Sarah Kneiling, agriculture-business senior, and Brad Armentor, kinesiology senior, are getting ready to represent the U.S. abroad.
They just have to remember to pack their broomsticks with their cleats.
Kneiling, a beater, and Armentor, a chaser, raced down a makeshift Quidditch field Tuesday evening in a last-minute practice before they join 19 other Quidditch players for the first International Quidditch Association 2012 Summer Games.
The United States will compete against the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Canada in the July 8 tournament in Oxford’s Cutteslowe Park. The two finalists from that tournament will participate in a Quidditch demonstration match during Oxford’s Olympic torch festival on July 9.
Quidditch players from all over the country were chosen to represent the United States in the summer games.
However, players weren’t selected solely on athletic ability, according to Armentor, because there is limited footage of Quidditch games.
“The LSU Quidditch team nominated five people, and a committee selected the players based on experience, notoriety, organizational skills and who could pay for the trip,” Armentor said.
Kneiling and Armentor had to raise $3,000 each for the trip. To foot the bill, Kneiling said she worked and saved her money, while Armentor said he received donations and held fundraisers in his hometown.
Kneiling, who has been playing Quidditch since her freshman year, could barely contain her glee as she described her excitement for the trip.
“Quidditch and the Olympics are two of my favorite things, and to be able to participate in something that combines both is the best