Quiyk

To our quidditch friends and family -

It’s with heavy hearts that we announce our withdrawal from the sport of quidditch. As many of you know, for the past four years, Quiyk has been a consistent and committed presence in the quidditch community. From our entry into the game at our 2010 launch at World Cup V in New York City to our most recent World Cup appearance this past March in North Myrtle Beach, we’ve enjoyed every minute of the ride. What started as a “what if” idea in the backyard of two college freshmen in Seattle, WA grew to something we could not have ever imagined. From having our uniforms featured by Wired and Forbes to having our jerseys appear on national television for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, we’ve consistently had our minds blown by what we’ve been able to do with high quality performance wear and the support of the quidditch community. However, as the years have passed, we’ve gotten older, graduated, found jobs in the real world, and unfortunately Quiyk has fallen by the wayside. What began very much as a “labor of love,” fueled by our passion for the sport, has no longer become a viable side project for us. We no longer feel like we are able to commit enough time to put our “best foot forward” in our efforts to serve the quidditch community with our product.

We consider our impact on the sport with great pride and because our Snitch Shorts have become an integral part of the game; it was no easy decision to decide what to do with them as we considered closing our doors. Because our shorts are fully embedded in the game, we’ve decided instead of ending production entirely to pass them along to the talented and more than capable hands of Kevin Peterson from Peterson’s BroomSticks. We have full confidence that he will be able to carry on Quiyk’s vision with his version of the Snitch Shorts and wish him the best. You can find links to his site (http://www.petersonsbrooms.com) on ours, and can expect an announcement from him as to when Peterson-produced Snitch Shorts will be available.

We wish quidditch the very best. We want to encourage the governing bodies, teams, and players to embrace quality and to never settle. We think the best part of Quiyk was that it was born out of entrepreneurial opportunity and passion. We truly believe that we never settled when it came to our product. We tried to produce the best performance wear we could make and it brought us joy when we found others who believed in that as well. We were far from perfect, but we tried our best, and for three guys who just wanted to make a good athletic-wear shirt for a sport we loved, we think we did pretty well. It still blows our minds to think we were able to accomplish all this with no previous background in fashion or garment construction. So in the DIY spirit of quidditch, try and fail and be okay with having to try again.

In closing, we’d like to thank the IQA/USQ and quidditch community (shout out to Emerson College Quidditch!) for all the great times over the years. We’ll never forget seeing our product for the first time worn by Snitches on Randall’s Island back in 2010 or by the national teams of the Quidditch Summer Games in Oxford, England. Our product has been worn all over the world, from The Great Wall of China to the mountains of New Zealand, and it is entirely because of our friends, family, and fans. We're honored to have been a part of something so special for so long and will always remember the great times we had with the sport of quidditch.

Hi! So, our General Managers have become incredibly busy and burnt-out so we're taking a short break here, finding a time where all the GMs can get together and finishing the entire draft in one night.

Then, things will proceed as normal for good. 

Sorry for the delay last week, again, we had an emergency. Thanks for understanding!

69. Andrew Dirk Hryekewicz, Texas A&M, Seeker

Based on performance and physical ability, I believe that Texas A&M currently has the best seeking corps in the nation. One half of their seeking duo is the most physically dominant seeker in the game, Andrew "Dirk" Hryekewicz. Dirk is bigger and stronger than his elite counterparts, Keir Rudolph and Steve DiCarlo. He has the ability to stay with the most athletic snitches and power through snitch defenders. He is the complete package at the position. To help me describe Dirk, I recruited Texas A&M captain Drew Wasikowski, an individual who has been there throught Hryekewicz's impressive career. 

"Dirk brings something to the seeking game that a lot of other seekers don't, and that is strength. at 6'5",He has the absurdly long reach and arm span prevalent in your ideal seeker, but he also has this raw aggressive strength and power about him that absolutely overpowers and overwhelms almost every snitch he goes up against. His stength combined with Kifer Gregoire's speed and relentlessness has led the A&M to a very successful snitch count this season and will prove vital going into WCVII." - Drew Wasikowski

Dirk is a great fit on my fantasy team as he can hold down the position on his own or combine with Sean Pagoada to form the most devastating seeking pair on any of the Quiyk teams. Throw in the strong chaser and beater play that the rest of my draft picks bring to the team and my team will have the opportunity to win any game they are in. -Beto

70. Alex Leitch, Hofstra University, Beater

Photo by Dani Palmer

In round two, I drafted one of, if the not the best, pound-for-pound chaser in Kody Marshall. Seven rounds later, I landed the pride of Hofstra University, Alex Leitch, who has cemented himself as the best pound-for-pound beater in the league. Leitch possess the arm strength, accuracy, and decision-making that make him a highly effective and efficient beater. In addition, his field presence and communication skills allow him to properly direct his teammates during the game (many can attest to hearing him scream commands 2-3 fields over). But when he doesn’t have a bludger, Leitch’s trademark aggressiveness puts him head and shoulders above other beaters. Like Marshall, Leitch is a devastating force to those who underestimate him. He is not afraid to get physical with opponents two to three times bigger than him and will literally lay his body on the line for bludger control. His health is certainly a question, as many will recall he suffered a tournament-ending injury at Northeast Regionals. While the journey to full recovery has been long, sources say that he will be ready for Myrtle Beach, where I am confident that his full talent and skills will be on display. - Canto

71. Jacob Heppe, Michigan State, Keeper

72. Joe Wright, Texas A&M, Chaser

Why is this kid still available? Sure, I'll take him. Joe Wright, welcome to the squad! When my fellow GMs went on an Aggie drafting spree I could only sit back and laugh at the fact that you were still around. I guess when my peers get their scouting reports from shoddy sources it's bound to happen. Evan Bell was more ballsy than I when he took the thirteenth best quaffle player on the best team in the country. Sticking with my conservative nature I will have to go with possibly the best (at least top 3 along with Kifer & Drew). Fast, strong, quick, fierce, playmaker. Most importantly he brings some humility to my team, because the Lord knows I need a heavy dose. Joe is the type of person who prefers flying under the radar. He will complement our team's other superstars fantastically on the way to winning this whole thing.

TEAM NATERA: K, Stephen Bell, Lone Star QC B, Mollie Lensing, Lone Star QC B, Hope Machala, Lone Star QC U, Sean Pagoada, FF C/S, Kedzie Teller, QC Boston C, Keri Callegari, Lone Star QC C, Hai Nguyen, Kansas K, Connor Drake, LSQC S, Andrew Hryekewicz, Texas A&M

TEAM CANTO: K, Augustine Monroe, UT C, Kody Marshall, Lone Star QC C, Adam Richardson, UCLA C/S, Harry Greenhouse, UMD C/B, Melissa White, LSU C, Sean Beloff, UMiami B, Ashley Calhoun, Central Michigan K/C, Ren Bettendorf, SB Blacktips B, Alex Leitch, Hofstra University

TEAM D'AMICO: C, Vanessa Goh, The Lost Boys B, Peter Lee, The Lost Boys K, Zach Luce, UCLA C, Michael Powell, BU C, Audrey Wright, UT B/(C) Mathieu Gregoire, Texas A&M B, Shannon Moorhead, UMiami C, Kenny Chilton, UT K, Jacob Heppe, Michigan State

65. Amanda Nagy, Lost Boys, Beater/Chaser

Amanda Nagy, better known as Turtles in the quidditch community, is a FANTASTIC player. She transitioned to beater this year and has been a standout player, perhaps slightly overlooked due to the amount of talent on her team...but getting to train and practice with and against Peter Lee and Chris Seto has obviously helped her development. She has a great arm and an excellent feel of when to throw and when to fake. I was super impressed with her at Diamond Cup in February, and watching film has only secured that feeling. In a game against UCLA, she missed the point offensive chaser, then proceeded to catch the opponents bludger, force a pass, and beat the pass to the receiver, completely shutting the play down. She knows what to do on the field and can just execute, which is something that separates the top beaters from the good ones. On top of strategy, she has atleticism to spare and the dedication that comes from a community team widely expected to be in the WC finals. All of this combined with her dedication to the sport makes her a great pick, and I feel confident that the GM of the Sassy Nasty Ninja Turtles, one of the greatest merc teams of all time, will be an excellent addition to my team. Welcome, Turtles! - Alex

66. Tyler Sessions, Texas A&M, Keeper/Chaser

Joining Texas A&M teammates and fellow Southwest Regional Champions Becca DuPont and Sean Fry on Team Dallas is Tyler Sessions. A force at both keeper and chaser, Sessions is a new recruit and a key piece in the current Aggies roster. Having lost both their main keepers from last season, the team needed replacements. Sessions was one of those players who took to the green headband almost effortlessly. You'll notice in film from the recent Southwest Regional that Sessions finds himself as the quaffle carrier more often than his fellow new recruits and, in turn, with significantly more scoring opportunities -- regardless of whether he is playing keeper or chaser. He has no issue finding and taking an open lane to drive toward the hoops or get a pass to an open teammate nears the hoops (think DuPont). Having Sessions on this roster as a keeper allows for Tony Rodriguez to take a breather and Michael Parada to play the wing chaser position where he truly thrives. But in the event that Sessions steps in as chaser, a likely event with Rodriguez's marathon-keeping, this adds yet another physical, Southwest chaser to a defense already bolstered by aggressive, deadly accurate beater play. - Dallas

67. Stephen Ralph, University of Miami, Keeper

PC: Deanna Yates

Ralph is used to playing all game every game for the consistently highly ranked Miami since he started playing in the Spring of 2011. I seriously don't understand how he's able to have such great stamina and still play his game so well. The last time Miami didn't have Ralph for a huge game... their Round of 32 exit against Bowling Green in World Cup VI. Ralph sustained an ankle injury that was so bad that he himself was no longer able to play. That injury is fully healed and Stephen is once again a central force for the Hurricanes: using his incredible length and great jumping ability to gobble up shots and passes with huge range around the hoops and functioning as one of their main distributors. Ralph passes and shoots from range at a high level. He is a great finisher around the hoops, and of course, has smart sports instincts that will make him fit in even better on my team. Ralph has become the best hoops defender on the team, allowing a huge amount of lineup flexibiltiy for me. He will always play at keeper, which allows both Browne and Wasikowski to excel at chaser in what would be a monster line of size and well, decent speed with Ralph-Sponagle-Browne-Wasikowski. That is just one of many great lines I can use and expect to give Ralph no shortage of playing time, although it might have to be a little less than he's used to. - Dan

PC: Lauren Carter

68. Sam Adlis, Chaser, Texas A&M

In a powerhouse program such as Texas A&M, it's easy for newer additions to a roster to get lost in the mix. Sam Keegan Adlis is an exception to this concept. You might also think that because his brother Jacob is regarded as one of the great minds to ever grace the sport, Sam would be living in his brother's shadow; anyone who has watched Sam play for a couple minutes quickly erases that thought from their mind. With a build and playing style similar to that of his teammate Drew Wasikowski, Adlis is a powerhouse player. His size and experience (he was a star player for the Silver Phoenixes last year) allow him to have an incredible presense on both sides of the ball and fill a variety of important roles on the field. His explosive power on offense is truly impressive, and will fit in perfectly with the other potential chaser line-ups on my roster. Jack The Phan wrote in his Mock Draft write-up that "Sam Keegan Adlis is going to be a steal in this draft." Jack had him going in the 6th round. I just picked him up in the 9th. Take that as you will. -Evan

TEAM WILSON: C, Sarah Holub, Lone Star QC B, David Gilbert, Baylor K, David Fox, Emerson C, P. Reynebeau, Arkansas C, J. Reynebeau, Arkansas K, Jacob Bruner, Baylor C/S, Adam Robillard, Gee-Gees B, Ryan Peavler, Tx St C/B, Amanda Turtles, Lost Boys

TEAM DALLAS: K, Tony Rodriguez, The Lost Boys B/C, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU C, Becca DuPont, Texas A&M S/U, Steve DiCarlo, The Lost Boys C/K/S, Michael Parada, NYDC U, Steve Hysick, NYDC B, Sean Fry, Texas A&M K/C, Tyler Sessions, Texas A&M

TEAM HANSON: C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M K/C, Alex Browne, The Lost Boys C/U, Missy Sponagle, The Lost Boys C, Brad Armentor, LSU B, Tim Brestowski, Baylor B, Rachel Harrsion, Texas A&M K, Stephen Ralph, UMiami

61. Bernardo "Bernie" Berges, University of Miami, Chaser

Be ready to know the name Bernie Berges by the time World Cup VII is said and done. Although only in his first year, Berges has already proven himself an invaluable member of a UMiami team hungry for redemption. Fast, physical, and smart, his teammate Matt Ziff was quoted as saying, "his skills and understanding of the game have progressed faster than most male chasers I've seen in my 5 years of playing quidditch." From watching film of UMiami's performance, I can only echo these sentiments. I couldn't believe I was watching a first-year player. Berges could read opposing defenses like a book, and always knew his part on defense. He already possesses the skills of much more seasoned players; expect to only see his value go up from here. I want to take some time to express why I've picked players like Berges for my roster. On my team, I'm interested in players who are hungry to prove themselves. Maybe it's their rookie season, or they've been written off due to injuries, or they were previously overshadowed by other teammates... whatever the reason may be, they have a clear motive to make World Cup VII count. That's why I expect every single one of these players to perform at an elite level come World Cup -- because they demand it from themselves. I may not have a legion of support right now, and that's fine, because the season is not yet over. I believe in this team. - Evan

62. Rachel Harrison, Texas A&M, Beater

Meet the longtime veteran and starting beater of the #1 team in the country, Rachel Harrison. Many of the players on Texas A&M's names slide under the radar because the entire team is so deep and functions so well as a collective, just like one of my favorite all-time pro sports teams, the World Champion 2013 Boston Red Sox! With my third selection of an A&M player, I am well on my way to following that model with my own team. I want leaders who are highly intelligent players and work well with their teammates at all positions. Rachel makes an excellent beater partner who will click with either of the great options in Seto and Brestowski. I'll admit, I got nervous when the last week of the Quiyk draft became a fire sale of female-beaters-with-a-backgound-in-softball-pitching, but I believe I have a few legs up with the female-beater-with-a-background-in-softball-pitching who I was able to select. First off, she's a more well-rounded athlete. She's faster than Calhoun and Timbrook while she still has the arm. She's more experienced than the lot, matched in intelligence and adaptability only by Timbrook. Moorhead may have Rachel beat in physicality, but Rachel makes up for it with her ability to exercise a cool control over the pitch. She is a well-balanced complete package of a player that makes her one of the top players at her position. And you'll see her playing far longer on Sunday, April 6th than you will her counterparts who were selected in round seven, and Rachel Harrison herself is a big reason why. - Dan

63. Sean Fry, Texas A&M, Beater

This Southwest Regional Champion started his quidditch career as a utility player -- chasing, keeping and beating. This season, however, Fry has become the centerpiece of the Texas A&M beater line. Fry can be categorized as relentless with a deadly accurate arm, and, on this team, he will serve as the aggressive front beater, fully utilizing his speed and arm to take out approaching quaffle carriers and offensive beaters, while guaranteeing his team maintains bludger control. In the off chance the team does lose control, expect his token Southwest physicality to come into play, making for easy retrieval. Look for signs of his former life as a chaser and keeper. In these roles, Fry was touted for his excellent ball-handling abilities. He could pass and catch with the best of them. Having developed impeccable aim and field awareness as a quaffle carrier, do not expect this Aggie to miss many of his beats or fall out of position. Additionally, throw a bludger at him and expect it to be caught. That makes for yet another regional champion on Team Dallas. -Dallas

64. Ryan Peavler, Texas State, Beater

My current beater, David Gilbert, is the one that Baylor trust to have fall back and cover the hoops as a last line, so in looking for a more aggressive beater I had to look no further than Ryan Peavler from Texas State. He is the definition of an aggressive beater, using his physicality to carve offense for his chasers, and he is not afraid to bring up a ball far to stop offenses before they set up. He mixes up the perfect amount of pump fake with immediate through that keep opponents on their toes, and somehow walks away with the bludger far more often than is likely. He fights for every ball and is FAST, and plays in a way that few do. He was awesome to watch this weekend, and a major reason that Texas State made it to the semifinals of the SWRC this weekend. Welcome Ryan Peavler to the team! - Alex

TEAM BELL: B, Brittany Ripperger, Baylor K, Brendan Stack, BU B, Chris Rhodes, Baylor C/S, Aryan Ghoddossy, UT C/S, Jeffrey Lin, The Lost Boys B, Andy Abayan, SB Blacktips C, Nichole Galle, Lone Star QC C, Bernardo Berges, C, UMiami

TEAM HANSON: C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M K/C, Alex Browne, The Lost Boys C/U, Missy Sponagle, The Lost Boys C, Brad Armentor, LSU B, Tim Brestowski, Baylor B, Rachel Harrison, Texas A&M

TEAM DALLAS: K, Tony Rodriguez, The Lost Boys B/C, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU C, Becca DuPont, Texas A&M S/U, Steve DiCarlo, The Lost Boys C/K/S, Michael Parada, NYDC U, Steve Hysick, NYDC B, Sean Fry, Texas A&M

57. Meredith Taylor, BGSU, Chaser

It is complete. Speed, strength, skill, and raw athleticism can only do so much, but love - LOVE conquers all. Not only is my next selection King Corn's better half (way better) making her Queen Corn, she is in her own right the best female chaser on a team that has found uncommon success with a higher than normal female to male roster ratio. She is inarguably the best female chaser of any region that has a cold winter (Eighth Man top female of the MW, All Tournament Team Canada Fantasy, All Tournament Team MW Fantasy, MAC All-Star Team, Ohio All-Star Team), and arguably among the best in those that are miserably hot all year round. She fits into any system as an off ball threat to score as she will on this team, but can also handle the quaffle when called upon. Defensively she taps into her basketball background to deny passes to whoever she is guarding. Very rarely will you see an alley-oop executed with her man/woman on the receiving end. More importantly though, she is a genuinely awesome person. Her life goal is to help kids lead healthy, active lifestyles by teaching high school physical education classes and I assume continue coaching. Oh.. and her favorite color is blue.. which just so happens to be the color of my eyes. Watch out, Daniel!    - Hank

Caption: "World Cup Winning snitches are pretty cool, but I really prefer jumping and scoring goals."

58. Kenny Chilton, University of Texas, C/S

Kenny Freaking Chilton!!! Have people forgot about the kid who made UT's team as a freshman? Have people forgot about the young sophomore who made waves on the championship-winning longhorns last year. SURELY people remember the young man became the first non-middlebury to catch a World Cup-winning snitch? Kenny hasn't slowed down at all, becoming one of the leaders of UT's team this year. He showed at SW Fantasy that he still has insane skills as both chaser and seeker, and is showing positive signs all over the pitch. He is the classic SW combination of speed and strength, a talented chaser who can both score and play defense. His seeking is proven and relentless, and he's able to use both his physical prowess and his intuition after three years at the position. I am terribly proud to add him to the squad! - Zach

59. Ren Bettendorf, K/C, Santa Barbara

Looking for an early candidate for the rookie who bursts into the limelight at World Cup? Look no further than Ren Bettendorf. Many expected Santa Barbara to struggle mightily this year after most of their core from last year's team fall apart. Instead, they've prospered and become the best team they've ever been. At the heart of this team is their three major male quaffle handlers, and the frontrunner of these is Bettendorf. Bettendorf is extremely tall with long arms, allowing him to man the hoops effectively and cut down passing lanes as all elite keepers need to do. However, he excels as a point chaser, preventing teams from being able to drive to the hoops on him. On offense, Bettendor shines at all places. He has a strong shot, can drive against anyone with his smooth spin move, and is a strong, accurate passer. As a receiver, he has some of the best hands in the IQA (if not the best), hauling down every pass thrown at him, ready to shoot it as soon as he manages to touch it with his hands. Need more proof that Bettendorf's on the rise? In a field with such strong candidates as Tony Rodriguez, Andy Abayan, and Peter Lee, none of these ended up earning MVP honors at Gold Medal Cup. Instead, Bettendor put on such an impressive display that he took home the trophy, even if his team was ultimately eliminated by the champions in the semifinals

-Canto

60. Connor Drake, Lone Star Quidditch Club, Keeper

Connor Drake is one of the most explosive talents in the game today. Able to slice through defenses, I have been able to see this former Olympian play dominant quidditch throughout this season first hand on LSQC. Averaging around 3 points per game during the season, Connor is a dynamic substitute for Stephen ball. He is able to not only make his own shot, something incredibly difficult to do with increasingly aggressive chaser and beater defenses, but able to distribute the ball to all of his teammates with immaculate precision. Master of one of the best midrange games in the sport, just go watch any LSQC film where Connor is playing. You’ll see Connor make important midrange shots in big games that force defenses to collapse on him, opening up cutting lanes for his teammates. I was inclined to draft Connor in part because of the in place chemistry he has with his Lone Star teammates as well as to reunite the dynamic one two punch that Connor formed with Hai Nguyen during his time as the star keeper for the University of Kansas. Defensively, Connor is a monster. Able to cover every hoop despite his shorter than average height for a keeper, Drake is consistently denies opponent’s long shots and is able to come out to make hits when his team needs them. I trust Connor’s long track record of success and consistency in big games against elite opposition. Connor is and has been one of the elite Keepers in the game for years. I’m surprised that he has been so consistently overlooked this entire year.  - Beto

TEAM DUGIE: C/U, Simon Arends, Lone Star QC C/U, Chris Morris, Lone Star QC K/U, Daniel Daugherty, BGSU K/U, August Lührs, USC S/U, Keir Rudolph, Kansas B, Scott Axel, PSU B, Kyrie Timbrook, Skrewts C, Meredith Taylor, BGSU

TEAM D'AMICO: C, Vanessa Goh, The Lost Boys B, Peter Lee, The Lost Boys K, Zach Luce, UCLA C, Michael Powell, BU C, Audrey Wright, UT B/(C) Mathieu Gregoire, Texas A&M B, Shannon Moorhead, UMiami C, Kenny Chilton, UT

TEAM CANTO: K, Augustine Monroe, UT C, Kody Marshall, Lone Star QC C, Adam Richardson, UCLA C/S, Harry Greenhouse, UMD C/B, Melissa White, LSU C, Sean Beloff, UMiami B, Ashley Calhoun, Central Michigan K/C, Ren Bettendorf, Blacktips

Again, sorry for the delay, but we're back on track.

53. Hai Nguyen, Kansas, Chaser

Hai "all I do is" Nguyen. (High win)

The quidditch incarnation of Goku from the popular dragon ball series. Why is hai good? I have played with hai for 3 years and I have never seen him lose at brooms up. His agility is top notch and his completion rate with 15 feet of the net is unparalleled. His best attribute is the speed of his feet. His change of direction is phenominal, that mixed in with his versatility in direction and unpredictability, when playing against hai the only thing harder to catch then him, is a break. Hai is also an intellegent passer. His speed means themat he is seldom unguarded or vuarded by only one person, and it is haily unlikely that hai ever misses the opportunity to dish the ball to any of his teammates. While his skills are deadly, his greatest feature is his humility." While kansas always looks the best and gets the most bitches. Hai has a sportsman attitude always" -ronell sharp. when it comes to Mr.Nguyen, all his competitors utter the same thing. "Get Hai" Authored by Samy Mousa

-Beto

PC to B. Brown

54. Ashley Calhoun, CMU, Beater

The cornerstone of the CMU defense, Ashley Calhoun has established herself as one of the best beaters in the country, and arguably the best beater in the Midwest. This is particulary significant considering she only started playing in early 2012, but her phyisical and mental attributes have progressed her development rather rapidly. A softball player by background, Calhoun is incredibly accurate with her throws, as any Midwest player can attest. But if you speak to others, many will point out that her decision-making, field positioning, and overall pitch-awareness is what sets her above the rest. What Calhoun brings to the team is an incredible quidditch IQ, which is a quality that is present in many elite beaters in the league. Calhoun is a perfect complement to Melissa White, giving Team Canto a solid defense that can negate some of the best chaser lines. -Canto

Caption: "I protect my snitch. Look at this pansy on the other team, can barely even palm the ball. Psh."

55. Shannon Moorhead, University of Miami, Beater

With my next pick I will be selecting not only an amazing beater and human, but also arguably the most beautiful player (with the exception of drewski) in the draft. If that matters to anyone. As a freshman, Shannon ended up playing one of the toughest positions to figure out in a new sport, and she mastered it quicker than some of the best beaters in the country did in their first years. After a year in the South, Shannon hit up the Northeast Regionals to show off her skill, and holy shit did she lend some credibility to the region nobody knows anything about. Fiercely competitive and smart (I guess all of The 'U''s athletes aren't as brainless as Warren Sapp), Shannon impressed working with and against new teammates in a new region. It seems she has fallen in the draft due to an injury, but she'll be back for World Cup! And if you've ever met the girl, you know she's the type to come back harder and faster from an injury. Aaron Ramsey style. -Zach

PC to Kat Ignatova

56. Kyrie Timbrook, Silicon Valley Skrewts, Beater

49. Adam Robillard, UOttawa, C/S

While the majority of teams are in the United States, it is clear that there is talent to spare elsewhere and where better to start than the reigning Canadian champs, the Gee-Gee's from UOttawa. It is somewhat rare in quidditch to find not only a great athlete, but one with the stature to compete with anyone, and the willingness to dive into the sport and analyze it to it's corps as well and finding ways for those around him to succeed, but that is what Adam Robillard brings to the table. At 6'1, he is one of the fastest and most lauded chasers that Canada has to offer, a threat in the open field with the power to drive as well. He is the current coach of the Gee-Gee's and having the opportunity to sit next to him during the last few rounds of World Cup VI, I learned quite a few things from him strategy wise I had never considered before. Like all the players on my team, he has the drive to push in any game and make something happen. In addition to this he brings great utility to the team through his seeking game, using his athleticism and size to overwhelm snitches. Some of my picks may be unproven, but the Gee-Gee's didn't luck into a regional championship, and were a Porter Marsh snitch grab away from going undefeated in pool play at WC VI.  -Alex

photo credit to Monica Wheeler

50. Steve Hysick, NYDC Capitalists,Utility

Allow me to introduce you to Michael Parada's other half and one of the most underrated players in the game, the NYDC Capitalists' Steve Hysick.

Hysick is best known for his roles as the former point defender for Penn State University and the current starting point defender for NYDC. Having spent his entire quidditch career alongside Parada (including all of his fantasy appearances), he can predict Parada's on-pitch decisions. When positioned at point, expect Hysick to make the play and force the ball carrier to make a pass to wing chaser that can easily be intercepted by Parada or to the hoops, which would be easily blocked by keeper Tony Rodriguez. Hysick's defense is undeniably rock solid and, if necessary, his endurance allows him to lay a quick succession of tackles without needing a breather. On the offensive end, Hysick is a tenacious wing chaser with great hands who easily finds open space for solid finishes. If open space is hard to come by, Hysicks' physicality makes running through opposing chasers a fairly easy feat. In case you were unaware, two years ago Hysick actually began his quidditch career dawning a black headband. He even brought Villanova to the finals of the Champions Series as the sole male beater. Unlike many males in this position, Hysick airs away from the hyper-aggressive side, focusing on making smart, calculated plays and maintaining bludger control. This experience grants Hysick the capability of reading the opposing beaters' moves well in advance and finding a variety of ways to outsmart them. He still makes the occasional appearance as a beater on NYDC in clutch situations (NYDC v. Emerson College in OT at Turtle Cup). And last but not least, Hysick is currently part of what has been coined one of the deepest seeker lines ever seen. A player with experience catching the snitch when it counts, Parada's three-peat was secured by Hysick at the 2013 Northeast Fantasy. That's one line down, one to go. - Dallas

photo by Lauren Carter

51. Tim Brestowski, Baylor, Beater

Ooooh I'm excited about this pick. With a couple GMs later this round in need of guy beaters, I was able to snag one that is arguably as good as, better than, or at least very close to the overall beater abilitly of his Baylor teammates David Gilbert and Chris Rhodes, who were drafted with the 16th and 20th picks, respectively, Meanwhile, Tim fell to me with the 51st pick. Probably because his name was too hard to spell, so analysts decided to give Gilbert and Rhodes all the attention. I'll fully admit that I hadn't heard much about Tim until my first round pick Drew Wasikowski starting harping on me to pick Tim somewhere around the third round of the draft. Drew described Tim as having the experience, focus and discpline that made him stand out more than anyone in a team already known for its excellent beaters. Tim was cemented as my pick when I watched the Baylor-UT semifinal video (http://youtu.be/qWnYlGoBQLQ). From the start of the game, he shows a mix of speed, smarts, and a strong and accurate arm that he uses to decisively regain bludger control and stop goals. I've never seen the stiff arm used so well by a beater! Tim was finally received some accolades from analysts after Diamond Cup, heralded on the IQA website as one of the players who was instrumental in Baylor's run to a snitch-range loss to undefeated Texas A&M in the finals, which included the 150*-40 semifinal shocker over UT. Now, I am not committing to a two male beater set with this pick. It is crucial to have another top-level beater who can work well with Chris Seto or have them sub with each other without a dropoff of quality in the position on the field. -Dan

photo by Lauren Carter

52. Nichole Galle, Lone Star QC, Chaser

It is a huge rarity in quidditch today to find a female chaser who is just as confident playing ball-handler as she is playing off-ball. Nichole Galle is a playmaker. She doesn't just sit there and wait for her male teammates to pass her the ball for quick goals; she fights for the ball every minute she's playing, forcing opposing defenses to respect and fear her on the pitch. She has an extremely accurate shot, although she rarely finds herself in situations where she has to make the tough shot, as she is able to consistently find good positioning on the field. Absolutely solid on defense, she can play a tight man defense and knows how to tackle better than most people twice her size. In short, she's a "complete package" female chaser. She will solidify the chemistry of my chasing line, leaving opposing defenses with no options for who to "exploit" on either side of the ball. She's also a top contender for "Most Adorable Smile in the IQA". Happy Birthday, Nichole, and welcome to Team Bell! -Evan

TEAM WILSON: C, Sarah Holub, Lone Star QC B, David Gilbert, Baylor K, David Fox, Emerson C, P. Reynebeau, Arkansas C, J. Reynebeau, Arkansas K, Jacob Bruner, Baylor C/S, Adam Robillard, Gee-Gees

TEAM DALLAS: K, Tony Rodriguez, The Lost Boys B/C, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU C, Becca DuPont, Texas A&M S/U, Steve DiCarlo, The Lost Boys C/K/S, Michael Parada, NYDC U, Steve Hysick, NYDC

TEAM HANSON: C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M K/C, Alex Browne, The Lost Boys C/U, Missy Sponagle, The Lost Boys C, Brad Armentor, LSU B, Tim Brestowski, Baylor

TEAM BELL: B, Brittany Ripperger, Baylor K, Brendan Stack, BU B, Chris Rhodes, Baylor C/S, Aryan Ghoddossy, UT C/S, Jeffrey Lin, The Lost Boys B, Andy Abayan, SB Blacktips C, Nichole Galle, Lone Star QC

44. Keri Callegari, Lone Star, Chaser

On a team filled with high profile players, it is sometimes easy to forget the greatness of Keri Callegari. A major contributor for A&M in years past, Callegari has joined forces with Sarah Holub and former aggie Nichole Galle to make up one of the strongest female chaser rotations in the country. Instead of going on and on about how great she is, I figure I'd rather show you some of her highlights to demonstrate how she contributes on both sides of the ball. 8 Minute mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekoYFfV6DqU Keri strips Texas state player preventing a goal from being scored. 26:54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvNeGV0vOhE&feature=youtu.be Keri’s great hands 12:33 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUER3jZtPkk Keri solo tackles Tyler Sessions. 6:29 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcgOAiAQsi8 Keri Strips A&M player 7:54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvNeGV0vOhE&feature=youtu.be Watch Keri function within an offense and keep the ball moving which leads to a score

Photo Credit to Kat Ignatova

45. Andy Abayan, Santa Barbara, Beater

I feel truly honored to be able to announce that Andy Abayan has officially "un-retired" from quidditch. Abayan was a relatively unheralded member of UCLA's team last season (many seemed to assume that their beating corps was entirely Asher King Abramson). Unlike his much taller and physically imposing teammate, Abayan uses his shorter stature and quick feet to weave his way around the field, subtly imposing his will across the entire pitch without often drawing attention to himself. That being said, the guy possesses one of the more terrifying pump fakes I've ever seen. He can force bad throws from quaffle and bludger carriers alike simply by aiming his bludger in their direction. His throws are deadly accurate and deadly in power. He can leave a welt with a beat, and have the ball rebound right back into his hands. He catches bludgers like its his purpose in life, and his reaction times are just... I mean, insert superlative here. Athletic abilities aside, the most impressive aspect of Abayan is his decision-making. I've never seen a beater with such a strong grasp of beater strategies, who is able to adapt to any opposing offense/defense at the drop of a hat. Don't assume that you can beat this guy by playing a strictly conservative or strictly aggressive game, because Abayan knows exactly how to break that down, and is more than capable of doing so. Pairing Abayan with either Brittany Ripperger or Chris Rhodes is a thrilling and terrifying thought. If any other GMs think they're still in the running for the title of best beater corps in this draft, they might want their mental health re-evaluated. With Abayan's ability to open up lanes and remove point defenders, my chaser line will find it relatively easy to execute drive after drive for goals, and opposing offenses will find it nearly impossible to get into the keeper zone without getting beat. And you can just forget about opposing seekers getting time with the snitch.

Photo by Elizabeth Barbier

46. Brad Armentor, LSU, Chaser

Right after I (probably illegally) threw my elbow into Brad Armentor's sternum while he was diving sideways and sidearming a shot straight through the hoop after driving down half the field, I took a moment to wonder, how did this guy fall out of the conversation of elite players in the game? Brad has had a very notable quidditch career, when he was a loud, brash and passionate standout star for one of the original great quidditch programs outside of the Northeast. After an excellent performance among fellow superstars winning the gold medal for Team USA, Brad and LSU found themselves on the periphery of the national radar, where they remain this season, fighting to get back to their original spot as the top of the strongest region. Brad is still the backbone of the team in his 5th year playing for them. His performance at Diamond Cup was all-around excellent. He had moments of lackadaisical defense, but nobody is more aware of that problem than Brad, and it's the easiest problem to fix. Even so, his strong moments far and away outnumbered his mistakes. He held the ball a great deal of the time when he was on the field, and he was able to drive for goals, find open receivers for goals, and turn the ball over remarkably few times considering how much time he spent holding it. On my team, he will shine as the extremely valuable role of offensive tank. He's shockingly fast for his size, brutally difficult to take down, one of the best bludger-blockers out there, and a great finisher at the hoops as well as from mid-range. He proved at Diamond Cup that he can drive through the greatest defenders in quidditch when he was instrumental in keeping LSU close in their bracket matchup with Lone Star. And unlike many of the other great tanks in the league, Brad is a great decision-maker, will protect the ball, and find the pass when it's the better option. I invite you to watch LSU-Lone Star to watch Brad (#20) put on a fantastic all-around effort in a losing battle against some of the best out there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvNeGV0vOhE

Photo Credit to Michael E. Mason

47. Michael Parada, NYDC, Keeper/Chaser/Seeker

Three-year captain and founding member of Penn State University, NYDC Capitalists captain, Team USA chaser, the King of Fantasy Tournaments (3-0 as a GM), three-sport high school varsity athlete, intramural champ (at a school of 40,000) and a D1 track athlete. If that does not add up to an appealing pick in your mind, let me throw some stats your way: - 22.4 seconds in the 200m - 10.9 seconds in the 100m - 4.5 seconds in the 40m - 6'2 in the high jump Michael Parada is without a doubt the best chaser and/or keeper left in this draft. In fact, he should have gone significantly sooner. At his best in the wing chaser position (a spot he will return to with the Capitalists), Parada is the perfect addition to my current line of Tony Rodriguez and Becca DuPont. As seen by his stats, Parada brings speed to this already powerful offense. He has a reputation for being a reliable finisher. He can dunk, he can pass, he can set a pick, he can hit a long shot. With overall impeccable field awareness, this chaser has no issue finding open space. When Rodriguez needs one of his very few breathers, Parada--also with a solid long shot--can sub in at keeper and keep the high-flying offensive alive. In addition to his rep for reliable scoring, Parada is also a solid distributor. Similar to what I mentioned was the case with the Rodriguez/DuPont combo, DuPont will take position by the hoops and Parada--led in by beaters Max Havlin or Katrina Bossotti--will dish her the perfect pass leading to an easy score. Not an option? Expect DuPont and Parada to have an easy back-and-forth passing game until one finds the opportunity to dunk. On defense as either a chaser or keeper, expect Parada's height to do some serious damage. He has a great vertical and long arms, leading to interceptions left and right. His size also allows his to easily wrap up opposition and force lackluster passes his teammates will easily snatch up. While donning a yellow headband, Parada snatched several key grabs that contributed to his fantasy three-peat. If his long arms fail him, his relentlessness will certainly give his seeking substitute a leg up for the grab. Look for him to double-team the seeker game with teammate Steve DiCarlo. In case you forgot that brains play a part in this game, this means two of the most notable minds in the sport are part of Team Dallas. Expect DiCarlo and Parada to be able to figure out and break down an opposing team's strategy with ease. My final remark is to you, Hank Dugie. If Scott Axel has a quidditch IQ that is off the charts, what does that make the IQ belonging to the man who trained him and still coaches him from the sideline of tournaments?

48. Jacob Bruner, Baylor, Keeper

Recently coming off of a Diamond Cup finals appearance, Baylor University is on a high, and Jacob Bruner can be considered a huge factor in getting there. His huge stature and powerful frame belies his speed on the edge, and he is a huge offensive threat if you combine that with his long shot. In addition he is ridiculously hard to bring down, and while he was brought down in the finals, he always managed to get a good pass off beforehand. In the Baylor zone they leave the back of the hoops pretty much exclusively to him with much confidence, and for good reason. He has all the defensive skills you want in an elite keeper without even having to tackle, blocking almost every shot that comes his way, sometimes through the hoop. He is often overlooked in the crowded SW keeper field, but I don't anticipate that lasting after the Baylor Bears attempt to defend their SW Regional title. They are fresh off a World Cup Final Four appearance and a shellacking of the reigning WC Champs UT, and expect them to only get better. Plus, try to argue that he doesn't look like Marshall Erickson in that picture, I dare you. He is a much better distributor than Fox and will serve as a good changeup for my Quiyk team, and he deserves as much recognition as he can get.

TEAM NATERA: K, Stephen Bell, Lone Star QC B, Mollie Lensing, Lone Star QC B, Hope Machala, Lone Star QC U, Sean Pagoada, Florida's Finest C/S, Kedzie Teller, QC Boston C, Keri Callegari, Lone Star QC

TEAM BELL: B, Brittany Ripperger, Baylor K, Brendan Stack, BU B, Chris Rhodes, Baylor C/S, Aryan Ghoddossy, UT C/S, Jeffrey Lin, The Lost Boys B, Andy Abayan, SB Blacktips

TEAM HANSON: C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M K/C, Alex Browne, The Lost Boys C/U, Missy Sponagle, The Lost Boys C, Brad Armentor, LSU

TEAM DALLAS: K, Tony Rodriguez, The Lost Boys B/C, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU C, Becca DuPont, Texas A&M S/U, Steve DiCarlo, The Lost Boys C/K/S, Michael Parada, NYDC

41. Scott Axel, Penn State University, Beater

Kevin Oelze would have you believe that in the majority of matches, the lesser team wins. That is simply not the case. A team that is bigger, stronger, faster, and better looking will win 9 out of 10 times. However, as a member of the Silicon Valley Skrewts it makes since that he is holding out hope that a team with lesser athletes can manage the occasional win. To appease him, I have decided to focus this description on my next pick's intellectual capacity rather than his laser rocket arm or the fact that he is the best beater his region has to offer. World, meet Scott Axel. For those fans of the winter olympics, Scott himself is a big-time skiier. He won best eyes in high school, was a member of Model UN and Youth Goverment, and is currently an architecture major at Penn State. If the fact that he is a architecture major at Penn State doesn't scream GENIUS, I don't know what does. His field awareness and quidditch IQ are off the charts. Yes, I made charts and he is off of them. He's cultured. Loves travelling. Holland and South Korea are his favorites. Bludger-wise he prefers green ones that blend in with the grass. When asked if he uses gloves he replied, "Hell no! No gloves, only spit." His teams have won both fantasy tournaments that he's attended. And one more thing, he's never lost a bludger on brooms up. SPEED. - Hank Dugie

42. Mathieu Gregoire, Lone Star, Beater/(Chaser)

With my sixth pick in the draft, I select Mathieu Gregoire. Recent transfer from A&M to Lone Star, Mathieu has established himself as one of the best beaters in the Southwest, as well as the nation. Not quite as well-known outside the region of some of the other players from the SW, Mathieu is arguably one of the best players yet to be taken in the draft. Mathieu is aggressive and smart, and it's absolutely offensive how much of an accurate cannon he has when throwing the bludger. Most importantly, though, is the mustache. Have you seen it? Go see it. No words could do it justice, so I'll just stop there. As for how he fits with the rest of the team, I believe that every single team in this draft is going to have great players handling the quaffle. There isn't a huge difference between the top 5, top 10, top 15, and top 20 quaffle players, and games would likely be decided by bludger control. Though I will certainly be pairing both Mathieu and Peter with other beaters I draft later on, putting them together is absolutely terrifying. Peter will mesh immediately with Mathieu after playing with Chris Seto, and Peter's smart, measured play will work perfectly with Mathieu's aggressive style. - Zach

Photo Credit to Ali Fishman

43. Sean Beloff, University of Miami, Chaser

Photo by Michael E. Mason

37. Kedzie Teller, Boston Massacre QC, Chaser/Seeker

Do I really have to explain how good this guy is? He started off his collegiate athletics career as a sprinter for the BU track team. He then spent a few years dominating for BU at multiple world cups and earned a spot on Team USA in the summer of 2012. A sterling performance at THE fantasy tournament this past summer cemented his spot among the greats of the game. Deadly fast and strong enough to bring anyone down, Kedzie is the complete package at chaser. He is one of if not the best pure chaser outside the Southwest. A seasoned veteran, Kedzie fits the mold of what I want from my players; experienced athletes who can play multiple positions. Kedzie’s athleticism allows him to play point or off ball defense and excel as a seeker.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Barbier

38. Melissa White, LSU, Chaser/Beater

In our fifth installment of the epic saga, “Oh Beater, Where Art Thou?”, Melissa White, LSU, stars as the latest edition to a bevy of players hell-bent on winning. Many will wonder how such a talented director was inspired to cast this young starlet in this role. Truth be told, the heavens opened up, and the great Mollie Lensing remarked that White played at Diamond Cup. It couldn’t have come at a better time, and literally 5 seconds later, the pick was called in. Surely, one of the biggest questions in this draft was the availability of White, who has kept an incredibly low profile this season (probably not now, especially now with the infamous Canto-bump). There’s no doubt that she would have gone earlier in this draft as one of the premier chasers in the league had her whereabouts been known. White is hands-down one of the fiercest competitors I have ever seen up close and personal. Many people don’t recognize her without multiple chasers draped all over, which is a regular occurrence in matches. She has no fear and will do anything to score; she’s a solid passer, above average agility, and the kind of strength that makes you wonder if Balco has anything to do with it. And what is the proverbial cherry on this awesome sundae? LSU has shown us her versatility by using her as a beater as well. With the addition of White, not only do I add a top-class chaser to the best chaser core in the draft, but also a solid beater, allowing me more versatility with my line-up. And chemistry-wise, Team Canto’s DNA remains the same: physicality, intensity, and heart.

39. Audrey Wright, UT, Chaser

Beauty, Brawn, Brains. Two people in the world share those three qualities in equal amounts. James Franco and Audrey Wright. Why am I picking her? Because it is my belief that she should have been picked far before this. After Stephen Bell, nobody impressed me as much as Audrey at World Cup VI. She's strong, she is the definition of a pure athlete, and she picked up the game quickly and hasn't looked back. While I lay no claim to be an expert on the Southwest, there are those who argue she has a claim for best female chaser in the region. She's a scorer, and will work great off the ball with the other quaffle players on the team. Sorry in advance to Team Dugtrio (aka Team UT) for stealing her from right under you.

Photo by Lauren Carter

40. Keir Rudolph, Kansas, Seeker/Utility

Love them or hate them, the Settle Seahawks are a team of beauty. Young and inexperienced, yet they absolutely destroyed the Denver Broncos (the team I was rooting for) in the Super Bowl. Why? Pete Carroll. He assembled the most athletic, physically gifted team in recent history. If you weren't fast, strong, conditioned - he didn't want you. I consider myself a young Pete Carroll, only better looking. For my QUIYK Fantasy Team, I only want athletes. My team will be stronger and faster than every other team at every position. That's why I select God's gift to quidditch with my next pick, Keir Rudolph. Not only is he in the conversation as the best seeker in the world along with August (let me remind you he too is on my team), but Keir has played each of the four positions at fantasy tournaments all over the country. He's tasted the flavor of play from each region and excels in each.

TEAM NATERA: K, Stephen Bell, Lone Star QC B, Mollie Lensing, Lone Star QC B, Hope Machala, Lone Star QC U, Sean Pagoada, FF C/S, Kedzie Teller, QC Boston

TEAM CANTO: K, Augustine Monroe, UT C, Kody Marshall, Lone Star QC C, Adam Richardson, UCLA C/S, Harry Greenhouse, UMD C/B, Melissa White, LSU

TEAM D'AMICO: C, Vanessa Goh, The Lost Boys B, Peter Lee, The Lost Boys K, Zach Luce, UCLA C, Michael Powell, BU C, Audrey Wright, UT

Photo Credit to Jerry Wang

33. Peter Reynebeau, Arkansas, Chaser

I have had the opportunity to play with Peter and number of years now and though I knew he'd fall due to being moderately unknown, I answer my point defender/ball handler crisis with him. He is the definition of competitive and most importantly, he can put the quaffle wherever he wants it. A bad throw is an exception for him and his talented passing elevated teammate (and brother) Joey Reynebeau to an average of 4.25 points per game played at last years SW regional (the highest average), while clocking 3.5 points per game himself to claim third highest. His on the field leadership is excellent and after some disappointing losses last year he has taking the break to get better and improve his game in all aspects. He is a great point defender as well with good ability to win the ball and break away. Plus he's an Army Sergeant and a police officer, so you'd be hard pressed to find many in better shape. If he has a goal, he is going to do everything in his power to accomplish it and that makes him a great player on and off the field.

Photo Credit: Kat Ignatova

34. Steve DiCarlo, The Lost Boys, Seeker/Utility

The first pick in the Snow Cup draft, founder of the Hofstra Flying Dutchmen, Eighth Man Third Team All-American and seeker for the number one ranked Lost Boys,* Steve DiCarlo is my next pick. Completing the package that is Stony DiCrod, expect instant chemistry on the chasing end of things. Tony Rodriguez knows when DiCarlo is at his best chasing wise and, in turn, DiCarlo knows where Rodriguez will need him on the field. DiCarlo may lack size, but his calculated nature and scrappiness often leads to him stripping the ball from an unknowing ball carrier. Not to mention DiCarlo (who was the second leading scorer on the Lost Boys last season) and Rodriguez have only lost one tournament while playing on the same team--this includes official and unofficial matches. Last season, DiCarlo truly showed his worth as a seeker and this season he has been equally as consistent. Often times his team is far ahead in quaffle points, so DiCarlo has to catch the snitch while battling a defensive seeker and beaters—neither seem to be able to hold him back. He is quick, scrappy and calculated. He is relentless and unafraid to make that necessary dive to catch the snitch. He is that seeker that will sacrifice anything for the sake of his team. All that said, DiCarlo was one of the first to publicly (well, publicly anonymously) analyze the sport. He understands each position and, in addition to chasing and seeking, can beat and keep if necessary. His knowledge of the sport and ability to create and breakdown strategies make him almost as important to this team and his elite seeking ability. *At time of publication

35. Missy Sponagle, The Lost Boys, Chaser/Utility

There are so many great things to say about Missy that I don't know where to start. I felt like it was crucial to grab an elite female chaser, and I managed to get one all the way down in round five. There's been all this talk lately about Holub and Goh being on a tier of their own, but Missy proved at Diamond Cup that she belongs in that conversation. If she is still below Holub and Goh in overall skill, then she is only slightly behind. My favorite thing about Missy is that she is possibly the single most well-rounded female player in the game. She's a top 5 female chaser, and that's what I will use her for, but I have the advantage of being able to put an incredibly capable player in at all three other positions. She saved team Blue Wasikowski at this past summer's Firemercs tournament when she stepped in at keeper, being one of the main pieces of the team that led them to one of the most exciting and memorable tournament finals of all time. She controlled the offense as ballcarrier and brought the team to a level that nobody else could, and dove all over the field picking up loose quaffles. I have rarely seen any player put more effort out on the field than Missy. She's one of the toughest players out there. Her first major recognition came from tackling August Lührs (who is the size of approximately two Missy Sponagles) multiple times, but that's old news now. She has proven that she's capable of taking down plenty of huge guys. What's great about her defense is that she knows when to hit, where she should be in coverage, and she'll burst out of any corner of the field to jump on that loose ball. She will dunk on you, she can shoot from range, or pass to score. There's really nothing not to like about Missy Sponagle. On top of that, she's suggested cookies and pictures of cute animals to sway voters to Team Danson. But that might just push this right over to unfair.

Photo Credit: Sofia De La Vega

36. Jeffrey Lin, The Lost Boys, Chaser/Seeker

The man who ran the L.A. Marathon on a broom. On an already stacked Lost Boys roster, Jeff Lin is probably the best male chaser on the team (and according to a recent QuidCrush post, the most attractive). As with any strong, athletic chaser, he possesses a great ability to drive to the hoops, thrives in a passing offense, and knows how to play extremely solid point defense. However, the true beauty of Lin’s play lies in his off-ball movement. He specializes in setting screens, spreading defenses, picking up rebounds on missed shots, and man-to-man defense. His speed and endurance allow him to play for long periods of time at an extremely high intensity level. In any chaser line-up, he is the piece that completes the puzzle, and that should hold especially true for my chaser line; Stack, Ghoddossy, and Lin together will create a blistering pace of play that will be nearly impossible to keep up with. Most people have forgotten about this, since he no longer has to fill the position for his current team, but Lin was also once considered one of the best seekers in the game. Those skills haven’t left him; he just doesn’t need to use them anymore. As seeker, he is absolutely ferocious. He uses his footwork to juke out defending seekers while relentlessly attacking snitches with all his might (and there’s a whole lot of might). Snitches won’t outrun Lin. They just can’t. If the opposing beaters aren’t keeping him off the snitch for more than a few seconds, they might as well kiss that snitch catch goodbye. But in all actuality, I can just have him shout “DISHONOR!” at opposing teams until they forfeit.

TEAM WILSON: C, Sarah Holub, Lone Star QC B, David Gilbert, Baylor K, David Fox, Emerson C, P. Reynebeau, Arkansas C, J. Reynebeau, Arkansas

TEAM DALLAS: K, Tony Rodriguez, The Lost Boys B, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU C, Becca DuPont, A&M S/U, Steve DiCarlo, The Lost Boys

TEAM HANSON: C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M K/C, Alex Browne, The Lost Boys C/U, Missy Sponagle, The Lost Boys

  29. Aryan Ghoddossy, UT, Chaser/Seeker

The time: Late July. The place: THE Fantasy Tournament in Austin, TX. 12 teams of players from all over the SW and the country descended upon this infamous tournament to battle for eternal glory. After two days of intense and gruesome quidditch, filled with many of the biggest names in the entire quidditch world, one man had emerged as Master of the Pitch, Victorious. That man was Aryan Ghoddossy of the champion Red team. Ghoddossy is a bullet on the pitch. No, really; this guy can sprint for days (on Day 1 of SW Fantasy, his car broke down, and he proceeded to sprint to the field. And then played). Except he can curve his bullet… like in the movie “Wanted”. On offense, his combination of agility and sturdiness makes him a nightmare to defend against, as he cuts and drives towards his opponents’ hoops almost at will. Although that might also be because of how much he sweats. On defense, he plays an aggressive point, and is capable of tackling players that other may consider impossible to take down. This combination of abilities makes an ideal on-pitch companion for Stack’s transition offense, and makes his Baylor beater teammates’ jobs just that much easier. The only thing that might be more impressive than his speed is his versatility. He spent most of his first year in quidditch as an off-ball or outlet chaser for UT, but made a seamless transition to ball carrier, demonstrating incredible decision making and field awareness when helping the Red team earn their championship. Then he donned the yellow headband, and came away with the catches that directly led to his team winning the tournament. This guy is relentless in every aspect of his game, and makes everyone on his team better when he plays. He’s proven he’s not only capable of integrating into a fantasy team… it’s where he shines. Oh, and did I mention he’s a World Champion? - Evan Bell

Photo Credit: Brennan Ross

30. Alex Browne, The Lost Boys, Keeper/Chaser

"This was the pick that took me by far the longest to settle upon. However, the more video I watched and player lists I pored over, the more I was able to see that Alex Browne was an absolutely clear choice, First off, Browne fits excellently with my current chaser lineup. I have a hybrid chaser-keeper in Drewski and now I've acquired a hybrid keeper-chaser in Browne. This selection enables Drewski to play at chaser where he can be most effective defensively, and Browne can play in a defensive keeper role. Meanwhile, the two can rotate on and off ball roles on offense to keep defenses on their toes, as they each excel on and off-ball interchangably. In my unfortunately hypothetical offense, Browne will play as a first-touch quaffle player. He will be a huge threat to catch and score at the hoops, catch in space and drive, or catch in space and pass. Browne is yet another all-around athlete: strong, fast and smart. My favorite thing about picking him is that he exhibits exemplary play in every role in the quaffle game. Great passer. Great driver. Great shooter. Great receiver. Great cutter. Great off-ball physicality. Great hoops defense. Great man coverage. And merely proficient point defense, which is the role I am already deepest in. Browne is not the center-of-the-team superstar that he was for UCLA through Western Cup III in 2012, but his skills have not faded. If anything, he has become an even better player in the new roles he has filled for his teams. Surrounded by talent as he is able to be in this fantasy draft, with a chaser corps that is already very well-rounded, his value is maximized. You need only look to how he works off-ball alongside Tony Rodriguez in the Lost Boys' Western Cup championship run, or the incredible ball control UCLA showcased at World Cup with him at the center. I'm also betting on a strong second half of the season for Browne. Browne will not only be a huge part of the Lost Boys this weekend at Diamond Cup, but I expect him to prove that he was a steal of a pick in this draft." - Dan Hanson

31. Becca DuPoint, Chaser, Texas A&M

She was the Eighth Man's 2012 Sportswoman of the Year. She was one of the website's Third Team All-Americans. She is one of the most passionate players in the sport and she is a force on the field. My fourth pick is Texas A&M's Becca DuPont. Impeccable field awareness and the ability to think quickly on her feet are just two aspects that make DuPont an impeccable chaser. She has proven thus far this season that she can alley-oop just as well as Sarah Holub and handle the ball as well as any male chaser. Not to mention her diving, no-look pass against LSQC during the Wolf Pack Classic is the envy of many. She is scrappy. She is tough. She is fearless. There isn't a single player she isn't willing to challenge to get a hold of the quaffle. Expect this diehard attitude to play a huge role on this team. On the offensive side, DuPont and Tony Rodriguez are an ideal combo. Expect Rodriguez, the offensive giant in this draft, to be led in by beater Max Havlin and dish a perfect pass to DuPont--who rarely struggles to find positioning in open space--for an easy shot by the hoops. On the defensive side, Dupont is a powerhouse. She never hesitates to lay a hit and gets right back up upon receiving one. Both males and females alike should and do envy her tackling form. Expect DuPont to easily match up against many male, wing chasers in the game and, simultaneously, shut them down.

Photo Credit: Jerry Wang

32.  Joey Reynebeau, Chaser, Arkansas

Joey Reynebeau is a friend and teammate, but he was also the highest scoring chaser at last year's SW Regionals in both points per game played (4.25) and tied for most goals in a game (8). Those numbers don't lie, and he was a major factor in the Razorback's run to the sweet sixteen past Hofstra, along with a snitch range game against the Lost Boys and a Maryland game that was tied till the snitch came back to the field. He is a great athlete, a combination of strength and speed that allows him to make a lot of plays as a primarily off ball chaser. He has great hands and vertical leap, allowing him to make leaping one handed catches in traffic before shuttling the ball into the hoop. If necessary he is very capable at playing point defense and making strong tackles when necessary. He is one of the few players I've seen that excel at something (off ball chasing) but can fill in to any other position and be almost as good. He's donned a black headband a few times, and has a snitch catch on the season. I've gotten the chance to see him get even better this year, and I'll let you judge this pick after SW Regionals.

TEAM BELL: B, Brittany Ripperger, Baylor K, Brendan Stack, BU B, Chris Rhodes, Baylor C/S, Aryan Ghoddossy, UT

TEAM HANSON:

C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M K/C, Alex Browne, The Lost Boys

TEAM DALLAS:

K, Tony Rodriguez, The Lost Boys B, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU C, Becca DuPont, A&M

TEAM WILSON:

25. August Lührs, USC, Keeper/Utility

My team just keeps getting better and better! With my next selection, I choose August Lührs primarily because the rest of the GMs have been too foolish to do so already. He was a member of the Dream Team USA, played two and a half years at USC, once had a quidditch tumblr dedicated to his ass (before I took the throne), holds the brooms up to goal record of 5 seconds, is better than you at dancing, and ancestry.com discovered he descends from the biblical hero Samson. Not only is his size a force to reckoned with in quaffle play, but his length and strength make him one of the best pure seekers in the game. With the addition of August, I have the best seeker committee and depth of any team. Get excited to see me pull away from the pack even more when my next two picks roll around. I am confident that August has proven himself enough during his career and in the first half of this season that his inability to attend World Cup VII will not dissuade voters. -Hank

(Photo by Michael E. Mason)

26. Michael Powell, BU, Chaser

I think we can all agree that in the sport of Quidditch, our heart is not in our chest; our heart is in between our legs. Our broomsticks! And nobody will tug at the heartstrings of America more than Michael Powell, stud (in so many ways) chaser for Northeast Regional Champions BUQ. Powell likes to wear a silly hat that matches his adorable grin, and I'm not sure I know anyone who dislikes the kid. More importantly, he's a phenom, and a huge discovery for BU who stepped up when Brendan Stack went abroad last year. Noah Schwartz described him best in a recent article on the Eighth Man (TM pending), saying "Stack and Fox are not the best quaffle players in the Northeast. That honor goes to Powell, and any general manager who takes him, now a steal in the late third or early fourth round, will be able to torch Alex Wilson and Evan Bell in arguing for the superiority of his or her team because they didn’t just make a weak pick, they made an inherently wrong one by leaving the better player from that same city on the board." I agree with Noah. Powell is the defensive force that plays the point and drives BU's sturdy quaffle defense, and he's most often the ball-carrier for Boston's best, a strong passer and better finisher. And I swear, ask anyone on his team or who has faced him, his footwork is quicker and smoother than Michael Jackson, which is shocking for such a tall bro. -Zach

(Photo by Arsh Agarwal)

27. Harry Greenhouse, UMD, Chaser/Seeker

Intensity. If you look up “intensity” in the dictionary, you will find, “the state or quality of being intense”… OK, if you’ll scroll down to the second definition, you will find, “extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling.” And to the right, you’ll find a picture of Harry Greenhouse. And if you look closely, Harry Greenhouse is holding a smaller picture of Harry Greenhouse. That intensity serves as Harry’s power source, and the effect carries through to his University of Maryland teammates, champions of the Mid-Atlantic. On the field, Harry has set of skills that makes him both a highly-effective chaser and seeker: sound footwork, amazing strength, deceiving quickness, and fundamental tackling abilities. On defense, it is common to see Harry quick enough to handle speedy chasers, and strong enough to challenge the mighty behemoths on the pitch. As a seeker, his quick footwork (which is attributed to his background as a wrestler) positions himself for snitch-grabs. Above all, it’s not the impressive physical attributes that make him great; it’s his attitude, persistence, and heart. Add that to a team of high-energy players, there’s no ceiling for Team Canto. -Canto

28. Sean Pagoada, Florida's Finest, Utility

Sean Pagoada is the best Utility player outside the state of Texas. A member of team USA in 2012, Pagoada is the marquee player of the Southern Region. Able to provide elite play at the chaser and beater positions, Sean is as versatile as a player can get. Breaking out on the national scene as a chaser for the national team, Sean has showcased his ability to play every position over his three plus years of experience. I first played against Sean at World Cup VI while he was a beater for the University of Miami. In our matchup, he outperformed LSU’s Kody LaBauve, one of the best beaters to ever play the game. Now a member of Florida's Finest, Pagoada is once again tearing up opposing defenses as a chaser. At the most recent Wolf Pack Classic, he matched up against LSQC in a pool play game as a chaser and impressed me quite a bit. Playing for the merc team, Pagoada carved through our defense and forced us to essentially double team him for much of the game. If he had anyone to pass to, we would have had a game on our hands. The play I most remember from the game was a possession in which Sean dragged myself and Kody Marshall a couple of yards as we both were hanging onto him.Pagoada is a dream fit for my fantasy team. With an ability to switch between two female beater sets and the traditional one and one set, my beating corps is the class of the draft. No team can bring the level of versatility that mine can. I would matchup Mollie and Hope against any beater duo and feel confident in my chances of holding bludger control for the majority of the game. Throw in Pagoada’s athleticism, elite beating and elite chaser skills and we have a team core that can face anyone and win. Beating wins championships ladies and gentlemen. All we have to do to see the proof of this is re-watch last year’s world cup final. UT’s elite beating is what allowed their chasers to be as dominant as they were. I hope to replicate that formula. - Beto 

TEAM DUGIE: C/U, Simon Arends, Lone Star QC C/U, Chris Morris, Lone Star QC K/U, Daniel Daugherty, BGSU K/U, August Lührs, USC

TEAM D'AMICO: C, Vanessa Goh, The Lost Boys B, Peter Lee, The Lost Boys K, Zach Luce, UCLA C, Michael Powell, BU

TEAM CANTO: K, Augustine Monroe, UT C, Kody Marshall, Lone Star QC C, Adam Richardson, UCLA C/S, Harry Greenhouse, UMD

I'm still a little emotional over Community, so let's just get straight the point:

19. Hope Machala, B, LSQC

A key part of the dominant 2013 World Champion University of Texas quidditch team, Hope Machala established herself as one of the best female beaters in the nation last spring. Playing the back beater role for the Longhorns, Machala excels in retaining bludger possession, killing fast breaks, and rallying her defense. She is the perfect pairing for her current LSQC teammate, Mollie Lensing. Her consistency at the back allows Lensing to surge forward and wreak havoc on opposing offenses and defenses. Able to make any throw asked of her, Hope allows my team to use a variety of lineups. Used either as Lensing’s beating partner in a two female beater set or as her backup in the typical one female beater one female chaser set, Machala’s addition makes my team highly versatile and able to adjust tactically to any team. After a few months of seeing her play on a regular basis, I have to say that Machala is every bit the beater that Lensing or Baylor’s Brittany Ripperger are. Over her years of experience, Machala has morphed into what I believe is the most consistent beater in the game. Her style is different from Lensing or RIpperger. While the other two SW beaters are aggressive, Hope has a positively calming influence on the pitch. She is an elite decision maker and rarely loses possession which allows her teammates to take more risks and go for big plays. Her presence allows Stephen Bell and all of her teammates to play to their full potential. - Beto 

(Photo Credit to Monica Wheeler)

20. Adam Richardson, C, UCLA

UCLA, one of the IQA’s most developed programs, focuses much of its attention on molding its new talent early in the school year. Often times, existing players often avoid the spotlight, but it’s hard for Adam Richardson to go unnoticed. Adam continues to be one of the most talented chasers in the draft. Voted as a third team all-American by The Eighth Man last year, Adam frequently takes the role of point chaser. His combination of size and speed matches up well against many opponents; spectators might recall Western Cup IV, when in the finals, Adam collided with star keeper/demigod Tony Rodriguez, drove him back, stripped the ball, and scored. Adam’s injury woes might have kept him flying under the radar , but there’s no doubt that Adam, along with UCLA, will impress in the second half of the season. Adam, combined with Slipstream and Kody, will play a vital role in arguably the best chaser line in the draft. - Canto

(Photo Credit: 8th Man)

21. Zach Luce, K, UCLA 

With my third pick, I will be selecting Zach Luce. It was actually a 14-player tie in my mind for the next best player out there, so I went with the gentleman with the best name. I was going to take Dan Daugherty, but he chucked the quaffle at my face like 5 times in a row when I was seeking at Northeast Fantasy, so I'm still not over that. Plus, Zach fills the biggest need my team has. He is a big, strong, smart keeper. He can anchor a defense, and most importantly, something my team was missing, he can truly score and run an offense. Zach burst onto the scene last year, and his scoring exploits at World Cup helped UCLA get all the way to the finals with relative ease (relative, compared to UT's trip to the finals). He is a good passer as well, and frankly, with a strong beater (Peter Lee), can be an absolute menace to any defense. Now it's time to spend the next day crossing my fingers and knocking on wood that Michael Powell makes it to my next pick. DON'T TAKE HIM, HANK!

22. Daniel Daugherty, C, BGSU

With my next pick, I select the King of the Corn People himself, Mr. Daniel Daugherty. He was reserve team USA, first team all-American on 8th man, sportsman of the year, captain and leader of the final four Cinderella team, "best" player on the "best" team in the Midwest, do you need more than that? More? Okay. In the Hero Ball Bowl between BGSU and the Lost Boys at WCVI, he singlehandedly beat Tony Rodriguez, who some boldly claim is the best player in the sport. Tony's loyal fans will say, "but he was tired, fatigued, hurt.. and BGSU beaters were too good!" To that I say, "EXCUSES!" Elite players win games and my main man Dan knows exactly how to do that. With the strength and explosiveness of my first two picks, Daniel's finesse is a nice added touch. -Hank

TEAM NATERA: K, Stephen Bell, Lone Star QC B, Mollie Lensing, Lone Star QC B, Hope Machala, Lone Star QC

TEAM CANTO: K, Augustine Monroe, UT C, Kody Marshall, Lone Star QC C, Adam Richardson, UCLA

TEAM D'AMICO: C, Vanessa Goh, The Lost Boys B, Peter Lee, The Lost Boys K, Zach Luce, UCLA

15. David Fox, K, Emerson College

Widely regarded as one of the top two keepers in the NE, and number one depending on who you ask, David Fox is the whole package. He has great speed and size to match up one on one with almost anyone in the game and is a real presence to the offense as well. With Gilbert available to be an aggressive beater I know I can count on Fox to light up receivers and jump routes, making him my best option in case my team doesn't have bludger control, and allowing him to play up for a fast break if we do. His basketball history will make him an efficient field manager on defense...and he gets style points for his dunks. - Alex Wilson

16. Katrina Bossotti, B, Boston University

Much to Andrew Canto’s dismay, Katrina Bossotti will be joining her seasonal beating partner, Max Havlin, on Team Dallas. Bossotti spent her life playing basketball and softball, explaining her impeccable field awareness and killer aim. She ran cross-country in middle school and high school, explaining her endurance. She has been doing martial arts/some form of fighting since she was nine, explaining her no-fear approach to contact. Bossotti is the epitome of an athlete. A four-year veteran of the sport, I chose Bossotti to take the reigns of my beater line. Traditionally a back beater, Bossotti has found herself coupled with Havlin this season due to her ability to hold the defense on the backend and direct Havlin in the event his aggressive beating strategy ever starts to go ary at the forward beater position. Many of you will be inclined to criticize her World Cup VI performance, specifically identifying her team’s loss to Baylor University 120*-20. Let me point something out to you. That was the first time she hit the pitch in months. Additionally, one player does not make an entire team. Bossotti is merely one in that equation. Returning to the now, no one can deny Bossotti is one of the more skilled female beaters in the league. She is the captain of a team that rolled through its regional championship two years in a row and, if you recall my last write-up, BU has never lost a game with Havlin beating. Guess who was his partner for those games? Guess who helped him foster his abilities? Also worth pointing out is Bossotti’s beating radius and ability to easily regain control if lost. Assumingly due to her softball experience, she can make significantly longer, accurate beats than most, and her speed allows for her to recover immediately after those long beats. In the event that Bossotti and her partner lose bludger control and the foot race, she will not hesitate to take the opposing beater to the ground. On a final note, in case you’re keeping track of #TeamDallas, all three of my players have secured their respective regional championships this year. -Amanda Dallas

(Photo Credit: Ruban Polanco)

17. Kifer Gregoire, C/S, Texas A&M

Another Team Burgundy player from this past summer's SW Fantasy tournament, I know. But with this third round pick, I am more certain than either previous round that I was able to snag a player who should have been picked up by another GM several picks prior. There's a reason that there have been mutltiple people wondering on #Mitchbook why Kifer hasn't been drafted already. Actually, quite a number of reasons. First off, what Kifer brings to the team is an incredible blend of strength and speed. With this pick, I believe that I have acquired the fastest team through three rounds, and I have not had to sacrifice strength to do so. Kifer is the fastest player on Texas A&M's undefeated squad this season, and in the conversation of the best point defenders in all of quidditch. That is a killer combo. 

The A&M third year player has been a huge part of his team being consistently one of the top five teams in the IQA since World Cup V in 2011, where I first got a front-row seat to see him play. I'll turn it over to his Quiyk fantasy, summer fantasy, and Texas A&M teammate Drew Wasikowski to describe the details: "On defense he is an absolute monster. Almost impossible to get around up top, and absolutely merciless when bringing down players. He hits hard and makes you not want to get back up. He has this raw desire to tackle that allows him to absolutely petrify his opponent. He's also great at covering passes and looking for interceptions. On offense, he is very versatile, able to easily get around the point defender and also make precision passes to an open player. Very good at moving the quaffle in the best direction. All around athlete, great awareness for strategy." On top of all that, Kifer caught the championship game winning snitches against Lone Star QC at both Wolf Pack Classic and Lone Star Cup this season, the latter being a snitch range victory for the Aggies. At SW Fantasy, he was able to make the catch in snitch range victories for Team Burgundy in each of their wins until the finals. It woulldn't be THAT impressive, except that he was originally supposed to be sidelined with a bout of mono. With Kifer in place, I have even more flexibility than I did before. I can put Drewski into the role of keeper and let Kifer play point defense or play a two-point defense with both of them and scoop up an underrated keeper later in the draft. - Dan Hanson

(Photo Credit: Kevin Freeman)

18. Chris Rhodes, B, Baylor

There's nothing more deadly on a pitch than two capable beaters that work perfectly in sync with each other. "Capable" might be the understatement of this whole draft when discussing Brittany Ripperger and Chris Rhodes, which is exactly why I've chosen Rhodes as my first male beater. Rhodes and Ripperger complement each other perfectly, acting as two limbs of the same defensive body on the pitch. Rhodes, highly adept and maintaining/regaining bludger control, possesses all the skills you could ask for in an elite beater: field awareness, positioning, bludger retention, accuracy, decision making, and adaptability. Yes, despite what the skeptics may want to say about "Baylor beaters", Rhodes proved himself more than capable of playing outside the "Baylor D" when he anchored his team's beater line at SW Fantasy this past summer. Now paired with his favorite beating partner, that trust will translate to an even greater ability to adapt to any offense other teams could throw at this terrifying duo. They are equal parts aggressive and conservative, and maintain an iron grip on their half of the pitch. Their tight spacing makes it a nightmare for opposing chasers to try to break them down, and opposing beaters will find it just as difficult to regain bludger control. This should lead to plenty of fast break transition opportunities for my team's offense, and wouldn't you know it, I have one of the best transition keepers in the game. - Evan Bell

TEAM WILSON: C, Sarah Holub, Lone Star QC B, David Gilbert, Baylor K, David Fox, Emerson

TEAM DALLAS: K, Tony Rodriguez, Lost Boys QC B, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU

TEAM HANSON: C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M

(Photo Credit: Michael E Mason)

15. Max Havlin, B, Boston University

Havlin spent the 2012 - 2013 season racking up points as one of the leads in Boston University’s (BU) fast-break offense. This year, he has been destroying the competition with his aggressive, take-no-prisoners style of beating. No stranger to leading the offense with a bludger, Havlin should have no problem opening lanes for Tony Rodriguez and his future chaser squad. On defense, look to Havlin to create an impenetrable wall with his soon-to-be-announced beater partner, forcing long shots in the direction of a keeper with incredible length. Havlin has everything you could want in a male beater—an accurate cannon arm, quick footwork (likely stemming from the fact that he has played basketball and soccer his entire life), incredible field awareness and a brilliant mind. I was fortunate enough to play alongside Havlin at Northeast Fantasy this past summer (where he swapped between chaser and beater), and I quickly learned he was down to try any strategy—no matter how risky—if it ensured us a win. If our strategy did not prove effective, it took him no time out all to figure out an alternative method of dismantling the other team’s game plan. Not to mention there wasn’t a single beater present he could not go toe-to-toe with, case in point, Havlin versus world champion Jacob Adlis. All that said, I did not choose Havlin just because he’s one of the most talented beaters in the game but also because his priority is his team. He will sacrifice anything necessary to ensure they come out on top, much like Rodriguez. Need one last stat to convince you Havlin is one of the top beaters in the game? Boston University has never lost a match with Havlin at beater. - Amanda Dallas

16. David Gilbert, B, Baylor 

On a team known for its beaters, David Gilbert is captain for the reigning Southwest Regional Champion Baylor Bears, and one of the few people that gets to boast beating UT last year. People are sleeping on Baylor again this year and David snuck by to me in the bottom of the second round. Having seen him play this year I can say this is a steal. He's quick, accurate and smart, dismantling offenses before they have time to set up. He does a great job of prioritizing and forcing passes before beating the quaffle to the receiver. He is an underrated player and sure to impress at regionals. - Alex Wilson

Team Wilson: C, Sarah Holub, UT B, David Gilbert, Baylor

(Photo Credit: Michael E. Mason)

13, Brenden Stack, K, Boston University

BU: 2-time regional champions, known for their killer transition offense, crisp passing game, and intense physicality. Wanna know who's at the backbone of all of that? This guy. Most keepers are either stronger at passing the ball around, or driving it in, but Stack handles both tasks effortlessly. There may not be a faster keeper in the game, or one with a softer touch of the quaffle. He also shows an unusual amount of versatility on defense, equally capable as a shot blocker or point defender. And to top it all off, HIS STAMINA. Stack was on the field for BU for almost every minute of every game at Northeast Regionals, and still walked away, trophy in hand. Despite already being an elite player, Stack only seems to be on the rise as we head towards the World Cup this year. I'm excited to see what this beast is capable of come April. On my team, Stack will be the cornerstone of a chaser defense that will allow Ripperger to wreak havoc on her half of the pitch, and of a chaser offense that will outrun and outpass any defense in this draft. - Evan Bell

(Photo Credit: Shelby Rose)

14. Chris Seto, B, Lost Boys

The fact that Chris fell to me makes me feel luckier than the fact that I didn't get towed after parking for over four hours in a tow zone on Saturday night. Which would've been his fault anyway, since I was picking him up from Union Station at 6 a.m. You're welcome for that, Chris. Chris is my best friend in quidditch. We've been through quite a lot together. An intraumural championship, heartbreaking World Cup elite eight losses with two different teams, college, our first real job after college, and now our rooms are twenty feet apart. Thanks to him maybe more than anyone else, I've somehow kept the reputation that I have any shred of in-game quidditch intelligence. Chris was an underrated huge part in the rise of the Lost Boys leading up to World Cup VI. Not only was his conversion to beater a game-changer, but he brought a great deal of level-headed, forward-thinking leadership that pushed our team to an elite eight level. He is one of the smartest strategic players in the game, but what really sets him apart is his ability to make the best decision instantly on the field. His ability to outsmart and adapt to opposing beaters and quaffle players alike make him incredibly frustrating to play against, even though many of his victims are literally double his weight (he's the deadliest 138 lbs. you'll find in quidditch). There may be an even better quality he brings to my team in this draft: he is a great beating partner. He communicates just the right amount, and is able to always consider how his actions will affect his partner, along with the rest of his team. Some claim that he was able to take the Southwest Fantasy tournament by storm this past July because they weren't expecting this Chinese Fireball. I would like to assure all of these people that just because you're expecting Chris Seto does not mean you're ready for him. - Dan Hanson

Team Bell: B, Brittany Ripperger, Baylor K, Brendan Stack, BU