Feature
Going for Gold: Snitches of Global Games
Teams will have to catch the gold at the Global Games to claim first place.
Physicality will be the name of the game this weekend in Burnaby, British Columbia at the second International Quidditch Association Global Games. Seekers will find the winning grab to be harder fought than usual when the stakes are for international glory. The delegation chose eight highly-physical snitches, showing USQ’s favoritism toward a tougher, more physical snitching game.
“The snitches for Global Games this year were selected based on past experience, reputation and referrals from various members of the snitching community,” said Jeffrey Brice, a member of the Global Game snitch selection committee. “I wanted to invite the best snitches to play against the best teams that the world can provide.”
Now we introduce to you, the cream of the snitching crop.
Chris Champitto - “The Bald Snitch”
Coming off of an impressive run at World Cup VII, Chris Champitto of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was an excellent selection. A “winner” of two games at this year’s World Cup--he remained uncaught--Champitto’s star has only been rising since his introduction to the sport in 2012.
Champitto prides himself on his grappling techniques and speed. Adept in Tae Kwon Do, his ability to manipulate and throw seekers is unparalleled, except maybe in this field of talented snitches. Perhaps his most underrated ability is his speed. Likely the fastest snitch of this bunch, Champitto’s ability to turn on the afterburners and leave seekers behind after they are already drained make him a double threat on the field.
Jack Harver - “Bane Snitch”
Quite possibly the most intimidating figure to ever grace the pitch, Jack Harver was a no-brainer pick. Known for his intimidating pre-game speeches, his imposing Bane mask and his physical form, Harver is the snitch no seeker wishes to see stroll onto the field at the beginning of a game.
Photo courtesy of Amy A Photography
A grappler by design, Harver has a unique snitch strategy not seen except by the most physical of snitches. Harver parks himself at midfield and waits for the seekers to come to him, becoming an unmovable boulder. If a seeker gets too close, Harver usually puts them face first into the ground and pins them down until the opposing seeker returns. This diabolical move frustrates and tires seekers, ultimately forcing rapid substitutions that deplete the team’s depth. His field awareness is also top notch and keeps him from being caught easily with his tail down.
It would not be a surprise to see Harver toward the end of the day at the Global Games in one of the final matches. Let’s just hope that no non-US seekers are named Bruce Wayne.
Rebecca McLaughlin- “Brit Snitch”
Rebecca “Brit Snitch” McLaughlin began her snitching career in an unlikely place at the University of Southern Mississippi. There she was trained by Kyle Carpenter, the Pink-Haired Snitch of World Cup VI fame. McLaughlin is no stranger to big stages; her resume includes the British Quidditch Cup, the 2013 South Regional Championship and World Cup VI. Also, McLaughlin is the only representative of the international community in the Global Games snitching ranks.
McLaughlin will be unable to match the larger seekers pound-for-pound on the pitch. Instead she will look to outwit and outrun the seekers in the Global Games. Do not be surprised if she turns to toss in a throw here or there, just to keep the seekers on their toes. This snitch knows when to use her strengths, making for a tough catch in matches.
Tad Walters
Perhaps one of the most famous faces of quidditch to young and old, the addition of Tad Walters to the snitching corps of the Global Games does not come as too much of a surprise. This senior at Loyola University of New Orleans has been playing for three years in the most competitive USQ region—the Southwest. This experience has garnered him a quality reputation as a snitch and earned him a spot in the Global Games.
Photo by Isabella Gong/Photographer
Walters claims to be an extremely physical snitch with the ability to throw top seekers around. Noted for his sense of humor and his evasiveness, he claims that his “child-bearing hips are his greatest asset.” Walters also exhibits excellent snitching form, and he is probably the top fundamentalist in the field. Indeed, he will be a tough snitch to grab in Burnaby this weekend.
Walter Makarucha Jr.
Walter Makarucha Jr. first put on a snitch tail at a team practice where no one was willing to attempt snitching. This proved to be the beginning of Makarucha’s career in snitching, as he calls it “the best position in quidditch.” His efforts in snitching proved fruitful as his physicality and evasive techniques quickly made him one of the top snitches in the USQ Northeast region.
Photo by Michael E. Mason/Photo Editor
Makarucha claims to be a physical snitch who goes for the confrontation head-on more than attempting to outrun a seeker, it seems that the USQ snitch selection committee has chosen physicality over sheer speed. Makarucha enjoys “tormenting each seeker equally,” planting himself on the midfield line to be as fair as possible. While he does not use tricks too often, do not be surprised to see him pull something out of his sleeve at the Global Games.
The following snitches were invited, but unable to attend:
Christian Barquin (Australia)
Etefia Umana (Southwest)
Gabe Garcez (Southwest)
Konstantinos Plakas (Northeast)
Photo of Chris Champitto by Michael E. Mason
Photo of Rebecca McLaughlin courtesy of Fiona K.T. Howat
