As reported on the IQA’s facebook and twitter last Saturday, April 28th, Emerson College won the IQA Champions Series at Harvard. While their final win was a convincing 130-10, their opponents, Villanova University, were no doubt worn down after working their way through Boston University and University of Minnesota.

Emerson wins. (Click on all photos to enlarge).

Watch the Final here. More photos, scores, and information are below the video.

Filmed by Maddy Wodjak

The event was meticulously organized by Emerson College and Boston University, with the help of the IQA for promotion and financing, and under the leadership of World Cup VI gameplay director Allison Gillette, who performed impeccably on her maiden voyage in large intercollegiate tournament coordination.

Pairings heading into the semifinals (upside down teams are elminated).

The event included detailed ref, captain, volunteer, and even all-team meetings the night before (pictured below), excellent reffing, well organized score-keeping and bracketing, and vans to transport players between the round-robin matches at a nearby park and the bracket games at Harvard’s complex.

Meetings on Friday, the 27th, at Emerson College

Players wait after the round-robin games end to register for bracket play. 

Perhaps what is most admirable is that even with all of this attention to tournament execution, the event also included a healthy amount of special care for the teams and the culture of quidditch. Weekly skype calls between the organizers and captains took place as the event approached. Each team received an ambassador upon arrival who helped them get from place to place, as well as a plate of home-baked cookies.

Casey Sabal, Matt Panico, and Jenna Jankowski of the Mid-atlantic Monstars

At the opening ceremony, teams broke through paper banners when their names were announced, and at the end of the games, teams exchanged symbolic gifts with one another. Perhaps most notable among this group were the Northeast Knights (who, of course, say “NE!”) who brought a shrubbery, and Middlebury, who brought a broom that was used in the first game of quidditch ever.

The Knights Who Say “NE!” present the Shrubbery. 

The crowd was not as big as it should ideally be at a high level tournament, where the opportunity to showcase quidditch at its best to a wide audience should not be missed, but it was certainly highly respectable given the short amount of time in which the tournament was assembled.

The scene at the Harvard Athletic Complex. 

Special recognition should be given to the West allstar team and the University of Minnesota for flying across the country for a last minute tournament.

The West Team

In short, the Champions Series redefined the ways in which an IQA tournament can be organized, in terms of its efficiency and organization, but perhaps most importantly in its blend between sport and whimsy, the original combination that made – and still makes – quidditch unique.

Boston University gathers for a pre-game chant.

Boston University defends against University of Minnesota in a closely-fought, early game. 

 Scores from the bracket portion of the Champions Series, including time and penalties, are available here.