Students Run, Kick and Fly to Win
11/03/2014
By Julia Gavin
Jeremy Smith wanted to try something new. Katie Muise wanted to bring her love of a literary sport to campus. The university’s club sports program helped both students reach their goals.
Each year, more than 400 students play on more than 30 club sports teams. The activities range from the usual basketball and soccer to cricket and urban choreography.
“We help students live happier, healthier lives by continuing to play sports they’re familiar with and give them opportunities to try something new,” says Nick Lowery, coordinator of club sports and business operations for campus recreation. “They also learn about leadership, time management and budgeting, which complement their academic studies, and sometimes they get to travel for games.”
Many of the clubs are very successful against their competition. The men’s ice hockey team finished first in its division of the Northeastern Collegiate Hockey Association, a Division II league and the cheerleading club won its division at a Florida competition last season.
In addition to helping students thrive during the semester, club sports also attract students to the school. When Smith was looking to transfer to a new college, the university’s active rugby program, established in 1986, caught his eye.
“I’ve learned what I'm capable of, both athletically and as a competitor,” says Smith, who grew up playing team sports. “Because rugby is so fast-paced and physical, I was able to see how much I was developing as an athlete at every practice.”
Smith, a criminal justice major, says he applies the lessons of rugby to life, including academics.
“I know I have great potential in fields that I may not even be aware of, and I can reach that potential by being open to new ideas and investing in bettering myself in those areas.”
Fiction to Field
Undergraduates can join an established team or create their own for a new sport or physical activity. New teams must use campus facilities, have at least 10 players and nearby leagues or tournaments to join. Six new teams started recently, including cricket, urban choreography, golf, field hockey, women’s basketball and quidditch, the favorite sport of wizards in Harry Potter’s universe.
Muise had experience playing quidditch before college and wanted to bring the game to campus. An energetic mix of dodge ball, rugby and tag while on brooms, the game attracts spectators and is popular on college campuses across the country. The university’s team is doing well in its first season.
“I was surprised by how much work it takes to run a team. It involves a lot of communication between multiple groups of people,” says Muise, an exercise physiology major who works with teammates and university staff to keep the action running smoothly. “But it’s a great way to meet people from different majors and stay physically fit.”
Students can learn more about joining a club sport or building a new team on the Campus Recreation website.