Inside the Locker Room with the Chasers
Prof. Cody Lewis
January 2016
After a tough match against Hufflepuff, I sat down with the three Slytherin Chasers – Rosemarie "Bagel" Halliwell, Darcey Goode, and Allyson Celestra – to find out what exactly makes them tick.
Introduce yourself. Who are you and what is your role/position on SQT?
Bagel: I'm Rosemarie Halliwell and I'm a fifth year Prefect and I'm the captain of SQT. I usually play Chaser, occasionally Beater, but mostly during games, I just yell "dodges ready!" between questions and "GO TEAM!" when SQT gets a hit.
Darcey: Oh goodness. How do I answer that one without taking an age? *g* There used to be an easy answer to that – I'm S-C2-Darcey. Then somebody made me play Seeker and I discovered that one's actually quite fun too. I suppose the best description I can give is that I'm an old timer who definitely has her preferences, but will play whatever position she's asked to for the good of her team.
Aly: Well, my name is Allyson Celestra, but everyone calls me Aly. I'm not sure I have a certain role on SQT, but I have Chased the past two games so let's go with that.
We just had a great game against Hufflepuff. Were you nervous at all?
Aly: Honestly, not much really. I was super nervous for our first game against RQT, but I've relaxed after that.
Bagel: I'm actually always nervous on game days. Even after all the games I've played in the past almost 4 years, I'm always nervous.
Darcey: Very. It was the first time I'd played Chaser in a silly number of years, and I was ill. It took some time for my brain and my fingers to get going, or at least it felt like it.
How do you handle the nerves?
Darcey: I try to ignore them and just get on with what I'm supposed to be doing. On Saturday I found that answering the questions that weren't mine helped, it reminded me that actually I do know answers.
Bagel: Hmmm... Usually I just kind of deal with being nervous until the game starts. I have random pre-game rituals that help sometimes, like caffeine right before the game. And then once the game starts, after a few minutes, I'm fine.
How did you know the next question was going to be about pre-game rituals? Are you psychic?
Bagel: Yes. Yes I am. I have excellent divination skills.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Darcey: Other than making sure I have a drink on my desk, not really, although I suppose sometimes I "air type" a bit to get my fingers moving, particularly if it's cold.
Aly: Nope.
How was the lineup decided? Were you happy with your position?
Bagel: This month, we really tried to put everyone in the position they preferred for the most part. The only issue we had was a player who couldn't be there and that made us rearrange the lineup just a little bit, but I think everyone was still pretty content with it. Chaser is my favorite position to play, so I was happy with that.
Darcey: We had a discussion during practice about who was going to play what, I asked if I could play Chaser since that was always my position (and yes, I did make sure before the lineup went in that I was C2 – what can I say, I'm slightly attached). Absolutely I was happy.
Aly: I don't know how lineup was decided, but I did find our wall of Kelseys (Kelsi?) amusing. I'm pretty happy with my position because I love Chasing.
SQT has been having logic puzzle races lately and it's actually helped us decide who to put in as Seeker. How do you feel about them?
Aly: I think they're fun ways to practice logic puzzles and get used to solving under pressure.
Bagel: I love them. I'm not the best SQT-er at logic puzzles, but I think they're really fun and I enjoy doing them. And races make things so much more exciting! So I think it's great.
Darcey: It's a good way to simulate the stress of solving the puzzle during a match, I think they're great. It's just not the same solving them on your own, even trying to beat the "master" times on my puzzle app. Plus, I'm a competitive sort, so having someone else to compete with is always a good way to get me going. Even if he's currently beating me.
Skyping during (and after) games has become somewhat of an SQT tradition. What do you think of our team Skype calls?
Darcey: I love it. So much easier (and quicker) to communicate with the rest of the team than typing. Also it sort of adds to the camaraderie of the whole thing, which is a large part of why I'm here.
Bagel: They're easily the best part of every game. They are always entertaining and they really help (me, at least) forget about being nervous a little bit. I think they're really productive, because you can hear your teammates cheering you on throughout the game.
Aly: I love our team Skype calls. I always feel closer with SQT during and after them. It's fun to talk about and laugh at each other's typos or just mine (sir niolhas de mimisy porignton >_>). It's a great way of bonding with everyone.
Favorite moment from the game?
Aly: My favorite moment from the game was my [7 letter] typo. I didn't even notice I typoed that badly until Cody was like, "Aly, why did you even send that?" and I was like, "Oh noooo." Everyone on Skype was laughing and I remember Kels telling me that it made her day.
Bagel: I think I'm going to have to say, the first Bludger of the game. For one, we hadn't had a Bludger for a couple of games, so we were all a little caught off guard. And then everyone missed Ive's typo, so the whole team thought it was going to be HQT's Bludger. And then it was our Bludger, but there was literally only one person eligible to be Bludgered... It was pretty entertaining.
Darcey: Oh goodness. Getting my first goal, probably. I may have chair danced a little ... or a lot. As I said, I'm competitive. *g*
Speaking of “first goals,” I'm still sulking over Marcie ruining my shutout. Who was your biggest nemesis this game?
Bagel: I'd have to say Tarma. I wanted to score all the goals and she wouldn't slow down and let me. =(
Darcey: Honestly, I think it was myself (although Tarma takes second place). I made a lot of silly mistakes, I think.
Aly: Darcey completely kills it on one-word answers, so she beat me to the Quaffle a bunch on those.
What do you think SQT's goals are for the rest of the season? What are your own personal goals for the season?
Aly: Well, I'm not sure of any other goals as whole for SQT, but I do know one is to win the Quidditch Cup again. My own personal goals for the season are to hopefully play as well (or even better) than I did two years ago when I originally joined SQT and to at least try to get some chapters and years memorized.
Darcey: Other than winning the Quidditch Cup, I'm not even going to speculate on SQT's because I'm pretty sure I'd be wrong. For me, play every match (barring RL issues) – which therefore means being good enough to be on the first team, since we have more than enough players right now – and to earn as many stars as possible (I'm still sore that I missed out on the practice one last month).
Bagel: I think SQT's biggest goals for the rest of the season are to continue to have fun and bond with each other and to win the Cup again. I like it hanging out in the Dungeons! My biggest personal goal is to manage my time better and make time to put more into botting and Quidditch and to spend more time with SQT in general.
Thanks for the interview! Any final words you want to share with our supporters?
Darcey: Other than SQT RULES, not really. Words aren't really my thing, as you might have gathered that from all the waffling.
Aly: Thanks for supporting a big bunch of goofballs. We'll try to win the Cup just for you!
Bagel: Thanks to all the people who show up and cheer for us at any of our games this year! Your support means a lot to the team! <3
After a tough match against Hufflepuff, I sat down with the three Slytherin Chasers – Rosemarie "Bagel" Halliwell, Darcey Goode, and Allyson Celestra – to find out what exactly makes them tick.
Introduce yourself. Who are you and what is your role/position on SQT?
Bagel: I'm Rosemarie Halliwell and I'm a fifth year Prefect and I'm the captain of SQT. I usually play Chaser, occasionally Beater, but mostly during games, I just yell "dodges ready!" between questions and "GO TEAM!" when SQT gets a hit.
Darcey: Oh goodness. How do I answer that one without taking an age? *g* There used to be an easy answer to that – I'm S-C2-Darcey. Then somebody made me play Seeker and I discovered that one's actually quite fun too. I suppose the best description I can give is that I'm an old timer who definitely has her preferences, but will play whatever position she's asked to for the good of her team.
Aly: Well, my name is Allyson Celestra, but everyone calls me Aly. I'm not sure I have a certain role on SQT, but I have Chased the past two games so let's go with that.
We just had a great game against Hufflepuff. Were you nervous at all?
Aly: Honestly, not much really. I was super nervous for our first game against RQT, but I've relaxed after that.
Bagel: I'm actually always nervous on game days. Even after all the games I've played in the past almost 4 years, I'm always nervous.
Darcey: Very. It was the first time I'd played Chaser in a silly number of years, and I was ill. It took some time for my brain and my fingers to get going, or at least it felt like it.
How do you handle the nerves?
Darcey: I try to ignore them and just get on with what I'm supposed to be doing. On Saturday I found that answering the questions that weren't mine helped, it reminded me that actually I do know answers.
Bagel: Hmmm... Usually I just kind of deal with being nervous until the game starts. I have random pre-game rituals that help sometimes, like caffeine right before the game. And then once the game starts, after a few minutes, I'm fine.
How did you know the next question was going to be about pre-game rituals? Are you psychic?
Bagel: Yes. Yes I am. I have excellent divination skills.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Darcey: Other than making sure I have a drink on my desk, not really, although I suppose sometimes I "air type" a bit to get my fingers moving, particularly if it's cold.
Aly: Nope.
How was the lineup decided? Were you happy with your position?
Bagel: This month, we really tried to put everyone in the position they preferred for the most part. The only issue we had was a player who couldn't be there and that made us rearrange the lineup just a little bit, but I think everyone was still pretty content with it. Chaser is my favorite position to play, so I was happy with that.
Darcey: We had a discussion during practice about who was going to play what, I asked if I could play Chaser since that was always my position (and yes, I did make sure before the lineup went in that I was C2 – what can I say, I'm slightly attached). Absolutely I was happy.
Aly: I don't know how lineup was decided, but I did find our wall of Kelseys (Kelsi?) amusing. I'm pretty happy with my position because I love Chasing.
SQT has been having logic puzzle races lately and it's actually helped us decide who to put in as Seeker. How do you feel about them?
Aly: I think they're fun ways to practice logic puzzles and get used to solving under pressure.
Bagel: I love them. I'm not the best SQT-er at logic puzzles, but I think they're really fun and I enjoy doing them. And races make things so much more exciting! So I think it's great.
Darcey: It's a good way to simulate the stress of solving the puzzle during a match, I think they're great. It's just not the same solving them on your own, even trying to beat the "master" times on my puzzle app. Plus, I'm a competitive sort, so having someone else to compete with is always a good way to get me going. Even if he's currently beating me.
Skyping during (and after) games has become somewhat of an SQT tradition. What do you think of our team Skype calls?
Darcey: I love it. So much easier (and quicker) to communicate with the rest of the team than typing. Also it sort of adds to the camaraderie of the whole thing, which is a large part of why I'm here.
Bagel: They're easily the best part of every game. They are always entertaining and they really help (me, at least) forget about being nervous a little bit. I think they're really productive, because you can hear your teammates cheering you on throughout the game.
Aly: I love our team Skype calls. I always feel closer with SQT during and after them. It's fun to talk about and laugh at each other's typos or just mine (sir niolhas de mimisy porignton >_>). It's a great way of bonding with everyone.
Favorite moment from the game?
Aly: My favorite moment from the game was my [7 letter] typo. I didn't even notice I typoed that badly until Cody was like, "Aly, why did you even send that?" and I was like, "Oh noooo." Everyone on Skype was laughing and I remember Kels telling me that it made her day.
Bagel: I think I'm going to have to say, the first Bludger of the game. For one, we hadn't had a Bludger for a couple of games, so we were all a little caught off guard. And then everyone missed Ive's typo, so the whole team thought it was going to be HQT's Bludger. And then it was our Bludger, but there was literally only one person eligible to be Bludgered... It was pretty entertaining.
Darcey: Oh goodness. Getting my first goal, probably. I may have chair danced a little ... or a lot. As I said, I'm competitive. *g*
Speaking of “first goals,” I'm still sulking over Marcie ruining my shutout. Who was your biggest nemesis this game?
Bagel: I'd have to say Tarma. I wanted to score all the goals and she wouldn't slow down and let me. =(
Darcey: Honestly, I think it was myself (although Tarma takes second place). I made a lot of silly mistakes, I think.
Aly: Darcey completely kills it on one-word answers, so she beat me to the Quaffle a bunch on those.
What do you think SQT's goals are for the rest of the season? What are your own personal goals for the season?
Aly: Well, I'm not sure of any other goals as whole for SQT, but I do know one is to win the Quidditch Cup again. My own personal goals for the season are to hopefully play as well (or even better) than I did two years ago when I originally joined SQT and to at least try to get some chapters and years memorized.
Darcey: Other than winning the Quidditch Cup, I'm not even going to speculate on SQT's because I'm pretty sure I'd be wrong. For me, play every match (barring RL issues) – which therefore means being good enough to be on the first team, since we have more than enough players right now – and to earn as many stars as possible (I'm still sore that I missed out on the practice one last month).
Bagel: I think SQT's biggest goals for the rest of the season are to continue to have fun and bond with each other and to win the Cup again. I like it hanging out in the Dungeons! My biggest personal goal is to manage my time better and make time to put more into botting and Quidditch and to spend more time with SQT in general.
Thanks for the interview! Any final words you want to share with our supporters?
Darcey: Other than SQT RULES, not really. Words aren't really my thing, as you might have gathered that from all the waffling.
Aly: Thanks for supporting a big bunch of goofballs. We'll try to win the Cup just for you!
Bagel: Thanks to all the people who show up and cheer for us at any of our games this year! Your support means a lot to the team! <3