#baqc

Quidditch has grown to be something that means quite a lot to me. In fact, before I left for exchange, I cried more when I said goodbye to my team for the last time, than when I said goodbye to my family. There are a good few things on my exchange to do list and meeting Quidditch teams abroad is something I've been super excited about.

I had to catch two subway trains to get to the dust bowl in Central Park (Would have only been one, but I got lost in the maze that is the NYC subway), and when I got there, it was more of a mud bowl. It was pouring rain, and the only thing I'd thought to bring was a change of jeans and a rain jacket. Well.

The game we played was so much fun, I didn't mind the mud, even though I slipped in mud puddles many, many times. I considered, then and there, investing in a pair of gloves. The ball was so damn slippery and muddy!

by Casey Sabal

(Editor's Note: The Author is a member of NYDC Capitalists.)

Instead of being an official tournament with a sole victor, this "tournament" stood as the first set of conference games for the Big Apple Quidditch Conference.  NYDC Capitalists still stands undefeated after this weekends' match-ups.

Over the weekend, nine BAQC teams battled for the top standing in the NY-area conference.  Despite the wind and dustbowl-like conditions, NYDC bested their opponents with a 4-0 record and was the only team to go undefeated. Notably, Macaulay went 4-1 (they played an extra official match) and the Hofstra Flying Dutchmen also went 3-1-- both losing to NYDC.

NYDC Capitalists

Even though NYDC was missing a few key players, they seemed to dominate their games with an impressive 140*-30 win over NYU, and a 110*-30 win over Macaulay. NYDC's beating core was solid on all fronts, and rarely lost bludger control. Beaters Amanda Dallas and Freddy Varone were greatly challenged by Hofstra's Alex Leitch and Theresa Butcha, but keeper Michael "Yada" Parada guided the team to a 110*-30 victory. The chasers seemed to struggle at the beginning of the NY Badassilisks match scoring only a handful of early points, because of its slow pace. Once they seemed to force the game into their preferred pace, the snitch was back and caught by Matthew Zeltzer on the suicide grab, ending in a 70-40* result.

Macaulay Marauders

Macaulay had an impressive showing, shutting out the Horntail Horcruxes 100*-0, along with beating Stony Brook University 70*-20, the same team who beat them in an unofficial tournament earlier in the semester. Macaulay was known for their all-star seeking duo of Andrew Zagelbaum and Shenuque Tissera, but they have recruited a new man. Abhishek Samdaria came through clutch, catching two of the teams’ four grabs, including the game winning grab against Rutgers for a 50*-20 result. Chris Pinto’s ability to drive and pass added to the team’s success on the offensive end of the pitch. Complementing his physicality, was Paula Garcia-Salazar’s impressive defensive beating, which gave the team a 110*-50 win against New Haven. The team’s only loss of the day was to NYDC with a score of 100*-30.

Hofstra Flying Dutchmen

Hofstra seems to be completely new teams from last year, with a completely new chasing line, some of the players are still struggling to find chemistry.  The one thing that remains constant is their beating core, which is arguably among one of stronger in the Northeast. They have recruited some talented athletes to their ranks, including keeper Matt Benemerito and chaser Melissa Thringer who helped the team in their 60-50* win over the Horn Tailed Horcruxes.  Veteran seeker Rob Walsh came through with a snitch grab in overtime to best Stony Brook with an 80^-50* win.  However, Hofstra has a new strategy: Alex Leitch now acts as a keeper and Mike Iadevaia has taken his place as starting beater.  Leitch helped the team to a 60*-20 win against the New York Badassilisks.  The team’s only loss of the day was to NYDC with a score of 140*-10.

New York University

NYU is another team with an impressive showing of freshmen.  They finished the day with a 2-2 record, losing to both NYDC 140*-30 and the New York Badassilisks with a score of 80*-50.  Their offensive line, lead by sophomore Zack Gindes, shut out the Horn Tailed Horcruxes 150*-0.  But, one essential part of NYU is their talented beater Kyle Jeon.  Jeon always makes sure his beating partner has a bludger in his/her hand, and is a key to the team’s success.  This helped the team to a 70*-40 win over Rutgers.

New York Badassilisks

The New York Badassilisks is a team who went through a complete transition this season, after losing many key players to other squads.  However, the team picked up many assets who were key to the team’s 2-2 record this weekend.  They acquired three physical keepers who are capable of driving and passing the ball, including Jordan Woo who had an impressive showing.  Matthew Zeltzer was key to the Badassilisks success as seeker, with game-winning grabs against NYU (80*-50) and Stony Brook University (50*-30).  He also had the game-ending suicide grab in the very physical NYDC match, ending in a 70-40* loss.  The team’s other loss was to Hofstra (60*-20) by a snitch pull.

New Haven Nightmares

The New Haven Nightmares, a team formerly known as the Nargles, finished the day with a record of 2-2.  Chaser Brandon McKenzie added a physical presence to the game and also a few drives giving them the upper hand in wins against Horn Tailed Horcruxes (130*-10) and Stony Brook University (110*-50).  The team had a suicide grab against Rutgers, resulting in a (110-70*) loss as well as another loss to Macaulay (110*-50).

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook went 1-4, but had a great showing.  They had one of the most exciting matches of the day against Hofstra, with Ryan Sebade beating and seeker Jason Caballes catching the snitch just to send the game into overtime, but ended up losing 80^-50*.  They also lost to New Haven (110*-50), and New York Badassilisks (50*-30), and to Macaulay (70*-20).  They bested Rutgers with a 50*-30 win. 

Rutgers

Rutgers had one of the most physical presences out of all the team yesterday.  But, they also had a huge problem in the seeking department.  Beaters JonJulian Minervini and Lindsay Marella complimented the team’s physical defense with their precise plays.  As a whole, they were able to stay within snitch-range with majority of the teams they faced, but ended up losing by grabs, leading to their 1-3 record.  The only game the team won was against New Haven, with a score of 110-70*.  Chasers Stanley Binmitende, Chisa Egbelu, and Matt McGimpsey gave the game a very physical tone, which forced their opponents to adjust accordingly.  They lost to Stony Brook (50*-30), Macaulay (50*-20), and NYU (70*-40).  With a clutch seeker, Rutgers could prove to be a real threat in the BAQC.

Horn Tailed Horcruxes

The Horcruxes had the hardest day of all, going 0-4 in their first set of conference games.  They were shut out by both NYU (150*-0) and Macaulay (110*-0).  They kept it tight against Hofstra, but ended up grabbing the snitch for a 60-50* loss.  Beaters Corey Kientz and Michael Mount kept a tight defense alongside keeper Sean Sullivan, with some more experience all around; these three will become vital to the Horcruxes success in the BAQC.  The team also fell to the New Haven Nightmares with a score of 130*-10.

The BAQC has matches set for every month where they will play the next set of teams.  Last year’s final standings are as follows: 1) Hofstra University 2) New York University 3) New York Badassilsisks.  Now the conference has grown to nine teams in the New York area.