25 Feb 2013
Sports Editor
Audra Stamp / Staff Writer
The UNT Quidditch team struggled last weekend at the Southwest Regional Tournament, going 0-5 and failing to qualify for the World Cup on April 13 in Kissimmee, Florida.
This was the first time the UNT Quidditch team made its way to the tournament at Texas A&M Penberthy Fields. Despite the amount of defeats, the Mean Green left knowing it played hard against many nationally-ranked teams.
“The experience has been great,” team captain sophomore Bryan Perez said. “We’ve played a lot of really tough teams, so we’re getting a lot of good experience that way we can be World Cup competitors in future years.”
The Mean Green is new to the Harry Potter-inspired sport, and officially became a part of the International Quidditch Association last fall. UNT is one of 50 Texas teams and one of 862 teams nation-wide.
UNT (0-11) came into the tournament ranked No. 15 out of 16 teams. It opened up Saturday against Baylor, No. 3 in the state, losing 190-40. In its second game against Oklahoma State University, the Mean Green lost again 140-90, after UNT caught the snitch to end the game. In its final game that day, UNT faced the Silver Phoenixes, a secondary team for A&M, where UNT continually had passes intercepted, leading to a 160-30 loss.
“Teams like A&M and UT, they clearly have the numbers and athletes to do a lot better,” junior chaser Scott Spurgeon said. “Our numbers are really low, we don’t really have people giving Qudditch a chance back home.”
Sunday’s play was double elimination giving the Mean Green a chance for redemption. UNT faced the University of Texas, No. 2 in the state, and took a hard 200-30 loss. UNT had one more chance against Sam Houston State University, but lost once more 100-60.
“It’s been pretty eye-opening, and it just shows us the kind of standard we need to put ourselves at,” freshman seeker Marissa Hunt said. “This is showing us what we need to work up to.”
Although its season is over, it looks forward to next fall. The team will continue to have open scrimmages for anyone interested, which will take place at Traditions Fields every Friday at 3 p.m.
