM to pick a teammate when he picked up Lone Star keeper Stephen Bell. The WCVI champion established himself by major contributions to UT’s campaign while splitting time with Augustine Monroe. Bell excels at guarding his hoops, using his height and length to smother shots and forcing opponents to try to drive through his teammates - a daunting task when he has strong tacklers in front of him. On offense, Bell uses his speed to punish opponents on the fast break, or draw the defense before making pinpoint passes to his open chasers. He brings a lot of the same attributes to the table as Rodriguez, with a bigger tendency to set his teammates up and better tackling ability. He may not be quite as goal-dangerous by his lonesome, but quidditch is a team sport and Bell has a knack for bringing his teammates into the game that can’t be ignored. With phenomenal athleticism and incredible vision, Stephen Bell is certain to add value to Natera’s team regardless of who Natera adds.

Round 1, Pick 6: Augustine Monroe, University of Texas at Austin (K)

GM: Andrew Canto

With the next pick, Canto gladly took Stephen Bell’s former teammate and positional peer, Augustine Monroe. This one’s a no-brainer for essentially the same reasons just stated; Monroe has similar strength, speed, and vision to Bell, and while his passing and coverage of the hoops might be just a step below, they remain remarkable abilities that any GM would be overjoyed to claim. In addition, Monroe’s lethal ability to cut through defenses by driving the quaffle earned him the nickname “Slipstream,” and the improbability of getting more than an arm on his powerful frame means the task of stopping him is like a nightmare that an entire team can share at the same time. The UT veteran also led his team to the WCVI title, so he knows what it takes to win and how to instill a championship mentality in his players. Like Wasikowski, Monroe is a model leader whose physical and mental strengths make him the complete package.

Round 1, Pick 7: Vanessa Goh, Lost Boys (C)

GM: Zach D’Amico

D’Amico’s pick was met with nearly universal criticism. The main point of contention was his assertion that Goh was “the best chaser left in the draft, regardless of gender.” Keep in mind that there were only two chasers drafted before her.  Fellow GM Hank Dugie was the first to lambast D’Amico for his claim by pointing out there are plenty of better chasers, and subsequently selecting one such player. The worst part was D’Amico’s refusal to talk about Goh’s clear dominance over same-gender players in her position, which is the true selling point of picking a tremendously talented player who shares many of the disadvantages of her peer, Sarah Holub.

Holub and Goh are firmly in a class of their own, as far as female chasers are concerned. The biggest difference between the two may be demonstrable versatility, where Goh has shone in the past year or so. Unlike Holub, Goh regularly uses her quickness to create her own space and juke past players, and consistently sinks mid-range shots past defenders. Her smaller frame means she wouldn’t stand up to the rest of the field as the go-to ball handler, but on the Lost Boys, Goh often receives the ball farther away from the hoops and takes on somewhat of a playmaking role, especially when Rodriguez is not on the field. While she hasn’t featured at these roles for her club team, Goh has also played keeper, beater, and seeker extensively in at least three recent fantasy tournaments, and successfully at that. So while she isn’t a physical match for many chasers still available, she will likely fill a bigger role for D’Amico’s Quiyk team than Holub will for Wilson’s, and she will have the resume to support such a role.

The value of having such a talented, versatile player count toward the two minimum (gender) rule cannot be overstated. However, with so much talent left on the board it remains to be seen whether Goh was the right worm for early bird D’Amico to snatch or whether he should’ve left her alone and gone for a bigger, stronger one. Something other GMs should take note of is the public reception to D’Amico’s first pick announcement, which indicates that voters will not be swayed by hyperbole in selling each player selection as a stroke of genius.

Round 1, Pick 8: Simon Arends, Lone Star

GM: Hank Dugie

We won’t ask how Dugie obtained such detailed physical information on former UT teammate Simon Arends, and Dugie will likely never tell. However, he provided excellent evidence to support his claim that Arends is “indubitably the greatest physical specimen that the sport has to offer.” Arends is certainly an athletic monstrosity, whose speed and strength makes his point defense nearly impenetrable. Perhaps the scariest thing is that he usually plays off ball on offense, meaning he creates a physical mismatch to receive the quaffle near the hoops with alarming regularity. Once he does, you can go ahead and flip the scorecard, because if there’s an opening, he’ll find it. Arends has two of the safest hands in the game, and the time between him catching the ball and scoring is just enough for beaters to turn their heads and witness a clinical finish. His body and ball control are top notch, and his game smarts will allow him to slot in with any players Dugie picks seamlessly. However, whether Arends has the distribution skills to match other elite ball handlers is questionable, as he has rarely filled that role before.

Conclusion

It’s too early to determine any winners, but the picks we liked the most were versatile quaffle players who are elite distributors. There are plenty of athletic tacklers, point defenders, and chasers/keepers who can drive the ball. The aspect of the quaffle game that currently has the biggest drop off is the ability to be an elite distributor. This is why our favorite picks are that of Rodriguez, Bell, Monroe, and Wasikowski. Arends and Goh are more neutral picks.