By: Max Kaplan
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For the second fall season in a row, Quidditch is taking Chestnut Hill College by storm. Before I further confuse you, here’s the gist: we’re one of several hundred US schools to adapt Harry Potter’s signature sport for college students. On October 2, the Chestnut Hill Activities Team hosted its second annual Quidditch on the Hill tournament, where CHC students mount broomsticks and hit the soccer field. However, rather than spending a few paragraphs explaining college Quidditch in all its glory, I’ll let the numbers do the talking.
4 The number of camera angles the Quidditch on the Hill ’09 tournament was filmed from. In the final video, you’ll see all the action from the stands, behind the goal posts, and both sidelines.
7 The number of different teams in our tournament, including the Hungarian Horntails, the Death Eaters, the Norwegian Ridgebacks, Ravenclaw, the Big Black Broomsticks, the Polyjuice Pistons, and the Mudbloods. (For the record, Ravenclaw won for the second year in a row.)
13 The number of current student athletes who competed in the tournament, representing everything from tennis to lacrosse.
20+ The number of teams, both national and international, we’ll be competing against in the 2009 College Quidditch World Cup, held at Middlebury College. Last year, we defeated the likes of Princeton University and Louisiana State University. This year, the competition is stiff. Our all-star team that competes in the Cup is made up of our own tournament’s best players, as chosen by our staff coaches. They’re a lucky bunch!
21 The number of authentic Quidditch brooms used in the tournament. They’re handmade by Alivan’s, broom supplier for the nation’s most competitive Quidditch teams. Our model of choice? The Phantom Phlyer.
30 The number of points earned by a team when their Seeker catches the Snitch, a runner dressed in head-to-toe gold with a tennis ball-in-sock hanging out of their back pocket. A fair catch ends the game, but it must be a clean grab and hinderance-free.
100 The number of students who signed up to compete in this year’s Quidditch on the Hill tournament…in one day.
While some consider the sport a mix of rugby, flag football, tag and dodgeball plus broomsticks, one Chestnut Hill students calls it a game of “strategy and finesse.” If you’re familiar with Harry Potter’s rules, the premise is the same. “Chasers” score goals by throwing “Quaffles” (volleyballs) through giant hoops; “Beaters” throw “Bludgers” (dodgeballs) at Chasers to knock them out; “Keepers” protect their team’s goals.
If numbers aren’t your thing, here are a few visuals to bring you up to Firebolt speed:
