Illustration by Emm(il)y Takara, staff awards show
As the spring sports season approaches, Pinewood’s renowned quidditch team prepares for the 2021 World Cup tournament this May in Bulgaria. The team’s work in the grueling international playoffs have successfully landed the team in the top bracket in the world, competing with the top high schools each country has to offer. Pinewood fans could not be more thrilled to see what comes next.
After two years of preparation, the Bulgarian government has finalized the stadium, which will hold up to 800,000 fans from around the world. Teachers, doctors, lawyers, and janitors alike will gather at the massive stadium throughout the month to experience the games firsthand.
“I’m looking forward to the Cup this year–I think it should be really interesting. It’s too early to tell where we might land, but the hours of conditioning and late practices should definitely pay off,” Mark said.
Without Haggai Mark, Pinewood's prestigious computer science teacher and quidditch head coach, the team may as well have been a lost cause. After he was hired two years ago, the team made a complete turnaround, moving quickly up the ranks from last place, to tying for third with France’s largest public school, École Canadienne Bilingue de Paris. Mark single handedly brought the team to triumph in the 2020 World Cup in Oymyakon, Russia just last year. This year, he hopes for another victory.
“I’m looking forward to the Cup this year–I think it should be really interesting. It’s too early to tell where we might land, but the hours of conditioning and late practices should definitely pay off,” Mark said.
"I want that trophy, and I know the rest of the team does, and of course Coach should be rewarded for helping our team. He really changed the game for us these past two years,” van der Linde said.
The team's most popular player around the globe, Morgan van der Linde, will be representing Pinewood at the high school event. Van der Linde is confident the team is prepared and will do a great job. She has brought her competitive spirit to every practice and game this year and is hoping to take the Golden Snitch trophy home to rest at Pinewood’s home stadium.
“Our team deserves to win this Cup. We’ve put in the work, dedicated ourselves to the process, and now we just have to play our hearts out until the end. I want that trophy, and I know the rest of the team does, and of course Coach should be rewarded for helping our team. He really changed the game for us these past two years,” van der Linde said.
“I really just want to win this, not just for Pinewood, but for all of the U.S. We have a duty to play our hearts out this May, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing,” Ng said.
Without the winning save made by keeper Caden Ng in the final playoff game, Pinewood’s quidditch team may not have made it to the 2021 World Cup. Though he keeps his composure in the face of the cameras, Ng truly was the hero of this season. Fans know that his epic buzzer-beating save was merely a preview of his capabilities and look forward to what he will bring to the Cup. Ng is feeling positive on what is to come.
“I really just want to win this, not just for Pinewood, but for all of the U.S. We have a duty to play our hearts out this May, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing,” Ng said.