Muggles from around the world swarmed into DeWitt Clinton Park in New York City over the weekend to cheer for their favorite quidditch teams as they battled for the ultimate prize: the World Cup.
Forty-six teams, including 42 colleges and universities, and 747 athletes from around the world participated.
Middlebury College won its fourth consecutive World Cup, beating out the Tufts "Tufflepuffs" in the championship match 100-50.
"I think we'd all like to win this tournament, but the point of this game is really just to have fun," Middlebury seeker Ryan Scura told Stony Brook newspaper The Statesmen as he warmed up. "It's really hard to not see the goofy appeal in all of this, but that's what we love about it."
This was the first year the Quidditch World Cup was held at a new location. The previous three tournaments were held in Middlebury, Vt., said Jared Kowalczyk, gameplay director for the World Cup.
"Muggle Quidditch" was adapted from J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series by Middlebury student Xander Manshel in 2005. The game has spread across schools worldwide, supported by the International Quidditch Association.
The IQA, which was incorporated earlier this year, "is a magical nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the game of quidditch and utilizing the game to inspire young people to lead more physically active and socially engaged lives."
According to the IQA website, the board of directors is made up of college students and recent college graduates. The IQA relied on many volunteers to welcome guests, referee matches, update social media and sell T-shirts during the World Cup.
The tournament was also supported by the nonprofit organization the Harry Potter Alliance as well as Alivan's, the official broom provider of the IQA.
Despite the recent growth in popularity, the IQA is not looking for NCAA recognition just yet.
"That's not a company objective," said Alex Benepe, commissioner of the IQA in a Time magazine article. "The IQA is self-sustainable. We've got so many teams that are emotionally invested in this."
1st Place: Middlebury College
2nd Place: "Tufflepuffs" from Tufts University
Other Notable Teams
The Harvard "Horntails"
"New York Badassilisks" club team
"Butterbeer Brooers" - Vassar College
For more information, visit internationalquidditch.org
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
