Students from the Moorpark College Muggle Quidditch team grabbed their broomsticks and threw on their capes to bring to life the magical world of Harry Potter with a game of Muggle Quidditch in Moorpark on Sunday.
About thirty students swept in to the “BYOB” (bring your own broom) event to play the first ever Moorpark College Muggle Quidditch game, modeled after the game of Quidditch from J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. Students, families, and spectators, most of whom were outfitted in Harry Potter regalia, were amused and enchanted by the game, which is played while running around on a broom.
Sandra Gutierrez, 18, an undecided major at Moorpark College, had never played a game of Muggle Quidditch before, but after seeing flyers put up around the campus, couldn’t resist.
“It’s fun and exciting,” said Gutierrez, who had just caught the Golden Snitch, winning the game for her team. “I think everyone should try to play- it’s as close as you can get to the real thing without flying!”
The first game of Muggle Quidditch, which followed weeks of planning and anticipation, was played at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at Paul Griffin Park down the street from Moorpark College.
The game began with event organizer and Moorpark College student Harrison Homel. The 19-year-old played Muggle Quidditch with friends over the summer and after thoroughly enjoying the experience, decided that the game had to be played at Moorpark College. He created a Facebook group and posted flyers around the campus. A week later the Facebook group had already attracted 30 members, all thrilled to hear that Muggle Quidditch had come to Moorpark. Now the group has over 110 members.
The game was developed in 2005 by two students from Middlebury College in Vermont, Xander Manshel and Alex Benepe.
Muggle Quidditch, that is Quidditch played by non-magical humans, is played by fourteen ‘fliers’, seven on each team, and one person acting as the Golden Snitch, usually a track runner who, when caught, ends the game and the catching team receives an additional 50 points. Each team has three rings acting as goals at their end of the playing field. Everytime a ball makes it through one of the hoops the throwers team is granted 10 points.
Each team has three Chasers, responsible for throwing a ball called the Quaffle through the opposing team’s hoops; two Beaters, who throw a ball acting as a Bludger at opposing players trying to knock them off their brooms; one Keeper responsible for defending the team’s hoop; and one Seeker responsible for chasing down the Snitch.
On Saturday, players separated into two teams, Gryffindor and Slytherin (fashioned after the Harry Potter series “house teams”), and battled it out in three games. Nearby park-goers stopped their activities to look in on the spectacle, while spectators on the sidelines pulled blankets from cars to stay warm in the chilly October breeze.
While there was a natural competitiveness among the players, laughter and cheering quickly ensued from the sidelines and the field.
Homel was ecstatic to see so many people turn out to play and deemed the event a success.
“This is joy,” said Homel, laughing as he watched two Seekers dart after the Snitch. “There will definitely be more games.”
