#quidditchelitist

[wanderingpelican]

What do you think of Luke Changet as a player and not just a loud mouth?

He is a loud mouth, no doubt. As far as his playing goes, Luke is best in games where the beater play is isolated from the chaser play. His decision making and knowledge of the game help him to excel in beater battles and seeker beating. It’s tough not having seen him play on an official, established team in over a year, but he seems to struggle most when the other teams beater play is a big part of their offensive or defensive strategies and he has to split his concentration between retaining control and covering the quaffle. 

[chasingperfectionquidditch]

All-California Roster

California All-State Team

In response to Luke Changet’s all-state Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio teams, we decided to rack our brains and create a roster that was composed of the best players that California has to offer. We got to see a lot of these players when we made the trek to Snow Cup a few weeks ago, and firmly believe that only with the exception of Texas, California contains some of the best that quidditch has to offer.

The name of the game for this roster is versatility - with some of the best male beaters in the country, as well as females who can seamlessly transition between beating and chasing, the All-California team can play with any gender combination, whether it be a two-male or female beater lineup without hesitation.

Current players on official rosters only, names within positions in alphabetical order.

Keepers

Ren Bettendorf, Santa Barbara Blacktips Tony Rodriguez, Lost Boys Zach Luce, UCLA

Honorable Mentions: Nebraska Huggins, Thundercats; Ryan Parsons, USC; Salvador Sánchez Jr., UC Berkeley.

The keeper position contains All-American Tony Rodriguez and Zach Luce, who have solidified themselves as perhaps the two best keepers in the Western Region. Ren Bettendorf also impressed at Western Cup, helping the Blacktips get the #1 seed after pool play (and did you see his flip shot at Snow Cup?)

The toughest decision here was the omission of Nebraska Huggins, who we believe has potential to become one of the best keepers in the Western Region. He already is one of the West’s best drivers, and his football experience coupled with natural athleticism helps him blow by many point defenders as well as hit mid-range shots. However, his lack of experience as well as his distributive skills left him off the list this year. Hopefully, we can see him in this roster come next year.

Male Chasers

Alex Browne, Lost Boys Brandon Scapa, UCLA David Demarest, USC Jake Tieman, Lost Boys Jeff Lin, Lost Boys Tye Rush, Riverside

Honorable Mention: Alex Richardson, Long Beach Funky Quaffles; Ben Harding, Santa Barbara Blacktips; Corey Osto, UCLA; Michael Binger, UCLA.

A position of depth, the 3 Lost Boys chasers have impressed this year. Browne has seamlessly transitioned from UCLA’s keeper to a chaser who can move well off the ball as well as make the second pass to find his teammate for an even better shot. Lin is one of the West’s best point defenders, and his hustle has him picking up loose balls to do the dirty work. Tieman plays a physical game that helped him excel and be UCLA’s most effective chaser against the Longhorns last April, when he was able to drive into Texas’s defense without being taken down. Scapa, who plays 3 positions for UCLA, is possibly its most important player. Rush is a fantastic off-ball chaser whose speed and vertical leap make him very difficult to defend, and he is Riverside’s most lethal scorer. Demarest is an incredible athlete, who plays at a high level on both sides of the ball while excelling in any role necessary.

Female Chasers

Alessandra Ché Pisaño, Long Beach Funky Quaffles Missy Sponagle, Lost Boys Vanessa Goh, Lost Boys

Honorable Mention: Katelynn Kazane, UCLA; Sarah Sherman, USC; Tiffany Chow, Lost Boys.

Female chasing is where California lacks elite depth, but it is top heavy. Goh and Sponagle, who both starred for Team USA a couple of years ago, are in the top tier of female chasers across the country and are no-brainer picks. The fact that they are versatile and can also play well at the beater positions well only adds to their value.

Pisaño may be the most surprising pick on this roster - but her smart off-ball movement, above-average passing skills, and toughness (did you see her get up right after getting tackled repeatedly at Snow Cup?) showed to us that she deserves to be on this roster.

Male Beaters

Chris Seto, Lost Boys David Saltzman, Stanford Michael Mohlman, Lost Boys Peter Lee, Lost Boys

Honorable Mention: Brandon Rylee, Thundercats; Logan Trudell, Thundercats; Michael Aguilera, Long Beach Funky Quaffles; Nick Metzler, USC.

The Western Region has a reputation for having some of the nation’s best beaters, and in our opinion, it is also Calfornia’s deepest position. Any of these beaters, including all of those in the honorable mention, can excel in any of other regions. Seto and Mohlman, who didn’t get enough attention (due to Rodriguez and DiCarlo) for their important roles in reaching the Elite 8 last year, were able to both impress in the Southwest. Saltzman also impressed at Western Cup with his smart play, strong arm, and ability to catch bludgers.

Female Beaters

Alyssa Burton, Riverside Amanda Nagy, Lost Boys Sarah Simko, UCLA

Honorable Mention: Kyrie Timbrook, Silicon Valley Skrewts; Madeleine Wojdak, Lost Boys; Misty Gray, Lost Boys.

Another position of depth, Burton impressed us when she played well as a beater alongside Rylee of the Thundercats at Snow Cup. Nagy has transitioned from an already good chaser to a top-tier female beater. Simko has done a great job of keeping UCLA in games with her beating so far this year.

Seekers

August Luhrs, USC Steve DiCarlo, Lost Boys

Honorable Mention: Chris Lock, Santa Barbara Blacktips; Jerome Gage, Riverside

Everyone knows that DiCarlo is one of the most clutch seekers in the game. He seems to always find a way to win games for the Lost Boys as well as his fantasy teams. Having Mohlman and Seto beating on his side helps a lot, but DiCarlo still deserves a ton of credit. Luhrs is another Team USA player whose intimidating strength, long arms, and speed help him be a great seeker. While these two are absolutely deadly, the name of the game for the California All-Stars is versatility. Not only can Luhrs and DiCarlo make an impact in the quaffle game, but they also have a half dozen California teammates ready to trade them for the yellow headband, as Scapa, Demarest, Lin, Tieman, Goh, and Sponagle all boast strong seeking records.

[theothersideofitall]

Gender Debate

Ok, so, I'm not terribly active on Tumblr, preferring Facebook, however, this topic is important to me. Sexism is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as such 1 : prejudice or discrimination based on sex; especially :discrimination against women

2

: behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex

  While it may say especially against women, there is evidence that women can ALSO be sexist against men. I have seen it in real life. I take personal offense when someone calls other bloggers with opinions "pieces of shit", especially my friends. While some individuals may disagree with me, I think it is safe to say that sexism is a two way street. Anyone can be sexist towards anyone. Women can be sexist to men, just as easily as men can be sexist toward women.  I am also willing to bet that your blog The Situational Student is extremely sexist, and has an overt hostility toward anyone, male or female, who defends that idea that woman can be equally as sexist.  I have a few words for you. People are laughing at you. You call everyone a piece of shit, and "privileged" yet you forget that you are the one who seems to be attempting to ride the "High and Mighty" horse, claiming that you are always right. You claim that you are fabulous, but I would love to see how "fabulous" you are. Prove to me and the other bloggers that you actually will listen and RESPECT an opinion that might differ from yours. Do you act like this to your professors? Anytime one of them has a differing opinion, do you call them pieces of shit, and do you rant and rave and complain like a 6 year old child who didn't get her candybar she asked for? You clearly need to get your life figured out if you want to be successful in life, in your job, and with a husband or wife. People will not tolerate this from you, or you will not be able to to tolerate people and their differing mindsets. I'm sure that many others will echo my words and agree that you, with your current state of mind, will FAIL in life. You have little to no respect for anyone who is different than you. You fight with words of hatred, anger and swearing, and yet, you fail to provide good solid facts that prove the quidditch community wrong.  Hate on me and the community all you want, but until you respect and become open minded, you will NOT succeed in life.  Now, I'm NOT saying sexism is ok. I have a severe distaste for people who are sexist, and refuse to support that to any degree. Women players in quidditch are just as valuable as male players, and can be VITAL to a teams success. However, there are people of BOTH genders who can hurt a team because of the LACK of ATHLETICISM. Notice what I said. BOTH GENDERS. I am all about equal opportunity, as long as people are willing to give the effort required, and if a MALE OR FEMALE does not make the cut, then they don't get the spot. Plain and simple.  But, I assume that you will not read this entire thing, as I disagree with you at the beginning. But, do with this as you may, I said my piece, my OPINION, which I am entitled to, just as EVERYONE else is. Oh and its fuckyesquidditch, not fuckyeahquidditch. As always, my inbox is open everyone!

[thelibraryofagonychristie]

I was looking through my QuidCon stuff again, sorting out the notes & stuff, then found this.

I teared up a bit...