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Imagine yourself taking a quick study break to stare pensively out the window. Suddenly, a shimmering, hot pink object hurtles through your field of vision, leaving you stunned as you watch a single broom fiber float back to earth.Chances are you just witnessed one of the famed and historic Butterbeer Broooers taking her broom out for a practice flight.
Boasting the world’s second oldest collegiate quidditch team, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) honorably made the tradition of flight and fantasy official last fall by awarding the team VSA certification. The Broooers (the three Os signify the round hoops used as goals in quidditch) have been validating the fine literary tastes across campus with their own nod towards J.K. Rowling’s world of magic and whimsy.
The Quidditch World Cup Tournament, hosted at Middlebury College, attracts young muggles from far and wide. Students started taking to the skies at Middlebury College in 2007, and the quidditch community hasn’t touched back down to earth since. The soaring fan base continues to flourish as the annual Quidditch World Cup Touranment has grown from 12 to 20 teams over the course of a single year. The World Cup is the competitive focal point of the quidditch season, and although Vassar has dropped a few notches in the rankings, the Broooers’ hot pink capes make all the statements necessary to remind the wizarding world that Vassar athletes are not to be trifled with in matters of sorcery and fashion.
This year, the Broooers are led by Daniel Bossert ’12, David Bridgman-Packer ’12 and Molly St. Clair ’12. These dedicated captains are striving to infuse Vassar quidditch with even more enchantment. Increased membership and an initiative to host Vassar’s first quidditch tournament, The Butterbeer Classic, promises to delight the campus while bringing quidditch to the forefront of Vassar organizations.
When questioned as to their wizarding pedigree, all three captains are hesitant to claim magical blood. Bridgman-Packer cautions against getting lost in the fantasy. He affectionately refers to muggle quidditch players as “land lubbers” and confesses an amused curiosity to know how the real wizarding world perceives the growing phenomenon.
Bridgman-Packer plays the position of chaser, and he likes to employ “something like Fred and George tactics” as detailed in Rowling’s series. When flitting through the field and scoring points with the mischievous grace of Mercury, Bridgman-Packer appreciates quidditch for its ability to surprise. “I never really thought of myself as a sports person,” he admits. “But then I came to Vassar and realized I was the captain of a sports team.”
Bridgman-Packer smiles as he ponders the idea of quidditch as the great equalizer between the nerdiverse and athletics. He proposes that the magic of quidditch comes from the fact that “the enjoyment isn’t purely athletic. It stems from realizing you’re with equally nerdy people.” Bridgman-Packer appreciates quidditch for broadening his horizons, but also for the social opportunities it provides. Quidditch brings Harry Potter
fans together in a way far more dynamic than arguing about Snape on a forum on Mugglenet, the ultimate Harry Potter fan website. Bossert plays the dual roles of chaser and snitch. He finds playing the snitch particularly exciting as the snitch has free rein of campus and loyalty only to the snitch itself. Bossert fondly recalls his first World Cup. He knew he was involved in something epic when “Yale [University] said ‘brooms up’ and I was like ‘wow, that’s legit.’” Bossert’s favorite tactics include taunting other players and unleashing his wolf patronus if any dementors dare to show up and spoil the fun.
St. Clair occupies the rough and tumble world of the beater. When questioned about her play style she simply states, “I go to my angry place,” with just a hint of malice in her eyes. St. Clair, an outwardly mild-mannered and charming person, can beat with the best of them, and her Laestrygonian tactics are vital for the maintenance of Broooer morale and performance. St. Clair also looks lovingly back upon her first World Cup, particularly the Broooers’ triumph over Princeton University’s team (190-10). “I got my first tackle. I remember that beater,” she recalls.
The deadpan delivery and friendly scowl that accompanies that statement are all the convincing anyone would need to solidify St. Clair as a force that would take more than a few jinxes to make falter.
The Butterbeer Broooers, led by their three spellbinding captains, strive to indulge the fantasy planted in many from as early as the third grade.
Harry Potter will forever hold a place in the hearts of that oh-so-special breed of adolescent who sets his sight on Vassar, and quidditch is just one exceptionally fun way to be a better fan. To see the Broooers in action be sure to polish your wand, dust off your robes and head to the Butterbeer Classic in Noyes Circle on Nov. 14. Draco Dormiens Numquam Titillandus!
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