Intramurals
By Bruce Garlinghouse
Team Norjack has only documented three wins total in their two-year stint as an intramural team. They have fielded teams in football, ultimate Frisbee, softball and volleyball. However, despite their small number of wins, their passion for sport has only increased.
"I play intramural sports to represent my team, Team Norjack," sophomore Kyle Cochran said.
Kyle Cochran is one of 975 students who have played intramurals at UP this year. In addition, Team Norjack is one of 179 teams that have competed in intramural sports this year.
Students have the option to play in seven different intramural leagues including softball, kickball, flag football, basketball, ultimate Frisbee, and dodgeball.
While intramural team successes stay within the limits of campus, talked about only in dorm rooms and messy college houses, this does not stop students like Cochran from competing in numerous sports.
"We're out there to have a good time. Hopefully by the end of our careers here we can double our wins to six or so," Cochran said.
However, there are those whose success does extend beyond campus and have worked hard enough to reach the level of a Division 1 athlete.
Two hundred and thirty-six students play one of eight Division 1 sports including basketball, soccer, track and field, cross country, golf, tennis and volleyball.
The women's soccer team has been in the national spotlight in the last decade making it to Final Four earlier this year and winning national championships in 2002 and 2005. Their average attendance of fans 3,472 ranks first in the country for women's soccer.
"I like watching both soccer teams, but especially women's soccer. I love that they are so hyped which is rare for women's sports," sophomore soccer enthusiast Katie Balestreri said.
The men's basketball team has also gained national exposure, after beating NCAA powerhouse UCLA and defeating nationally ranked University of Minnesota earlier in the season at the Phillips 66 tournament in Anaheim and placing them in the top 25.
"Basketball and baseball are my two favorite sports to watch," freshman Matthew Panther said. "I love the energy at the basketball games especially."
Panther's favorite moment this year was senior guard T.J. Campbell's dunk at the end of regulation in the game against University of Oregon at the beginning of the year.
