Feature
Top 10 Quidditch Moments of 2015
As we get ready to say ‘Brooms Up!’ to 2016, USQ looks back at the past year to celebrate the top 10 quidditch moments of 2015.
10. A Decade Down
How can anything other than our 10th Anniversary be ranked 10th on this list?
To celebrate quidditch’s first decade, USQ compiled a limited edition, commemorative coffee table book that chronicles the rise of quidditch from the perspective of the organizers, players, and photographers who have shaped the sport into what it is today.
The best part? Flipping through those pages like it’s a senior yearbook to search for your unintentional photobombs and reminisce about the good ol’ days.
My, how the time flies…or, more accurately, runs with a broomstick in between its legs.
Photo by Michael E. Mason
9. Swiss-ed Opportunities
Every tournament comes with its own slew of surprises, shake-ups, and upsets, but World Cup 8 was on another level thanks to the introduction of Swiss-style gameplay format.
While a somewhat divisive experiment, no one can deny that Swiss delivered some unforgettable early match-ups, great David and Goliath moments, and the most suspenseful bracket play reveal yet.
Photo by Alex Benepe
8. Clint Cameo
The Northwest Region gathered quite the crowd at Tukwila’s Starfire Sports Complex during its first-ever regional championship series. But the most excited attendee? Pro Soccer player Clint Dempsey, who made sure to check out the action himself! Here’s hoping we get him on a broom in 2016...
7. Safety First
Quidditch took a lot of steps towards becoming a safer sport in 2015; the year saw the introduction of mandated mouth guards, tackle safety initiatives and clinics, and opened up an overall dialogue about how quidditch can evolve to protect its players.
Perhaps most memorable? Ethan Sturm’s Eighth Man editorial on beater injuries that led to last-minute rule revisions before World Cup 8, proving the community’s commitment to player safety.
6. Felicia Field Day
Nerdom’s darling Felicia Day took the pitch beside Los Angeles’ Lost Boys to learn how to play quidditch for Geek and Sundry. The flog episode is a charming depiction of quidditch and its community, and who can forget Chris Seto’s infamous beat? (If you watch the video, you’ll know which we mean).
5. The Major Leagues
Amanda Dallas and Ethan Sturm redefined the summer season of pick-ups and fantasy tournaments, with the creation of the first ever professional quidditch league in Summer 2015.
Major League Quidditch delivered interregional play, competitive development, and unprecedented player stats that made a clear statement about the potential for professional quidditch.
Also, can we talk about how fresh those jersey kits are?
Photo by Jessica Jiamin Lang Photography
4. Look Ma, I’m on TV!
It wasn’t just the quidditch community that tuned into watch MLQ this summer. In addition to games streamed online throughout the season, the inaugural MLQ Championship Series was televised through Toledo’s Buckeye Cable Sports Network.
Even more exciting: Buffalo Wild Wings showed the series on its bar televisions, inviting customers to cheer on the undefeated Boston Night Riders as they rode towards victory and took home the Benepe Cup.
3. Snapchat Story
2015 was the year of media exposure, as Snapchat featured World Cup 8 as one of its promoted stories. The social media app hosted 10 second clips of beats, snitch grabs, and all that in between…talk about a montage moment!
The Snapchat story gave our sport unprecedented exposure, and helped quidditch trend on Twitter as well. Forget lobster goggles and rainbow vomit: the World Cup story was definitely the best thing to come from the app.
Photo by Paulina M. Pascual
2. Best Collegiate Single-Sport Event
Perhaps swayed by the social media bump, USQ World Cup 8 nabbed the title of Best Collegiate Single-Sport Event from Sports Travel magazine in 2015. The honor feted the organization and management of the event, and reinforced quidditch’s credibility as a competitive sport.
1. Your Favorite Moments
Okay, it may seem like a cop out to give the number one spot to the collective quidditch experience, but—as Rent teaches us—years are measured by the little moments, and 2015 was truly built on all of your stories.
When we asked people to submit their favorite quidditch moments of 2015, the majority cited hard-fought wins, final four finishes, or just the laughter and tears shared between teammates.
So USQ chose to send off 2015 with a celebration of all the moments that keep you coming back for more season after season, year after year. Here’s to the brooms ups and downs, the Ws and Ls, the bumps and broom-bruises that made this year so special.
We’ll see you all in the Sweet ‘16.
