Watta smile. Barbara Barnes served as both women's intramural director and as women's club sports director. Her duties also included teaching classes for Harding. - photo by Roger Red. Capture the flag. Not every woman on a Harding football field was a cheerleader. The women 's intramural sports program included a football bracket this year. Robin Ross, a junior from Kingwood, TX, tries to outrun the defensive pack in a fall game. photo by Jim Hadley. 16 2 Athletics Wbmcn's Intra.mum.ls Js~~~ts, 1~~~ it seemed like a fun thing to do," said Karen Leaf, of her involvement in the women's intramural program. Leaf, a sophomore from Martinez, CA, represented the attitude behind most girls who chose to participate in the program. While competition seemed to drive men to give their all on the court or on the field, women generally played because of the positive experiences they found within the intramural set-up. Susan Traughber, a junior from Hendersonville, TN, and assistant to Intramural Director Barbara Barnes , commented on the program: "It helps people meet other people in a way you'd never get to know at a more competitive level. Also, it gives you a chance to play something even tough you can't play well enough to be intercollegiate." Traughber and Mrs. Barnes put in hours of work to make a fine program available. In the fall, girls could participate in softball, tennis, racquetball, volleyball , and swimming. The spring semester brought basketball , badminton and ping-pong to the scene, and when spring fully came around with warm weather, the softball field was once again employed. Also in the spring, the intramural track and field meet brought an air of excitement. Although participation was organized by social clubs, the meet was a part of the overall intramural program. For athletes who took their sports more seriously, the program provided for serious recognition. Points for playing, winning, and officiating, were assigned, as well as points in recognition of All-Star status and sportsmanship. When a player accumulated a certain number of Women's Intramurals points, she was presented by Mrs. Barnes with a jacket or blanket. Participants in any intramural sport could vote to determine All-Star player and sportsmanship recipients and Mrs. Barnes presented those with their honors in the honors chapel program at the end of the schoolyear. "Mrs. Barnes is great. She enjoys sports because she can be an adult and a friend, too. If you make an effort to get to know her, she's great about being involved in your life," said Traughber. But for most, intramurals was a time for fun and friendship. As Leaf put it, "The fun that you have, the friends that you make, and the bondings with the people on your team are really special." - Sheila Underwood
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