Team's cohesiveness leads to victories, fun

In the world of intramural sports students participate for the fun, camaraderie and competition that the games bring. For juniors Janelle Kenzor, Jaimie Hewitt, Kate Ebert and Megan Adams, life without intramural sports would not be as much fun. \nThe four began playing when they were all freshmen living at Teter Quad. They decided to play together after their initial floor meeting. They called themselves the Wissler Wombats because that was the name of their dorm building and because an Australian exchange student who came to IU always talked about the wombat, which is a large burrowing marsupial.\nThis description is surprising regarding the four women, as the foursome spends the majority of its time being active. \nSince their freshman year, they have competed in basketball, flag football and soccer. During the team's initial season together, it made the women's division championship game in both flag football and soccer. Last year, the Wombats won the women's championship in soccer. \nWhile the four women agreed soccer was their best sport, flag football has been the most enjoyable. \n"Football is an all around favorite," Kenzor said. \nWith the team's recent success, the Wombats' expectations rise as well. \n"We are hoping to get back to the championship game in football," Kenzor said. "We have a pretty good team this year." \nWhile each girl played multiple sports in high school, intramurals have provided them a new way to stay active and try new things. The Wombats, along with many other teams, use intramurals to distance themselves from the rigors of school and other forms of stress in their everyday lives. \n"It is neat to have the competition without the commitment, which is hard to do during college," Ebert said. \nIntramurals also provide a way to play sports that they might not have had an opportunity to during high school. \n"Intramural sports are good because you can try new things," Hewitt said.\nCurrently the Wombats are 3-0 heading into the flag football playoffs and have outscored the opposition 90-0. The team's impressive start has not gone unnoticed. The RecSports department has ranked the Wombats the No. 1 team in the four-team, women's II division. \nAll the women support the intramural sports program IU offers and look forward to new sporting challenges in the upcoming semesters. \n"Intramurals are a highlight of our year," Adams said. \nFor more information on intramural sports visit www.recsports.indiana.edu/program_areas/intramurals.\n-- Contact staff writer Drew Smith at asmithii@indiana.edu.