Calling all Harry Potter fanatics! Holyoke High’s very own Quidditch Club has been formed and is meeting for the first time later this month. On the 29th of October the organization will be meeting in 105 right after school.

For those that do not know, Quidditch is a fictional sport based from the universe of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, invented by the author J.K Rowling. The game consists of seven players: three chasers, two beaters, one keeper and one seeker. There are three circle hoops on each side of the Quidditch pitch, which are protected by each team’s keeper. Chasers attempt to throw the quaffle through the hoops to score 10 points for their team. The only thing that can get in their way, besides the other team, is a bludger. The beaters use bats to knock the wild object away from their team or toward the other. Lastly, the seekers only job is to catch the Golden Snitch. Being worth 150 points, the capturing of the snitch not only ends the game, but normally causes that team to be victorious.

Everyday Quidditch is slightly different from the original game in the series. As awesome as it would be, the sport is not played on flying broomsticks and more often than not, bewitched objects do not injure the players. Muggles, or non-magical beings, play the game on land and do not cause any physical harm to the other teams on purpose.

The four founding members: Holyoke High seniors Nora Taupier, Grace Hamel, Matt McAndrew, and a certain Herald staff member started the club with the intent to unite the school through the magic of Harry Potter. As Grace Hamel ’15 states, “the clubs’ main goal is to encourage the students to get involved within the school and to have fun. We want all to feel welcome to join, not just fans of the series, but anyone who wants to learn about and play the sport.”

The club is hoping to have enough people to sort everyone into their own Hogwarts house: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin. Whichever house you end up in would then become the team you play on. Each of the founders have been chosen to be heads of a house, and would stand in as a captain-like figure for their team. The first few meetings will mainly focus on fundraising, in order to obtain enough money for all the supplies needed. After that, the games will begin!

If you are interested in donating to the club, or in search of more information on how to join in on this enchanted sport, please contact the advisor Ms. Fitzell in room 105.