Grass roots Quidditch soars on Battell Beach

Author: James Kerrigan





The green grass of Battell Beach was host to the first annual Middlebury Muggle Quidditch World Cup on Sunday, Nov. 20, with the trophy awarded to the formidable Falcons.

Battell Beach has been home to countless activities during each season over the past few years. From pigskin to bare-skin, Middlebury students have taken advantage of the open space in creative ways. While Frisbees and baseballs typically fly through the sky, a group of students brought a magical, airborne game down to earth - add Quidditch to the list of things you've seen on Battell Beach.

Quidditch, the featured game in J. K. Rowling's hit series Harry Potter, is now a group on facebook.com and a common occurrence on Sunday afternoons. On the Facebook, the Middlebury Quidditch group describes itself as "the warriors who battle it out every Sunday on the Battell Beach Pitch. We are from Slytherin, Wonnacott, Hufflepuff, Atwater, Ravenclaw and Ross. We understand that Champions are made one Bludger at a time and we will sweat, breathe and bleed to catch a tiny winged ball known as the Snitch. We are the few, the proud...the Middlebury Quidditch Squad! SNATCH THAT SNITCH!" The group's founder, commissioner and head referee, Xander Manshel '09 generated an idea and created a phenomenon.

Like all great ideas, Quidditch was born during a lunchtime conversation in Atwater. Xander and his friends discussed a way to adapt the game for those who can't fly; after hammering out some minor details, like the inability of humans to fly, for example, this far-fetched idea was very near reality. Despite being an initial concern, gathering support turned out to be quite effortless. "When I was about to borrow the brooms from the Intramural Broom Hockey supply, I hesitated, worrying that I wouldn't get 14 kids to come out and play. However, the very first Sunday we played, not only did nearly 30 people show up, but they were dressed to the nines in capes and hats and such." Before long, Sunday afternoon Quidditch was as reliable as Proctor's panini maker.

So, what exactly are the rules of this adapted version? The "pitch," approximately 60 yards long, has three desk chairs from Battell at each end. Duck-taped to each of these chairs are hula-hoops. The object of the game is for the "chasers" to score points by putting the Quaffle (a volleyball) through the opposing team's hoops. Ten points are awarded each time the Quaffle is sent past the keeper through the opposing hoops. The team that captures the Golden Snitch (usually a small, fast moving ball with wings and in this case a very fit cross-country runner dressed all in yellow) earns 150 points. The snatching of the Snitch (done only by the "Seekers") marks the end of a game. All the while, "Beaters," as they are known, are trying to hit the opposing players with red playground balls known as "Bludgers." And, of course, every player must have a broomstick between his or her legs at all times. Think you got it?

Although it's not an official rule, Quidditch players seem very animated, especially Starrett Berry '09. "I bought a $30 pair of goggles and lipstick. There's either something wrong with you, or you have no shame." Shameless or not, the Quidditch community encourages all types of people to participate.

The first-ever season ended on Sunday, Nov. 20, with the Quidditch World Cup. And what a dramatic finish it was. There were seven teams in the Middlebury Quidditch Cup: two teams from Battell (Warrior Fairies and Falcons), two teams from Stewart, a team from Ross, a ragtag team and even an Ultimate Frisbee team. Emi Neithercut '08, one of the 100+ spectators, noticed an essential intangible in a certain team. "I don't think there is any doubt that the Frisbee team will win. Flare is very important. They've got a lot of flare." Flare or no flare, it was the Falcons, "an all-star team of Battell Quidditch powerhouses and playmakers," according to commissioner Manshel, who came out on top and won the Cup. Alex Benepe '09, the Seeker of the day, snatched the sock from the Snitch's shorts to win the match and claim the title.

Fans cheered and players chanted. Manshel awarded the decorative trophy to the Falcons, marking the first season's conclusion. However, the sentiment in the crowd was not exclusively euphoric. Ben Gragnolati '08 was less pleased with the event, commenting that "[Quidditch] is embarrassing for our school."

It appears Quidditch has a bright future. Lizz Herron-Sweet '09 explained, "My friends want to start it at their schools." This expansion is a very real possibility. Manshel hopes that "Quidditch can be a fun distraction for Midd-kids on Sunday afternoons in the fall (and possibly at the end of the spring). I have heard of several other colleges and universities that are interested in starting teams someday and who knows, maybe Middlebury will have a traveling varsity Quidditch squad." Only time, and a little bit of magic, will tell.