Club Sports..: Friendlycompetition forclubbrothers, sisters With an air of solemn determination, the batter sreps slowly up to the plare. She surveys the field, a blaze ofartificial light in asea of late-evening blackness. Eying the pitcher warily. she takes a few practice swings. then assumes her stance next [0 the plate. The pi rcher reaches back and lers the ball fly. The white sphere hurls through the ai r and a deafening crack resounds across the field as bat and ball connec[. As the players in the outfield scramble to srop the ball , the barrer begins her race around the dusty diamond. Softball was JUSt one of many spOft$ in which men's and women's social clubs competed. The more traditional sporrs - softball. volleyball, haskerball and flag foorbal l - garnered the mosr interest. Students with more offbeat athletic imerests could parcicipate in club bowling. swimming and track and field competitions. to name a few. Club sports gave some students a chance (Q compete in areas that had previowly been offlimits to them. "I play club sofrball, foorball and volleyball, bur footbal l is my favorite," Amy Cooper, sophomore Shantih member, said. "It's something 1 grew up with and always loved, but 1was never allowed to play because I'm a girl. Club spOttS give me thar chance ro finally play foorball. " Depending on the size of the club and the popularity of the sporr, clubs ofren fielded reams on the "A," "S" and "e" levels. The major difference between these teams was the level ofcompetition, especially when the end goal was to win a championship rrophy. "Volleyball and baskerball are much more competitive on the A-team level ," Cooper said. "I play A-team becawe 1like to be competitive and I really enjoyall the games. 1don'r like ro play unless there's a prize involved. " When it came to competing for championship titles, rivalry between clubs was fi erce, but mostly fri endly. "With most clubs, the competition was great," KristenJones, junior Shamih member, said. "It was healthy - a playful, fun, Chrisrian armosphere." To win a championship, clubs needed not only skills, but a strong commitment to teamwork. "We didn' t necessarily have better players than the other team, but we stuck together and persevered in the end," Liz Null, sophomore, said. "That's how Shantih was able to win the A-team sofrbal l championship." T ime spent at practices and games helped build stronger bonds between club members - fri endships that might not have developed outside the arena ofcompetitive sports. "Playing club spottS gives you the opporrunity co hang out with people in your club that you wouldn 't normally get to spend a lot of time with," Jeremy Gibson, freshman Chi SigmaAlpha member, said. "It gives you the chance to get co know guys who aren't in any of your classes or that you don' t see very often outside of meetings." Even club members who did noracrually play in games were able co participate as spectacors. "We did a great job supporting each other this year," Roseann Hittlet, junior Shantih member, said . "The stands were full at every game." -Sara Hardesty I'holo by D:l.nid Duboi s Leigh Howard, sophomore Zeta Rho member, rries to run to the oursidewhile Shantih members Ginny Hill, Chrissy Thornton and Kristen Jones, sophomores, pursue her. Shantih A-team captured the women's large dub flag football ride this year. Parrick Jackson, junior lGng's Men member, anempts to sack Cameron Clark, (he opposing quarterback, in a football game. King's Men C-team won (he small club football tide. 222 Social Clubs
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