IQA

U.S. National Team 2016 Roster Announced

Players have been selected for the U.S. National Team, which will compete at the International Quidditch Association's World Cup 2016, to be held July 23-24 in Frankfurt, Germany.

These 21 players were chosen by the committee based on their on-field achievements, leadership, and ability to be great ambassadors for US Quidditch. All player applicants were required to submit an essay that explains why they want the opportunity to represent the nation and the league, a letter of recommendation from a coach, and unedited films of three games. US Quidditch and the selection committee thanks all players who applied. The selection committee has confidence that this team will not only bring home the gold for the United States but will also be the best group of representatives of our nation and sport while competing in the World Cup.

As previously announced, the head coach for the team is James Hicks, and the assistant coach is Mollie Lensing.

U.S. National Team 2016

Margo Aleman - The Lost Boys

Hayden Ray Applebee - Oklahoma State University

Jayke Archibald - Quidditch Club Boston

Andrew Axtell - Michigan Quidditch Club

Julia Baer - Quidditch Club Boston

Bernardo Berges - University of Miami

Alyssa Burton - Los Angeles Gambits

Ashley Calhoun - Lake Effect Maelstrom

Stewart Driflot - Boise State Abraxans

Michael Duquette - Texas Quidditch

Kaci Erwin - Texas Cavalry

Harry Greenhouse - Quidditch Club Boston

Sam Haimowitz - Lone Star Quidditch Club

Max Havlin - Quidditch Club Boston

Shane Hurlbert - Rochester United

Lindsay Marella - Rutgers University Quidditch

Amanda Nagy - The Lost Boys

Michael Parada - The Warriors

Jeffrey Siwek - Illinois State University Firebirds

Simon Van der veen Quant Arends - Lone Star Quidditch Club

Tyler Walker - Ball State Cardinals

ALTERNATES

Martin Bermudez, Texas Cavalry - chaser

Jason Bowling, Ball State Cardinals - seeker

Mathieu Gregoire, Lone Star Quidditch Club - keeper

Justine Heisley-Taylor, Los Angeles Gambits - chaser

Augustine Monroe, Texas Cavalry - beater

Kedzie Teller, Lone Star Quidditch Club - chaser

Alexis Wien, Texas A&M Quidditch - beater

The list of alternates above is listed in alphabetical order by last name, and is not an indication of the order in which a player would move to the primary team. In the event that one of the players is unable to attend and compete in the event, an alternate player will be moved up to the main team roster. The replacement player will generally be of the same gender and position as the player unable to attend. However, each specific replacement will be determined by team staff, including the two coaches and the team manager, based on the specific needs of the team at that time.

To learn more about the structure of the U.S. National Team and the selection process, please see this page. Click on the positions below to learn more about each player.

KEEPERS

Jayke Archibald, Quidditch Club Boston

Few phrases in quidditch motivate players more than Jayke Archibald’s signature “LET”S GO!” after a meaningful goal or play. Archibald’s uplifting yet always competitive attitude is but one of the weapons in his large arsenal; he also boasts an impressive long shot, pinpoint passing skills, incredible shot blocking, and an ability to outmaneuver and juke around opponents as he drives his way to the hoops. As coach of the undefeated Major League Quidditch (MLQ) Boston Night Riders and co-captain of the No. 1 ranked Quidditch Club Boston, Archibald brings the exact sort of leadership to Team USA that it needs from a keeper and primary ball carrier.

Shane Hurlbert, Rochester United

Coming off a summer season in which he was MLQ’s leading scorer, Shane Hurlbert’s propensity for long shots is well known. However, that proficiency often causes other parts of his kit to be overlooked. With ball in hand, Hurlbert is a constant driving threat, who forces opposing beaters to respect him. Off ball, Hurlbert can easily snake through traffic and go up for an alley-oop or simply post up by the hoops to leverage his reach and vertical to generate goals. Perhaps his greatest skill though, is his vision and, subsequently, his ability to thread passes through traffic to receivers for easy finishes. Defensively, Hurlbert is a presence at the hoops. His reflexes and reach make it incredibly difficult to make shots or passes too close to the hoops, and Hurlbert has a reputation for bruising hits on receivers who have the poor luck to catch the ball too far from the hoops for an immediate finish.

CHASERS

Hayden Ray Applebee, Oklahoma State University Quidditch

Hayden Applebee is a formidable presence on the pitch and one of the best point defenders in the world. A master at tackling in the open field, Applebee is equally good on offense. In his time at Oklahoma State University Quidditch, he has helped to take the team to Nationals four times in a row, and as a leader on the team, has helped to steadily improve it into an impressive Southwest team. Look to see Applebee dominating the pitch in Frankfurt with a strong showing of the outstanding physicality he has come to exemplify.

Andrew Axtell, Michigan Quidditch

Andrew Axtell is one of the hardest-working, most humble, most dedicated people that the sport of quidditch has known. Widely regarded as the top quaffle player in the Great Lakes (former Midwest) for several years, Axtell brings the passion, intensity, skill, and most importantly, attitude necessary to bring home a gold medal for the United States this summer.

Julia Baer, Quidditch Club Boston

Jules Baer turned heads last summer as a leading scorer on the reigning MLQ champion, the Boston Night Riders, and has continued to impress in the USQ season as a cornerstone in Quidditch Club Boston’s higher-caliber offense. Baer excels at catching and finishing around the hoops and can consistently outplay opposing keepers with her deadly pump fake.

Bernardo Berges, University of Miami

Bernado Berges has been on the University of Miami team for three years. The pressure Berges puts on opposing ball-carriers makes him a force on defense, and his athleticism and cuts on offense have made him a strong asset to the Miami team. Prior to playing quidditch, Berges was on his university’s soccer team.

Stewart Driflot, Boise State Abraxans

Stewart Driflot founded the Boise State Abraxans in 2012 and has played on the team for the past four years. Stewart has led the team to win two consecutive Northwest Regional championships.

Kaci Erwin, Texas Cavalry

When you think of Southwestern chasing, physicality, persistence, and finesse are all words that come to mind. Few players exemplify these more than Kaci Erwin. As a captain of one World Cup champion team and a player on another, the only surprise about seeing Erwin on Team USA is that this is only her first time on its roster. Eschewing the typical catch and dunk role often given to female chasers, Erwin’s ability to maneuver and push through defenders make her a threat anywhere on the pitch. Adding to her offensive prowess, her tenacious defense makes her a player that will leave no doubt in opponents’ minds of why American quidditch continues to remain internationally dominant.

Harry Greenhouse, Quidditch Club Boston

Harry Greenhouse is a ubiquitous name at this point and for good reason. Offensively, Greenhouse boasts both an accurate and hard throw which allows him to make pinpoint passes to teammates. He is equally as dangerous with ball in hand or without, as he is adept at breaking his defender and going up for alley-oops. Defensively, Greenhouse is a fantastic point defender who can and will bring down anyone who dares to challenge him. In case his chasing skill somehow wasn’t enough, Greenhouse is inarguably one of the top seekers in the country, making him one of the single most impactful players in the game today.

Sam Haimowitz, Lone Star Quidditch Club

Sam Haim is one of the most dynamic chasers in the sport with the ability to excel at every facet involved in quaffle offense and defense. His proficiency to adapt to the players around him makes him an extremely deadly weapon on either side of the ball because he isn’t a one trick pony and will give you different looks with every play. On defense, he showcases expert tackling with a knack for stripping the ball and on offense he utilizes fast pinpoint passing to break down defenses or his laser midrange shot.

Lindsay Marella, Rutgers University Quidditch

Lindsay Marella burst onto the scene last summer as a leading scorer for MLQ’s the New York Titans. Previously a beater, Marella found herself donning the white headband at the suggestion of her Team USA teammate Michael “Yada” Parada. Her willingness to put her body on the line at either end of the field proved key to the Benepe Cup runner up’s success in the inaugural MLQ season and in the US Quidditch Cup 9 qualification of Rutgers University. Her raw athleticism, physical presence and team-first mentality will surely help Team USA strike gold once again.

Michael “Yada” Parada, The Warriors

Michael Parada is the only player in history to make Team USA three times. A finesse player and powerful force on the field, Parada was also a D1 sprinter and high jumper. He is difficult to mark due to his height and wingspan, which also make him a challenge to get around defensively.

Simon Van der veen Quant Arends, Lone Star Quidditch Club

Simon is the type of player that is a coach’s dream. He is exceptionally athletic, hardworking, smart, and versatile. People have seen the flashy highlights of Simon’s play such as the now famous alley oop from Stevie in the Maryland semifinal game last year at US Quidditch Cup; however, they don’t see the true team player behind them. Simon is extremely humble and more than anything he wants to do what is best for the team despite his own talent, and he is constantly advising players and helping them improve. That mentality makes him not only a great asset to Team USA but to the sport as a whole.

BEATERS

Alyssa Burton, Los Angeles Gambits

One of the best system players in the Western Region, Alyssa Burton has always been willing to stay relatively out of the spotlight and use her various talents to give her teammates on the Los Angeles Gambits a chance to excel. Her unselfish nature allows her to adapt to any beating partner’s playstyle brilliantly, and her team-over-self mentality makes Burton an ideal representative for our country. Alyssa’s clever field spacing makes her a threat on both sides of the ball, with or without a bludger, and her dance background allows her to outmaneuver her opponents in entertaining and endlessly impressive ways.

Ashley Calhoun, Lake Effect Maelstrom

Following up on her 2014 campaign, Ashley Calhoun has only improved to become one of the most fearsome beaters in the world and earn her second nomination for Team USA. Her intelligence and passion for the sport is evident, in leading BMQC to an Elite Eight appearance at USQ Cup 8. She will represent her country and USQ incredibly well in Germany.

Michael Duquette, Texas Quidditch

As an influential member of Texas Quidditch in their previous two national championships, Michael Duquette has been able to mold Texas into another powerhouse this season as a leader both on the pitch and off. Duquette exemplifies the fearsome physicality that Texas beaters have been known for, while still bringing some of the best mechanics in the game. His quick decision making, powerful arm, and ability to catch most bludgers that come his way make him one of the most dangerous beaters in the game, and his snitch on pitch play is among the best in the world.

Max Havlin, Quidditch Club Boston

It is often said that the United States’ beating game is still far above that of the rest of the world, and Max Havlin’s ability is perhaps the greatest proof of that. After switching to beater three years ago, he has continually improved, redefining the position and leaving himself as one of the best beaters in the world. As the MVP of the MLQ East Division on the undefeated Boston Night Riders, and a current captain on #1-ranked Quidditch Club Boston, Havlin has continually performed at his best, with the best. His ability to apply pressure anywhere on the pitch makes him dangerous to all but the best beaters. Look for his strong arm and smart play to keep bludgers out of the hands of opposing team on offense and defense in Frankfort, giving the US Team unmatched opportunities for quick goals.

Amanda Nagy, The Lost Boys

Known across the country for her strong personality and competitive drive, Amanda “Turtles” Nagy has been a stand-out beater for several seasons and has noticeably grown each year. Her soccer background is always evident on the pitch, as Nagy has an obvious mastery of both positioning and field awareness. She also boasts a strong arm, and has proven both on the Lost Boys and as a leader of last season’s Elite Eight Arizona Quidditch Club team that she doesn’t shy away from physicality, whether she’s taking the hits or delivering them herself.

Tyler Walker, Ball State

Nobody in quidditch has improved in quite the manner that Tyler Walker has. First donning the black headband for Ball State University in the spring of 2015, he asserted himself as one of the best beaters in the country by leading the Indianapolis Intensity to an MLQ North Division title, as well being named the MVP of the North Division. His intelligence, field awareness, and athleticism meshes well with his beater partners and makes him a frightening opponent every time he steps on pitch.

SEEKERS

Margo Aleman, The Lost Boys

Margo Aleman first became a household name after catching the championship-winning snitch in the World Cup VII finals, and since then has cemented his name in the seeking Hall of Fame by navigating last year’s Arizona Quidditch Club to the Elite Eight on the back of his catches and catching to beat QC Boston and fellow-Team USA teammate Greenhouse with the Lost Boys at this year’s Bat City Invitational. A fantastic team player and motivator, Margo is always willing to put his body on the line for his teammates.

Jeffrey Siwek, Illinois State University Firebirds