Making the Leap #2
By: Grant Hillyer
In this series, we take a look at players who made a Major League Quidditch (MLQ) roster for the first time this summer or last. We’ll look at players’ strengths and what their skill set would do for an MLQ team from their United States Quidditch (USQ) resume.
Tony Bonadio - Beater - University of South Carolina - Charlotte Aviators
Tony Bonadio is one of the many University of South Carolina Gamecocks who make up the new MLQ Trial Expansion Team, the Charlotte Aviators. Tony was a core part of the Gamecock’s third place finish at the 2019 Southern Regional Championship. A beater who is unafraid to take battles, Bonadio often initiates beater engagements and understands when he has the opportunity to push opposing beaters. He has the ability to use a few different skills when setting up and winning battles, from his pump fake to his shove beat that lets him take shorter range battles. Other tools available are his quick reflexes and ability to throw shove beats without setting his feet. Bondaio can also throw high velocity beats from awkward positions, something he uses his advantage to clear out defenses and keep plays alive. Tony Bonadio should be an impactful player at the next level who will be a threat as an engage beater and someone who keeps playing even when an opportunity to make a play might seem dead.
Ade Arjona - Beater - Harvard University - Boston Forge
Another beater who will be making her MLQ debut is Ade Arjona, a graduate of Harvard University who operated as a dominant free beater the last time she was on the pitch, helping her Harvard team fight for control of the Massachusetts Quidditch Conference at local meets. Ade showed multiple times in 2019 that she knows exactly how to position herself to clean up beater engagements and regain bludger control. On offense and defense, Ade has shown her ability to win beater battles consistently with strong pump fake and blocking skills. In the snitch on pitch game, Ade can take over the field with her active playstyle and willingness to push her advantages and keep the pressure on opposing seekers and beaters. In MLQ, her ability to play the free or engage position will allow her flexibility to show opposing beater pairs different looks depending on matchups. She will be a valuable addition to the Forge’s snitch beating core, and should help them keep bludger control more often with her ability to read the field and react with smart and decisive instincts.
Henry Baer-Benson - Keeper/Seeker - Tufts University - Minneapolis Monarchs
Henry Baer-Benson, the senior year Tufts keeper and seeker, is another player making the leap from USQ to MLQ this summer. Last time we saw Baer-Benson on the pitch, in 2019, he performed a number of roles for a Tufts squad that finished second in the Northeast. Henry has a variety of skills that make him a very solid contributor on both offense and defense. He has strong tackle breaking ability, knows how to cut to get open and make himself a scoring threat, can operate as an unmarked chaser, on the wing, or as the main ball carrier. On defense, he operates smoothly as a blocker and knows when to step up to protect the hoops. He has also had a number of clutch snitch catches during his time in USQ, making him a valuable player to have even during the set score of MLQ. Baer-Bensone should have no problem making series rosters due to his range of abilities as a shot maker, strong driver, and as a cutter. He will be a strong scoring threat for Minneapolis and give opposing MLQ teams headaches on defense and during snitch on pitch.
Conclusion
All three of these players are ready to play in MLQ and make an impact right away. Each has a unique skill set which any MLQ team or observer should be eager to see in the league.
