UR a Champion!

By Tyler Socash ’09, Admissions Counselor

Intramural sports are a quintessential cornerstone at most institutions of higher education. Aside from earning a bachelor’s degree, it is possible that the most significant achievement during your college years is winning an Intramural Championship. Nothing is more exciting than having eclectic groups of students from all facets of campus life band together in a quest to win the coveted UR Intramural Championship T-shirts!

Ten intramural sports are offered at Rochester: basketball, flag football, floor hockey, volleyball, soccer, dodgeball, kickball, futsal, field hockey, and ultimate Frisbee. There are four leagues in each sport, as long as participation is high, including the A-league, co-rec league, open league (in which any number of men and women can be on the playing field), and women’s league. Various combinations of these intramural sports are offered during fall, winter, and spring sessions. Each regular season culminates in a seeded, one-game elimination playoff, and all games are played in the Goergen Athletic Center or under the lights of Fauver Stadium!

One of my life’s top-five moments occurred during the ultimate Frisbee playoffs in fall 2008. As a former D’Lion (a school spirit sophomore who lives on a freshman hall), I gathered my freshmen together to play Frisbee, snow-soccer, or football in Fauver Stadium four nights a week. Yes, we did this throughout the winter, too! Our hall used these “game nights” as a training experience for the intramural seasons. Finally, during my senior year, we made a strong run in the playoffs and eventually faced the perennial powerhouse in the ultimate Frisbee championship game. The three years of training paid off! We held off our opponents in the final minute to secure a dramatic 6-5 victory. As the last second expired, I tackled my nearest teammate and soon became crushed by the mountain of players above me. Donning the “UR a Champion” T-shirt always brings back some of my favorite memories with my Gates 4 Susan B. Anthony hall residents.

Unlike varsity or club sports, the only time commitment you need to make consists of one 30-minute game a week. Playing any of the intramural sports is a great way to relax and unwind throughout the academic year. All skill levels are welcome to join! More information can be found on the Athletics website.

For those of you who enrolled into the University of Rochester Class of 2015, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!