Preview

World Cup

March to Myrtle

by IQA Staff | April 3, 2014

Photo courtesy of Will Michels

World Cup VII is this weekend, and qualified teams are scouring the internet for information on their opponents. Here at the IQA, we decided to help you along and introduce you to the 80 teams you could face in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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Crimson Warhawks - Midwest - Regional Finish: 9th
By IQA Staff

With a 10-6 record entering World Cup, the Crimson Warhawks arrive in North Myrtle Beach competing for a spot in the second day of the competition. Games against Lone Star Quidditch Club and the Rochester Institute of Technology should be outright losses. While the team has a chance against the University of South Carolina and Appalachian Quidditch, the Warhawks will need to fix some glaring defensive issues if they hope to improve their region’s national reputation.

Strengths
Tackling -- While the Warhawks look like a defensive sieve at times, this doesn’t mean the squad can’t tackle. Aggressive point defenders litter the roster, forcing teams to bring up a beater with ball carriers. While this strategy has its flaws, the Crimson Warhawks love to hit opposing chasers regardless of whether it will result in a defensive stop or not. Against the teams in their pool, this trait will help the Warhawks immensely.

Weaknesses
Beating -- Beating is where the Crimson Warhawks really show their inexperience. While expected from a B-team, the Warhawks seem to have no sense of when it is advantageous to use their bludgers. The beaters repeatedly attempt to hit quaffles out of the air, a low percentage play that more often than not gifts bludger control to the opposing team. While their female beater play is above average, their male beaters seem to want to play aggressively. Often left without bludger control, the male beaters do so out of necessity. While they are capable of making a big hit on opposing beaters, they seem to just charge recklessly towards the other team’s beaters with no regard to actually regaining bludger control. This severely handicaps the team’s defense and leaves much of the heavy lifting in the hands of their chasers.

Defensive positioning -- With their less than stellar beating, the Warhawks have to rely heavily on their chasers. However, this group isn’t capable of consistently making stops. The Warhawks aggressive beating typically puts their chasers in the unenviable position of stopping opposing chasers without bludger help. While the Warhawks can make tackles, they are overly aggressive in trying to bring opposing chasers down. This creates situations where the point defender initiates contact past the midfield line, which typically results in the point defender being beat. In turn, opposing teams are given a free driving opportunity while the aggressive defender retreats back to their hoops. The Warhawks need to maintain defensive discipline or teams will run over them in North Myrtle Beach.

Standout Player
Deric Marr -- A standout player at Snow Cup back in January, Deric Marr has a big frame and will be relied upon to make key stops for the Warhawks. His inclusion on the Warhawks roster is a bit of a surprise, considering the injuries sustained by the University of Kansas’ top team. Marr would have been a superb addition to a depleted roster in need of an additional defensive backbone. While his offensive game isn’t the best, Marr has solid hands and makes up for his lack of a consistent driving game by making hustle plays on the defensive end. Expect to see Marr at the point defender position in North Myrtle Beach.

Underrated Players
Austin Pitts -- A very solidly built player, chaser Austin Pitts reminds some Midwest pundits of Aryan Ghoddossy of the University of Texas. An ex-football player, Pitts is an adept tackler and has the ability to run through defenders like a tank. While his passing isn’t top-tier, Pitts’ game doesn’t require him to be his team’s main distributor. Instead, the Warhawks need to find a way to get Pitts the ball so he can build up a head of steam on his way to the opposing hoops.

Key to Success
Play Their Own Game -- We get the impression that the Warhawks attempt to play like the University of Kansas’ varsity team. While understandable considering that the team is Kansas’s B-squad, the Warhawks simply do not have the same personnel to execute like the Jayhawks. Instead, this team should attempt to compact man-to-man defense with conservative beating. This should allow the Warhawks to play on the counterattack and focus on driving as soon as they have bludger control or see defenders out of position.

Prediction
Eliminated in the Play-In Round -- Honestly, it’s a crap shoot. Neither Appalachian Quidditch nor the Warhawks are particularly good teams. Whoever wins their matchup against each other will qualify for day two of World Cup VII, only to be eliminated in the play-in round. We’ll give the nod to the Warhawks.

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Lost Boys Quidditch Club -- West -- Regional Finish: Champions
By JackthePhan/Staff Writer

Back in November, the Lost Boys Quidditch Club became the first community team to win a North American regional by defeating Arizona State University in the final of the West Regional Championship. The Lost Boys have also come out victorious at the Lumberjack Invitational, the SCQC Fall Division One Tournament and the Gold Medal Invitational. All three of the losses that stain the Lost Boys’ 27-3 record occurred at Diamond Cup, where the Lost Boys were without players like Tony Rodriguez, Jake Tieman and Steve DiCarlo.

Strengths
Transition Game -- No team has dominated the transition game more than the Lost Boys except maybe the 2012-13, world champion, University of Texas squad. The Lost Boys routinely use a lightning quick and pinpoint accurate counterattack to send their point totals flying past the triple digits. Cross court passes on the run from keepers Rodriguez and Alex Browne are snatched out of the air and converted into goals by chasers Vanessa Goh, Missy Sponagle and Jeff Lin, leaving the defense dumbfounded. The Los Angeles-based community team dominates the transition without the quaffle too. Often wielding bludger control, the Lost Boys beaters will completely shut down an opponent's fast break and turn their opponent's attempts into goals for the Lost Boys' offense. Any attempts at beating the Lost Boys using counterattacks or a transition offense will probably backfire.

Beaters -- The prowess of the Lost Boys' beating corps is very well known throughout the IQA, but to not include it as a strength would be crazy. The scouting reports are 100% correct: beaters like Chris Seto, Peter Lee, Michael Mohlman and Amanda Nagy are aggressive, smart, calculating, great communicators, accurate, etc., but I want to focus on the unit's undeniable athleticism. Watch for the Lost Boys' beaters' quick acceleration their precise footwork or their strength in laying hits.

Weaknesses
Hitting -- In my mind, there's a clear difference between a tackle and a hit in quidditch. Executing a perfect tackle is very technical, and with a little strength and instruction, a player of any size can wrap up and tackle an opponent. A "hit" is more or less a consequence of bodies flying  around in a fast-paced game, although hits can also be intentional and very effective. Bigger players are best at giving out hits. This distinction is important because the Lost Boys are excellent tacklers but have very few players capable of doling out hits. When the Lost Boys run into an opponent that is either too quick to wrap up (such as Arizona State University chaser Ethan Kapke) or too big and powerful to bring down technically (such as Baylor University keeper Jacob Bruner), they run into trouble.

Standout Player
Vanessa Goh -- With lots of Lost Boys video being posted on YouTube this season, it has become clear to me that Vanessa Goh is the best female chaser in quidditch and the most dominant female player to ever play the game. Goh is the Lost Boys' second leading scorer, only trailing keeper Rodriguez, who I believe is the best offensive player in the IQA heading into North Myrtle Beach. Her versatility, strength and terrific catching ability make her virtually impossible to stop with a single defender. Goh is experienced, and after falling short of a World Cup title last season with University of California Los Angeles, will be looking to lead the Lost Boys to the championship in North Myrtle Beach.

Underrated Player
Steve DiCarlo -- It might be crazy to say that Lost Boys seeker Steve DiCarlo, who captivated the quidditch community's attention on the Syfy reality show “Opposite Worlds,” has been forgotten or is underrated, but it is true. For most of the 2013-14 season, the Lost Boys have been so far out of snitch range of their Western foes, that the pressure DiCarlo faced in the seeking game last year has decreased drastically. For the one tournament that the Lost Boys really needed DiCarlo's seeking, Diamond Cup, the clutch Lost Boys' seeker was living in a cave on television. With world class beaters, Rodriguez and the duel threat of Goh and Sponagle commanding the attention of opposing captains, DiCarlo's ability might be falling under the radar.

Keys to Success
The Lost Boys stars need to stay rested and healthy for bracket play. If Diamond Cup is any indication of how the Lost Boys will do against the Southwest powerhouses, overtime and/or marathon games can be expected on Sunday. If important players get injured, the Lost Boys will suffer the same fate as UCLA suffered in its World Cup VI finals loss to the University of Texas.

Prediction
Anything short of a Final Four appearance would be shocking, and the Lost Boys have a decent chance to become the first community team to ever capture an IQA World Cup championship.

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University of Missouri – Midwest – Regional Finish: 7th
By David Hoops/IQA Midwest Correspondent

Longtime rival of the University of Kansas, the University of Missouri has consistently been a middle-of-the-pack performer in the Midwest. This season marks Missouri’s first ever trip to the IQA’s largest stage, sealed with a 110*-60 victory over the Crimson Warhawks back in October. One of the more isolated teams in the Midwest, Missouri has had an up-and-down spring season based largely on whether or not it has been able to bring a full lineup to tournaments. In just a few short days, we’ll see how Missouri stacks up against what seems to be a wide-open Pool Nine.

Strengths
Size/Physicality -- From the first time I saw Missouri (playing them at the 2012 Midwest Regional), it has been a team defined by its willingness for rough play. More so seen on the defensive side of the ball, Missouri is looking to create contact at any opportunity. With the team’s size, I believe this is a good strategy, which can really wear you down as the match enters the 15-minute mark.

Numbers -- Missouri has notoriously been known as the team that shows up to tournaments with only 12 or 13 players but still somehow performs well. For what may be the first time, it will show up to a tournament with close to 21 players on its roster. This is a team that has been looking for an extra edge to push it toward national relevancy--a full bench to stay fresh may be what Missouri has been looking for all along.

Weaknesses
Quality Numbers -- Now, 21 players will be a big boost. However, I’m not exactly sure how many of those new players have played competitive quidditch, let alone on an inter-regional stage. It’s nice to have a full roster, but only as long as you can trust those at the end of the bench. If it can’t really hold their own up against Canada’s best (the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees), a consistent Northeast title contender (Tufts University) or a hard-hitting Southwest team (Louisiana State University), Missouri might as well only be bringing its usual small roster.

Standout Player
Josh Ebbesmeyer -- This hybrid chaser/keeper has been one of Missouri’s more experienced players and has grown this season into its most consistent scoring option. On a team that features big, physical players, Josh Ebbesmeyer brings a passing and agility-based game its offense sorely needs. That isn’t to say he isn’t afraid to get dirty, as he is more than capable of wrapping up and taking down larger players due to his superb tackling technique. Ebbesmeyer will have to step it up to the next level if Missouri wants to advance out of Pool Nine.

Underrated Player
Alex Scheer -- A long-rumored transfer has finally taken place: University of Toledo ex-captain Alex Scheer will be suiting up for Missouri at World Cup VII. How Scheer integrates himself with the rest of this Missouri chasing line will prove crucial to the team’s success. Scheer hasn’t really practiced with Missouri, as he still lives in northwest Ohio. Can his game blend into Missouri’s strategies? Scheer brings a lot of knowledge and talent to this chasing line, but he also showed he can play as a utility player at Toledo. It will be interesting to see if Missouri decides to use him in a black or yellow headband this weekend.

Keys to Success
Eyes on the Prize -- For Missouri, advancing to bracket play is an attainable goal as a Pot Four team. It received a relatively lucky draw in being in the same pool as the Gee-Gees as opposed to a powerhouse like Texas A&M University, but Tufts and LSU are some of the better Pot Two and Three teams in the tournament. In its first trip to World Cup, Missouri has to make sure to keep its head on its shoulders and does not get over-hyped early on. It’s just another quidditch match once you hear brooms up, and Missouri has to make sure to not get lost in the spotlight.

Prediction
I see Missouri pulling out an upset victory over either Tufts or LSU on its way to securing a spot in the play-in round. However, since it will likely have a very low seed after a tough pool, Missouri will bow out before reaching the Round of 32.

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NYDC Capitalists -- Mid Atlantic -- Regional Finish: Semifinals
By JackthePhan/IQA Correspondent

The NYDC Capitalists will be making their first IQA World Cup appearance after being founded last summer. Recording 26 wins and three losses this season, the Capitalists lost in the semifinals of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship and Turtle Cup, before winning Capitol Cup in March. The team is loaded with experienced players and former captains, many of which had disappointing exits in the Round of 32 last season. Expect this Capitalists team to be hungry to notch some big wins in their pool of death and on Sunday.

Strengths
Experienced Depth Chart -- When push comes to shove in North Myrtle Beach, one of the NYDC Capitalists' greatest advantages will be the experience of their substitute players. Even on elite teams like Texas A&M University or University of Maryland, depth charts are often rounded out by first-year players. Drawing a stark contrast, the majority of the Capitalists' second and third string players have experience in several World Cups. In addition, NYDC has the luxury of selecting its 21-man roster from a larger pool of about 30 players. All 30 available players have seen significant minutes with Capitalists at major tournaments this season.

Seeking Rotation -- At full strength, NYDC's seeking rotation is absolutely terrifying. The basic Capitalist snitch-on-pitch rotation consists of Mo Haggag, who often serves as the Capitalists off-pitch seeker, Steve Minnich, Freddy Varone and Billy Greco. In those four players, the Capitalists get the tireless, long-armed Haggag; the physical, acrobatic Minnich; the small, underestimated Varone; and the experienced veteran Greco. With practice against Walter Makarucha Jr., one of the top snitches in the United States, different seeking styles make the basic rotation a nightmare for snitches and opposing teams.

Weaknesses
Bludger Battles -- Although the beating game as a whole has been harped upon by analysts as NYDC's greatest weakness, I believe the problems NYDC's beaters have experienced boil down to their inability to win "bludger battles." The NYDC beating corps does very well on defense against an offense without an offensive beater, shutting down passing lanes and applying pressure, and can clear out point defenders effectively when beating offensively. However, when the opposing beating duo challenges the Capitalists' beaters with a well-coordinated attempt to seize bludger control, the NYDC beaters have a tendency to lose bludger control. NYDC has also struggled with stealing back bludger control from its opponents, leading to long stretches with only one bludger.

Prone to Injuries -- With the vast experience of NYDC’s World Cup roster comes the years of taking and giving hard hits in a physical sport. Throughout the 2013-14 season, NYDC has been able to replace injured players with players on their reserve squad, but with rosters set for this weekend, NYDC will have to stick with the 21 players registered. If important pieces to NYDC's game plan sustain injuries during pool play, the Capitalists will have to be prepared to switch it up during bracket play.

Standout Players
Alex Linde and Michael Parada -- NYDC's most dangerous and versatile chaser line is run by chasers/keepers Alex Linde and Michael Parada. When Linde and Parada enter the game and replace James Hicks and John Gaffigan, who run slower, more systematic offenses, the dynamic of the NYDC offense changes completely. Linde and Parada, who can each play both keeper and wing chaser, play loosely, without hesitation, using speed and terrific vision to give the Capitalists key goals. A tandem of two former collegiate captains and current captains of the New York branch of the Capitalists, Linde and Parada's ability to shoot from midrange, make passes near the hoops and juke past keepers will be vital to NYDC's chances in the pool of death and moving into the later rounds of bracket play.

Underrated Player
Freddy Varone -- I already talked about the strength of the NYDC seeking rotation, but many of the Capitalists’ most clutch snatches have come from one of the four seekers. Freddy Varone, a veteran of Hofstra University, has caught the snitch in regulation and overtime against Emerson College at Turtle Cup and Beantown Brawl and scored a win for NYDC over Boston University in an unofficial Beantown Brawl pool play match. Varone doesn’t have Haggag’s length or Minnich’s aggression or Greco’s name recognition, so it’s likely that snitches and opposing seekers and beaters have been underrating Varone. However, Varone has made the snitches and opposing teams pay, capturing game-winning snatch after game-winning snatch.

Key to Success
If NYDC's beating duos can communicate better with each other, the Capitalists should be able to win more "bludger battles" and keep bludger control for longer periods of time. Players like Linde, Parada and Gaffigan need to come up big offensively and Hicks, Steve Hysick and Donnie Lynch need to play shut-down defense.

Prediction
If NYDC can defeat the Santa Barbara Blacktips, Austin Quidditch, the University of Michigan and the New York Badassilisks to place first in the pool of death, the Capitalists should easily reach the Sweet Sixteen and possibly the Elite Eight. If the Mid-Atlantic community team drops a game during pool play though, its road through bracket play becomes a lot more difficult.