A Look Into Summer Intramurals

Basketball, one of the more popular sports of the summer, experienced several cancellations due to weather conditions. Still, teams returned to finish the season strong. 

“I really enjoy the summer, because everybody here is generally very relaxed,” Intramural Official Will Proffit said. 

The Strokers defeated the Bozo Honor Society to claim the Summer A basketball title. The Bozo Honor Society rebounded for Session B, winning six regular season games. 

“We’re here for the fun,” a member of Bozo Honor Society, Benjamin Thomas said. “Give me some good times. I’ll surprise people, make a shot here and there.”

Intramurals weren’t just for students this summer. The Living Well Kickball league gave faculty and staff a chance to get outside and compete.

“[It’s] just a good time to bring together faculty and staff as a community,” Employee Wellness Specialist Belle Stixrood said. “A lot of things are offered for students, and if we can give something back [to the faculty], they can have fun and bond with their colleagues. So everyone always has fun, and they always get excited. They’re building their teams every year.”

Aaron Grow, a student intramural official, refereed the Living Well Kickball games on July 17, bridging student life and the campus community. 

“I’ve met some of my best friends through intramurals and had a great time, worked for a bunch of great leaders and great people,” Grow said. 

Sand volleyball also drew regular participation, with games ranging in intensity and competitive spirit. The Intramural officials doubled as DJs, with upbeat music hyping up the players. 

“I think a lot of teams use [the summer] as practice for the fall semester,” intramural official Ava Serna said. “And with those games, you see a lot of communication happening on the court, and it’s very apparent that they’re here to play and here to win versus teams that are here to have fun.”

The Masters Edition team defeated the Sizzlers to win the Summer A championship. They opened the Summer B playoffs by defeating Mission Unblockable in the first round on July 22.

“I feel like a lot of people who play intramurals continue to play intramurals, so I see a lot of familiar faces after working here a few semesters,” Serna said. “It makes a big school feel small.”

Pickleball gave participants the chance to play both competitively and recreationally. In between game times, players would rally casually with friends or challenge opponents in singles. Open to all skill levels, the sport offered a fun and accessible way to try something new.

“I love sports, so it was a great chance for me to explore other sports I never had the chance to play,” participant Diego Galvez Aranda said. “I also met several friends that I ended up playing, or making them my doubles partner.”

Aranda has played more than 300 intramural games since spring 2017. He now captains Team World in pickleball doubles, and they’ve won all of their regular season matches. 

Hugo Bernardi, known on the courts as ‘The Prez’, won the Summer A Championship. He later advanced to the Summer B semifinals after a close match against Brian Gu, also known as ‘Academics First,’ on July 22. 

“I didn’t get the result I wanted,” Gu said. “When you are on a similar level between people, it kind of goes one way, [and] some days it goes the other way.”

The Korean Aggies soccer team dominated Summer A and clinched the championship. They’ve continued their winning streak into Summer B. The captain, Jungkyuk Lee credits their success to strong strategy and coordination. The team defeated Nuclear FC on July 16, proceeding into the playoffs. 

“We just like to play soccer without any compensation, or good returns,” Lee said. “Our team goes along without any exhausted moments because we truly love the sport.”

Seven other teams also advanced to the playoffs, all aiming for the championship. Sam Lee, a player from Team World, says communication and perseverance are key in this team sport. 

“It’s the determination to reach the ball,” he said. “That’s the one thing [needed] to save the ball and [then] communicate with my defense.”

As playoffs continue, players are gearing up for the season finale. Soon, the champions will emerge victorious and see their names added to the Wall of Champions. Set to launch this fall, the Wall of Champions will display decades’ worth of Rec Sports all-stars.

“Our hope is that students here can be recognized, come up to the touch screen, [and] show their friends their accomplishments,” said Nick Heiar, Intramural Sports program director. “Our dream is to build it out in a number of ways where people come back and look at themselves 20 years ago.”

By digitizing as many records and photos as possible, Rec Sports aims to have its expansive history stored in a central location—making it more accessible to be seen and celebrated by alumni and current students alike.

Keep an eye out for the Wall of Champions inside the Student Recreation Center and on the Rec Sports website this fall.