Community Corner
Harry Potter's Quidditch League Coming to Waukesha
Waukesha North High School graduate and University of Minnesota Quidditch player Trevor Atherton will teach Waukesha Muggles how to play the game from the Harry Potter series.
You don't have to be Harry Potter, enter platform 9 3/4 and go to school at Hogwarts before you learn how to play Quidditch.
After Waukesha North High School graduate Trevor Atherton, a freshman at the University of Minnesota, started playing Quidditch this school year, he decided he wanted to take it back to his hometown to teach the game that's growing in popularity in the United States.
Through Quidditch, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books become real – without the magic and the wizards. Players run around on brooms, chase the "snitch" and throw "quaffles" through the opposing team's hoops.
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"Quidditch is a huge part of my life," Atherton told Patch. "Had I known about it earlier, I would have jumped at the opportunity to play. A lot of people aren't aware that is exists outside of the books and movies and those that do typically have to wait until they can join a collegiate team. Bringing Quidditch to Waukesha will both show people what is it and how it works, but also give them an opportunity to play!"
Atherton started playing at University of Minnesota in the intramural league, which involves about 300 players on various teams, he said. Then he decided to try out for a competitive team that competes in the International Quidditch Association. He made the team and participated in the Quidditch World Cup in Florida against top teams throughout the world.
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Quidditch is growing in popularity at area colleges. In addition to University of Minnesota, other universities, such as Harvard, Yale and Stanford have embraced the sport created in the Harry Potter books.
"I wanted to play ever since I learned it was a sport," Atherton said. "Surprisingly, the real world adaptation is an extremely physical and intensive game, while still holding true to its roots in the Harry Potter universe. So that's what attracted me to it."
Atherton enjoys playing the game for two key reasons:
"For me, it's two things. The first is how intense it is. It's not exactly a bunch of people dressed as wizards in capes running about. Players typically wear cleats and receiver's gloves and take the sport very seriously. The second thing is the people who play the sport. Everyone you meet in the community is familiar with Harry Potter, so right away you have a bonding point. The community is incredible and extremely friendly. Even in the final match of the World Cup between Texas and UCLA, you would see players tackle each other to the ground during a play, and then see the same players hugging after the match."
Muggles (that's non-wizard and non-witches to those not versed in the Harry Potter lingo) in Waukesha will learn from Atherton about the game through the Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.
Atherton approached WPRF about teaching the program, according to Sheryl Emanuel, sports coordinator for WPRF.
"We are always open to new ideas," Emanuel said. "You want to be able to offer things to everyone. … It is something different being offered out there. I am hoping it will take off."
Quidditch will be available for players between ages 9 and 18, removing the option to tackle other players. Players will be required to stay on their brooms while playing the game out of the popular book series.
The league play will be Mondays and Wednesdays from June 17 through June 26 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Mindiola Park. A second league will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 23 through Aug. 1 at Banting Park. Registration is $30 for residents and $45 for non-residents.
WPRF needs a minimum of 16 registrations to hold the program. Enrollment is capped at 25 each session.
Other new programs coming to WPRF:
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