Square off and check out some of Maryville’s club sports this semester. Compete for passion or simply join for leisure, anyone is welcome. It may be difficult to picture now with finals looming on the horizon, but once next semester begins time will clear up as well.
“Club Sports provide a great balance for students academically, athletically and socially. It allows you to put as much time into your sport as you would like and doesn’t require much of your free time,” Coordinator Jarrett Fleming said. “The students are definitely playing for their love of the sport and having fun while doing it.”
Take a peek at the new club sports now on campus:
- Boxing
- Chess Club
- Men’s Club Volleyball
- Women’s Club Basketball
The following clubs are coed:
- Bowling
- Gaga Ball
- Golf
- Paintball
- Physique
- Running
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
These aren’t the only ones. For a complete list of them, click here.
When asked his personal favorite, Fleming said, “I really don’t have a favorite, I have an affinity for all sports. I would most likely start a football club due to my passion for the sport. There’s nothing like scoring a touchdown, it’s a rush; I can’t explain the feeling. I would have to work on my touchdown dance though.”
They’re more than merely a fun competition. They’re a way to grow as a team and as an individual. Skills such as time management, cooperation and leadership all manifest around the club. Teammates will become closer together and treat each others as equals. Individuals will grow stronger. The experiences won’t disappear after college but will often go with graduates into the next steps of their life. It may not be until the graduation or even another 20 years down the road when one might look back and smile on these moments.
Maryville’s sports aren’t off the map either. There are plenty of heavy-hitters in the leagues. A few have made a name for themselves beyond campus. “It was really neat seeing the eSports team win a national championship last year, I don’t think they expected people all across the country to know about them. They really enjoyed competing on the national level, even though I was probably more nervous than them during the games,” Fleming said.
Club Feature: Chess Club
Ever wonder what it would be like to be the king of the world? “We’re hoping to get as many people as we possibly can,’’ both Treasurer Ben Thal and President Hannah Frederick agreed. “All skill levels are welcome.” They are both really excited to have chess club as a competitive sport. “It took a lot to get to this point, all the meetings with Jarett, but it was worth it,” Thal said.
A competitive team usually has about 10 people on it, with four to five competing at a time. The club would love to have more members in general though. As long as you love the game, whether you’re an expert who can win a game in six moves or a beginner who doesn’t know a rook from a bishop, there will always be a spot open.
The group has been meeting every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Reid 2318 this semester. Email Ben Thal at bthal1@live.maryville.edu if you’re interested in joining or have any questions.
Interested in joining a club sport or starting a new one? Fill out a questionnaire by clicking the name of the sport under the ‘Prospective Athletes’ tab. Feel free to join more than one.
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