The Eastern Michigan University Flying Squirrels Quidditch team kicked off its season against the University of Michigan at Frog Island Park. Michigan’s speed and physicality was too much and it defeated EMU 110-60.
“It’s our first game of the year with all the new people,” EMU coach Brandon Gillespie said. “We saw a lot of stuff we have to work on. (We) need to play more physically.”
The Flying Squirrels ended the match by catching the snitch but were outscored 110-60. Catching the snitch accounted for 50 of EMU’s 60 points. EMU made very few substitutions in the match, attempting to get new players acclimated from the sidelines. The UM dominated play leading 110-10 until the snitch was caught.
“They’re a good all-around team,” UM Chaser Sam Whaley said after the match. “They’ve got some big guys, which is always a problem for us, and they’ve got some very agile guys.”
“Both teams looked good. We play them every year and it’s always a good match up,” UM chaser Margret Burns said.
An overview of Quidditch:
Quidditch is one of the fastest growing sports on college campuses with more than 300 collegiate programs. There are also hundreds of high school, community and national quidditch programs. College Quidditch is regulated by the International Quidditch Association.
College Quidditch or “Muggle” Quidditch is played by teams of seven; three chasers, two beaters, a keeper, and a seeker. Players run while holding a broom between their legs. Chasers try to pass a ball called the Quaffle through one of three hoops that are guarded by the keeper. Each goal is worth 10 points. The beaters try to hit chasers with the bludger and render them temporarily out of play.
The seeker chases after the Snitch. The Snitch is a designated runner with a flag tucked in his waistband. The game is over when a Seeker removes the flag from the Snitch’s waistband or the time limit is reached. Removing the flag from the Snitch is worth 50 points.
For the last six years the best college Quidditch teams have participated in the International Quidditch Association World Cup. In previous years the World Cup has been held in Chicago and in New York’s Central Park. World Cup VII will be held in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on April 5-6, 2014.
Looking Ahead:
EMU’s goal this season is to join the best teams in the country in North Myrtle Beach this April. EMU will have to improve if they hope to reach that goal.
The EMU Flying Squirrels hope to improve their record as their new players gain more experience and play time.
