MQC Madness: Rounds 1-4
2021 MQC Fantasy Draft
Featuring: Grant Hillyer, Tess Kowalski, Jack Moseley, Mary Scott, Brooke Smiley and Andrew Steinberg
The MQC Fantasy draft is being run in three separate sessions, beginning with the first session on March 30, 2020. All players who would have been rostered during the 2020-2021 season are eligible to be drafted. There are six GM’s, each tasked with building the best team possible over fourteen rounds.
Current draft board
Team Steinberg:
Having the first pick in the draft came with a lot of pressure. After the first pick, I had to ensure I had enough depth to compete with the other teams. After the first four rounds, my team has the best seeker in the draft (Henry Baer-Benson), an elite first beater line of Daniel Gottesman and Brooke Smiley, and a special duo of defensive quafflers. Not only do I hope to be the most complete team by the end of the draft, but also the one with the most upside on the offensive and defensive ends.
First off, it’s Henry Baer-Benson. Come on! In all seriousness, HBB is the queen of the chessboard – by far the most versatile and impactful player in MQC. He can put the ball through the hoop at close, middle, and long range, shuts down shots with his length on defense, and provides elite seeking. If my team is down by 20 points, we will likely win – that’s how powerful he is.
Daniel Gottesman is the Rudy Gobert of MQC. Just his presence makes opposing quafflers fear entering the keeper zone. I was struck by his cross-pitch beat against Tufts, saving a breakaway goal. His power and precision from a distance means he can stay disciplined near hoops. His wide stride and speed means he can chase down loose bludgers. This versatility means he can play free or engage beater on defense, which matched with Brooke’s, creates a formidable yet flexible wall. After taking a keeper, I wanted to build my beating core. I was happy to get Daniel at the end of the second round and begin that process.
Brooke Smiley has the unique mix of athleticism and IQ that makes her a force to be reckoned with. She always makes the right decision (see her recognition of a lapse of beater focus to blow up this play against Harvard) and her motor means she is never out of the play. Beyond her beating skills, I also value her leadership abilities (demonstrated by the fact that she is a Tufts’ captain). She and Daniel also complement each other very well. I watched them go at each other in a Harvard-Tufts MQC match and dreamed of them being on the same team. As an engage beater, Brooke’s constant movement keeps chasers far from hoops, forcing bad passes which she can easily clean up. As a free beater, she can single-handedly take an armed beater out of the play, which few players can do. Imagine trying to get past Brooke Smiley on the perimeter, only to stare down Daniel Gottesman’s cannon near hoops if you do (emphasis on if). While it might be taboo to pick your fellow GMs, I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to solidify an elite first line.
To make the cut for Team Steinberg as a chaser, you need to be a two-way player. Shayla Ashley is one of the top “get a bucket, get a stop” players in the league. In a 2019 match against Harvard, she flashed her ability to outmuscle quafflers, making them uncomfortable and condensing the pitch. With her incredible shooting, she can space the field and open up driving lines. These skills led to her being on Boston’s roster for the 2020 MLQ season. Players like Shayla build winning teams.
(Left to Right) Henry Baer-Benson-Junior-Tufts-Community Health (photo credit: Isabella Gong), Daniel Gottesman-Junior-Harvard-Government, Brooke Smiley-Junior-Tufts-Biomedical Engineering (photo credit: Isabella Gong), Shayla Ashley-Sophomore-BU-English
Team Kowalski:
Leo Fried is a player who has caught my eye ever since the 2019 MQC openers. Not only can he successfully and impressively play two different positions (Keeper and Seeker), but he has also proven to be a very quick learner. His seeking skills are phenomenal due to his strong endurance, speed, and quick moves which helped Havard to pick up a large number of wins last season. As a keeper, Fried is very capable of guarding or intercepting the quaffle to then quickly turn the ball around and score due to his height and quick reaction speeds. I drafted Fried because I believe he will work very well with players such as Katrina Mason who are exceptional at cutting around hoops and accepting quick passes to make quick goals. I also drafted him because I see Fried as one of the strongest seekers in the MQC currently.
Anna Loewald is a beater who has a really great understanding of positioning on the field. Her ability to predict beater plays and make quick catches or beats is extremely impressive, and she has proven that her skills can heavily compete against schools such as Texas Quidditch. Anna’s beating skills and fast thinking have helped to carry her team to many wins in games during 2019 regionals and she was also nominated for MQC beater of the year! I drafted Anna because I believe that her clever beating style will work really well with almost any beating partner. I also drafted Anna because I think she is crazy talented and deserves recognition for her hard work!
I picked Thomas Chang-Davidson because he is a very experienced and smart player who has been able to learn so much from Tuft’s team due to their strong beating core that they’ve had over the past few years. His communication on the field is really strong and I see him and Anna as a highly competitive beating duo who really understand the ins and outs of the game. Thomas has a really strong arm and can make fast and game-changing plays with his shot accuracy and fast thinking. I believe that the duo I drafted will be a strong presence on the field as well as provide leadership and experience to any younger players who they play with.
I picked Katrina Mason because I have been a fan of her playstyle since the 2020 Cocoa Cup where she was the main goal scorer on her team for many games due to her exceptional cutting and quick finishing skills. Katrina is also a good defender and smart player who doesn’t waste any opportunities to try to get back the quaffle for her team. Katrina has already proven her skills as a chaser in her first two years of play, and I am confident that she will grow even more in her last two years due to the other exceptional chasers who she plays with regularly on RPI.
(Left to Right) Leo Fried-Sophomore-Harvard-Mathematics, Anna Loewald-Senior-Middlebury-Geology, Thomas Chang-Davidson - Senior-Tufts-Chemical Engineering, Katrina Mason-Junior-RPI-Biomedical Engineering
Team Hillyer:
My first pick was a pretty easy one. Both a MLQ Player and a member of the USNT Developmental Academy, Ellie Lisec is a star chaser capable of making big plays on both sides of the field. Ellie is always a threat to score near the hoops due to her positioning and also has a killer shot which makes her a multi-faceted threat on offense. Ellie's defense is no less of a threat to teams. She always puts herself in key positions to stop plays and force quaffle turnovers. Taking her at the top of the draft was an easy choice due to how much she will open up our offense and provide a lockdown presence on defense.
In the second round, I picked Xander Keiter, one of Boston University’s chaser captains. For those who are unfamiliar with Xander, he is an extremely strong chaser with a number of well developed skills. On top of being a very strong and shifty driver, Xander is great at dishing out the ball to wing chasers when they get open. He is great at seeing the field and taking what the defense gives him, whether that’s an open shot, an open lane, or a pass to an unmarked chaser for a goal. On defense, Xander is also great at playing point chaser and can bring down anyone driving toward him.
For my third round pick, I took another Boston University chaser, and a MQC Chaser of the Year nominee. I went with Leanna Cherrette, one of the most physical players in the draft. Not only can Leanna drive through people on offense, she often drives through or around multiple people on her own. On top of that, Leanna is capable of making shots from almost any range or any angle. She is another player who brings a multitude of skills on offense and makes any offense a lot more deadly. On the other side of the field, Leanna can take down anyone driving towards her and often does so multiple times a game.
My fourth round pick was Nojus Ausra, a beater out of Boston University. Nojus primarily plays engage beater, and can win any beater battle he takes part in. A very aggressive player, Nojus is very active on the field and can take over games with a combination of smart decision making and the ability to keep pushing opposing beaters. Nojus will probably slot in as my starting top/engage
(Left to Right) Ellie Lisec-Junior-RPI-Chemical Engineering, Xander Keiter-Senior-BU, Leanna Cherrette-Junior-BU-Biology (photo credit: Ari Swift), Nojus Ausra-Junior-BU (photo credit: Meg Romine)
Team Moseley:
Only four rounds in and I’m ecstatic with how my team is looking. My plan was to take a dominant beater first, prioritize versatility with my chasers/keepers, and target stars that might slide into later rounds—so far, it’s worked out.
One of the most dominant beaters in the MQC over the past few seasons, Tessa Mullins was nominated for D2 player of the year and beater of the year in 2020. Mullins has made a massive impact for Emerson with her aggressive playstyle and deadly accuracy. She has the dueling ability to take on any beater and the mobility to cover ground and shut down any offense. Mullins was absolutely automatic against Harvard at 2020 MQC meet 3, showcasing the talent that makes her an easy first-round pick.
Abraham Beningson gives me vital flexibility moving forward in the draft. Beningson is an excellent chaser skilled at setting up other players for easy goals, driving on the hoops, and playing tough defense. His speed and ball skills also make him a solid beater. If that’s not enough for you, Beningson’s quickness makes him an effective seeker. He had several snitch catches last season, including during his MQC player of the week performance in MQC round robin 5.
Uh oh, baller alert! Vanessa Keating is a legit sniper from mid to long range (the 2nd shot is no good but it gives you a taste of what she’s capable of). Despite missing time last season for a fall co-op, Keating is an established star with MQC experience (Boston 2018). Vanessa has the shooting ability and passing acumen to thrive on ball, as well as the ability to set strong screens and cut around the hoops off-ball. Keating also has the tenacity to make plays on the defensive end.
The 5th keeper taken in the draft, I had Aidan Schutt as the best keeper on my board. Schutt went off in spring 2020, leading the MQC with 5.5 goals a game (while shooting 84%) and earning a rookie of the year nomination. Schutt is absolutely dynamic, with speed to blow past defenders, size and quickness to drive, and a great shot. Despite being young, he has good instincts as a keeper and plays with tremendous poise as a ball carrier. Here’s a few more highlights of Aidan just for fun.
(Left to Right) Tessa Mullins-Senior-Emerson-Communication Studies, Abraham Beningson-Senior-Middlebury-Computer Science, Vanessa Keating-Senior-RPI-Chemical Engineering, Aidan Schutt-Sophomore-UVM-Biology
Team Scawrence:
Our (Mary Scott and Peter Lawrence) goal going into the draft was to create a physical defensive set that has strong goal-stopping power and generates fast-break opportunities created by heavy pressure and/or beater play. We also built a team with a strong foundation of leadership - everyone on this team is a captain of their respective MQC team, bringing experience in strategy and communication both on and off the pitch.
Carsen Olazaba burst onto the MQC scene in a big way this past spring. His ability to disrupt offensive drives causing quaffle turnovers, create effective bubbles during snitch on pitch allowing for time with snitches, and his ability to close space on the pitch make him an ideal engage beater. We are excited to see Carsen’s combination of elite decision-making and athleticism on the pitch with our team.
CJ Carter seemed like the obvious keeper choice for the type of team we are building. He is excellent at shot-blocking and is also able to step out, be physical, and stop offenses in their tracks. Offensively, he has the strong driving ability he’s perhaps best known for, but he is also an unselfish and intelligent player. One of his many strengths as a ball carrier is driving and dishing - he is able to draw the attention of the defense and get passes off at the right time.
Speaking of driving and dishing, Mary Scott will match really well with CJ. Offensively, she often plays the unmarked chaser position and is very sneaky and strategic with the timing of her cuts to the hoops, which would work really well with a ball-handler like CJ. If you can get her the ball, she will get it in the hoop - which she has shown as one of the primary scorers for the Middlebury team. On defense, she is experienced as both a point chaser and help defender. Like CJ and Peter, she is not afraid to make hits.
Speaking of tackling, Peter Lawrence loves big hugs. They are a strong physical presence as a point defender and offensive driver owing to a very athletic background. While abroad, they were recruited to be a part of the UK equivalent of the USNTDA. In addition to chasing, they are a successful, strategic seeker and this dual-threat will bring a lot to our team. With Carsen as a snitch on pitch beater to create time for Peter, they have shown time and again that they can catch. They also have a wealth of experience as a snitch (ex: Sweet 16 at Nationals 2019), giving them unique insight into snitch tactics and moves.
(Left to Right) Carsen Olazaba-Senior-Industrial Management Engineering, CJ Carter-Senior-UVM-Film/Sports Management, Mary Scott-Senior-Middlebury-Computer Science, Peter Lawrence-Senior-Middlebury-Psychology
Team Smiley:
After night one of the draft, I am extremely happy with the team I have started building. My goal for my team is to pick players who have versatility and can work with many different people on the pitch, allowing for not just a strong first line but setting up my team for multiple line combinations for maximum adaptability. Having started off my picks with a strong keeper, an amazing beater, and two equally talented chasers, I know that I have set myself up for continuing to build a strong team in future rounds.
I wanted to start off by choosing an athletic keeper who could hold their own on the pitch. An obvious choice was Tyler Lok, a junior from Boston University who was one of last year’s MQC Keeper of the year nominees. As someone who is over 6 feet tall, Lok is easily able to block any shot. He can quickly change course after holding down a defense, moving into an equally strong offense. He knows how to drive and carry the ball, while also being able to effectively evaluate the field for shots and passes. Overall, Lok was a strong first pick that set my team up for success in the rest of the draft.
Next, I wanted to begin setting up my beating core. A fellow Tufts teammate of mine, Mohammed Emun was an ideal pick to make in this situation. Beyond being athletic and having a strong arm, he has the smarts and the throwing accuracy to make his beating deadly towards the other team. He knows where to be on pitch, and is a superb defensive beater who knows how to keep his eye on both the quaffle and opposing beaters , helping to make no-bludger scenarios on the other team. He is also a versatile player who can work with any other beating partner, making him a strong choice for my team. (He also has some seeking skills!)
After having chosen a fantastic keeper and a beater, I knew that I wanted to start building a strong chasing line. Who better to do that with than Tess Kowalski, a talented and hard-working chaser from Brandeis who also has MLQ experience on Boston Forge. As one of the captains of Brandeis, Kowalski is an amazing leader who knows how to hold their own on the pitch. She is a strong communicator, and you will always find them talking to teammates during gameplay. She also has excellent field awareness, allowing them to find advantageous positions for excellent scores, and hold a great defense.
Lastly, I chose to continue building my chasing line with Anna Dannecker, another amazing chaser from Emerson. Dannecker is one of the nicest people there is, but when it comes to the pitch she is one of the most ferocious players out there. As a strong athlete from a sports background, she has amazing ball handling, shooting, and passing skills that allow her to be a valuable player on the pitch. She isn’t afraid to get physical and take contact, which is a valuable skill on both offense and defense. Overall, Dannecker pours all of her energy into any game, and this makes her a valuable addition to my team.
(Left to Right) Tyler Lok-Junior-BU-Business, Mohammed Emun-Senior-Tufts (photo credit: Isabella Gong), Tess Kowalski-Senior-Brandeis-Neuroscience, Anna Dannecker-Senior-Emerson-Comedic Arts
Tune in next week for the next four rounds!