Broooers bring Vassar ‘quove’ to NYC

The fifth annual intercollegiate Quidditch World Cup was a spectacle unlike any other. Played over two days on Randall's Island in New York City, the event featured 94 teams from 27 states and multiple continents as well as bands, including famed wizard rock band Harry and the Potters. For the Vassar College team, the Butterbeer Broooers, the event wasn't just about the sport or the atmosphere, but instead about spreading the reign of "quove (quidditch love) terror"—where opposing teams will both love and fear the Broooers.

Teams competing in Division I of the World Cup, like the Broooers, (there were two divisions plus a high school competition) were split into 12 groups of five teams. The top three teams from each group were guaranteed to advance to a single elimination tournament, where they were reseeded Nos. 1 through 36 based on their performance in the four group games. The teams seeded 29 to 36 competed in a preliminary contest to determine the top 32 teams, which then each had to win five games to capture the championship.

Competing in a group with No. 4 nationally ranked Texas A&M University, No. 18 University of Miami, No. 56 New York University (NYU) and the Ithaca Community Quidditch Team, the No. 35 Broooers faced stiff competition to advance out of group play. The team's first contest was against eventual semi-finalist Texas A&M. The game was a hard-fought defensive struggle, with both teams displaying a tenacious effort on their own end. Offensively, the Broooers tried to go inside at the beginning, but were turned away and forced to settle for longer shots. Ultiamtely the Broooers were overcome 70-60 despite Matt Zeltzer '13 earning his team 30 points by snatching the snitch—a tennis ball in a sock velcroed to the back of a runner or wrestler.

The Broooers, though, rebounded with their remaining two Saturday games as they steamrolled NYU 110-20 and Ithaca 130-40. In both games, the Broooers' strong defensive effort led to fastbreaks and points for the offense. The 2-1 record also guaranteed that Vassar, regardless of the outcome of their game against Miami, would advance to the next round.

The Broooers began the second day with yet another defensive struggle, this time against Miami. In a violent contest, the teams looked evenly matched at the outset, before Miami inched out to a small lead. When the snitch returned to the pitch after his wanderings on the complex, Vassar was still within 30 points, meaning a snatch could provide the win; however, while Zeltzer was fending off thrusts from the snitch's foam sword, Miami opened a 70-30 lead, necessitating the Vassar seeker switch to a defensive role. After Miami scored again, expanding the margin to 80-30, the Broooers, with their spot in the single elimination tournament already assured, chose to capture the snitch to end the game, and take the ensuing 80-60 loss.

Based on their 2-2 record and point differential the Broooers were seeded No. 30, which meant a preliminary round game against No. 35 State University of New York at Geneseo. Vassar had faced Geneseo numerous times, most recently just last month at the Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup, a 60-40 Vassar victory. The two teams exchanged a massive group hug before the game, as the commentators remarked sarcastically about the clear hatred and animosity the two teams felt for one another. Despite the teams' whimsical nature before the game, once the contest started the game was on. From the get-go the teams seemed locked in a defensive struggle; however, the Vassar offense was slowly able to break en route to a 140-30 victory. Donning a tutu prior to the game, Zeltzer once again recorded the snatch to ensure the victory.

The Broooers' victory over Geneseo set up a rematch of one of the most exciting games from last year's World Cup, a contest between Vassar and Louisiana State University (LSU). In last year's quarterfinals, LSU jumped out to a 40-0 lead when the snitch reappeared. Seeker Pablo Arenas '11 defended the snitch, until a Vassar goal made the score 40-10. Arenas then quickly grabbed the snitch to force overtime, before completing another grab in the extra session to give Vassar a victory.

This year's contest, though, was different. A strong and skilled LSU team overpowered the Broooers, overcoming Vassar 130-20. Explained chaser Dan Bossert '12, "They were out for revenge. They thought they could win it all last year and we ruined their chances."

The Broooers, though, took their loss in stride, engulfing the announcer in a giant group hug following the contest. For the Broooers, the result is by no means the most important thing that happens. Explained Molly St. Clair '12, "You have to remember you're playing quidditch. This is a game where you run with a broomstick between your legs … It's about having fun."

Overall, the tournament—won by four-time defending champion Middlebury College—was a success for the Broooers. Summarizing the tournament, keeper David Bridgman-Packer '12 remarked, "I think we showed that to be good at a sport you don't need to be serious."