It’s not often that quidditch, the sport of wizards, is played in the muggle world, but at Western it’s being played right here on campus. The Western Washington University Wyverns are often seen preparing for tournaments against other schools, such as the Wyvern-hosted Subdued Excitement Showdown, which they competed in on Sunday, Jan. 23. In the tournament, the Wyverns went 1-3 and lost to two of their opponents. The tournament featured 12 teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Canada. The teams ranged from university to club teams. This is the third year the Wyverns have hosted a tournament, said Western senior Marcus Toomey, who is part of the coaching staff. Last year, the Wyverns placed third and took second in 2014. Toomey had hoped they would have placed first. However, the Wyverns are focused on much more than their rank in the tournament. Their core values focus on “long-term sustainability,” building an inclusive and respectful community, and providing a competitive environment for athletes of all skill levels, according to their website. The Wyverns received a national award for sportsmanship last year. Toomey said the Wyverns conduct themselves properly and do their best to make sure no one feels unwelcome. Additionally, he said they always play safely and fairly. “Western is set apart by our well-known propensity for sportsmanship and what we call the ‘Wyvern spirit,’” he said. The Wyverns are a part of a larger league, US Quidditch, and are the first official team in Washington. The team derives one of its core values from USQ, which is striving to advance gender inclusivity. “People of all identities are welcome, including those who belong in the ‘nonbinary’ gender,” according to the Wyverns’ website. The Wyverns are always focusing on executing their five core values, but the current season is definitely on their minds. “Preparation, preparation, preparation” is what Toomey said it will take to do well this season. So, even in the rain, snow, wind and everything in between, the Wyverns can still be found practicing on campus. The Wyverns’ next tournament will be on Feb. 6 at the Northwest Regional Championship in Salem, Oregon. Teams from Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming and Canada will compete for an opportunity to attend the Quidditch National Championship, The US Quidditch Cup. Editors note: The original headline said that the club opened up their season with this tournament, but this was their third tournament this season.
