Following a successful 2017-18 season, which included 14 wins and an appearance at the US Quidditch Cup, the Michigan State Quidditch travel team is gearing up for another successful year.
Quidditch was popularized by author J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" franchise. The first organized game was played in 2005 at Middlebury College. Since then, the sport has grown to include over 200 teams that range from the elementary to collegiate levels.
“Quidditch is a mixed-gender contact sport with a unique mix of elements from rugby, dodgeball, and tag,” according to U.S. Quidditch, which is the governing body for the sport.
Coach and student Roarke McAllister has high hopes for the Spartans this season and believes their mix of rookie and veteran talent will take them far.
“I really want to build on the progress we made last year. We had a really great rookie class that showed a ton of promise,” McAllister said. “I want to take what we had from last year and really sharpen that up and hone it.”
A Quidditch team, made up of seven athletes, plays with brooms between their legs. Athletes play as either chasers, who score goals; beaters, who keep the other team from scoring; keepers, who guard the hoops; or seekers, who end the game by catching the snitch.
Even though she isn’t traveling with the team this year, junior chaser Aislinn Langley is looking forward to helping new players improve their skills while also enjoying the camaraderie.
“The community, everyone is really nice and doesn’t take themselves super seriously and it’s just a fun, ridiculous sport,” Langley said.
Beater coach Miranda Tolsma was a fan of the “Harry Potter” book series and films in high school. She first learned about the team at a 4-H camp held at MSU.
“I think I found a really good community here with the team. ... These are my people,” Tolsma said.
Tolsma is also looking forward to making another appearance at nationals this year on an automatic bid.
Last year, the team did not qualify for nationals at their regional tournament. Because of this, they had to meet other requirements to receive an at-large bid. U.S. Quidditch requires all teams to play at least eight games, against four different teams, at three different events in order to automatically qualify for the national tournament.
Freshman chaser Ethan Wanous played football and baseball in high school. He said he wasn’t nervous to play a scoring possession for a sport he’d never competed in before.
“I’m excited. I like the challenge. I like sports, and it’s fun competing,” Wanous said.
Sophomore beater Charlie Woodside had his heart set on playing Quidditch at MSU since his junior year of high school.
“This where I found all my friends outside of high school and home,” Woodside said.
Like any athlete, Woodside said he faced his fair share of injuries this past season, but he didn’t let that stop him from being a valuable asset on the sidelines.
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Freshman Ash Toth found Quidditch to be a perfect way to blend his love for the book series and sports — while also making friends.
“I’m really looking forward to getting the experience of playing and competing in something. I like athletics. I’m a competitive person, so competing and playing sports is really fun for me,” Toth said.
The Quidditch players said they hope their host of new talent and the team’s tight-knit nature will help them soar this season.
