Primed and ready: students pumped for start

Sweat, exhaustion, drive, and ambition. The only thing more thrilling than jumping back into another year at IU is the anticipation that comes with participating in one of the many challenging intramurals offered on campus. \nThree of the most desired events include football, whiffleball and tennis singles. Not only are they all popular among the student body, but they also draw large crowds watching athletes battle it out for top honors.\nBut before the competition has a chance to heat up, students will be gathering this week to register for their favorites.\n"Football, whiffleball and tennis singles will all start play Monday, Sept. 13," said Stacey Hall-Yanessa, program director for RecSports. "However, this does not mean that students who do not have free time on that date cannot participate. The best thing about intramurals at IU is that students can choose when they want to play, thus making it convenient for their schedules."\nStudents do have a large part in the decisions affecting their intramural seasons. Football is by far one of the most popular sports offered, and the athletes elected to start playing earlier in warmer weather. \nSports fans, like freshman Jon Siegel, are eager to begin competition. \n"I'm excited to meet a lot more kids, start playing people and hopefully make new friendships," he said. "Intramural football has no pressure to be perfect, and it's just fun instead of strenuous. I'm excited to be playing a sport that I've known since sixth grade."\nActivities at the Student Recreational Sports Center and the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation are popular not only for strengthening a person's talents, but also improving their self-esteem. \nSatoshi Kido, assistant director for RecSports, said, "Some students were great athletes in high school but were not good enough to make it in college, so they look for competition. Winning is good, but it is more important to have fun." \nAlthough winning does drive many students to excel, Josh Downing, assistant director of intramural sports, club sports and student development, said it's more important to have fun as a team player. \n"The best talent any athlete needs to encompass is the love of teamwork, fun, getting along and cooperation," he said. "The primary reason students play is for fun, and competition isn't so much the same focus." \nThere is constantly new competition arriving each season, which makes each sport exciting.\nEverybody needs to meet new people, and the events are fresh and ever-changing," announced Hall-Yanessa. \nDifferent divisions make all intramurals more or less physical, which keeps everybody interested in participating.\nAnd not only are intramurals a great way to get involved and meet other people who share similar interests, but they also provide the perfect opportunity for every person to live out their sports fantasies of making that game-winning shot or the perfect save. \nEither way, intramurals are a tradition proudly displayed by IU students -- through perspiration, motivation, and pure love of the game. \nRegistration ends tonight at the SRSC or the HPER. If you do not have a full team, are curious about a particular sport, or for more information, log on to www.recsports.indiana.edu.\n-- Contact staff writer Jackie Faine at jfaine@indiana.edu.