Intramurals help relieve stress From volleyball and football to ping pong and racquetball, this year's men's intramural program offered a wide array of sports. Jim Gowen, men's intramural director for five years, said the intramural schedule was so full that adding more sports to the line up would have been difficult because of time restraints. Gowen said he was glad so many men took advantage of intramural sports. "Intramurals provide an opportunity for students to participate in competition on a less than intercollegiate leve!," Gowen said. "Intramurals are set up so players with different abilities can participate or compete and enjoy the sports." Toadd to the competitiveness, students could earn intramural awards depending on how many sports tbey participated in, tbeir leadershipability and tbe numberofsports tbey won. Gowen's personal goals for the intramural program this year were to encourage spiritual growth and strong relationships, to improve the facilities in order to provide the best courts and fields for students' use and to continue the increasing participation rate. Bryan Jobe, graduate assistant for men's intramurals, praised Gowen's work. "Mr. Gowen has made the program one of the best in the state," he said. However, without the help of intramural assistants, the program would not have been as successful as it was. The assistants added different qualities to the program. Jobe said he thinks he provided a younger voice for students to talk with. "Ithink it may During an intramural basketball game, players wait in anticipation of the rebound. Many students participated in intramural games in order to relax and relieve stress. Photo by Ric Helms. ~~l-______ ~1~1e~~n'~s~I=n~tr~a~rn~u~r=a=ls V Athletics be easier for me to relate to students because I'm younger than Mr. Gowen," he said. Participants found many benefits from playing intramural sports. "Intramurals helped me ~eet more people on campus and get exercise at the same time," senior Blaine Tucker said. Junior John McCammon said, ''I've gotten to know more people from other clubs and groups on campus [through intramurals]." While many students benefited from the intramural program by developing friendships, there were other rewards from participating in intramural sports such as time management and personal growth. "Intramurals have taught me to use my time wisely," sophomore Chris Conder said. "Intramurals are also a good way to relax." Students enjoyed having something fun to dedicate their time to. "I enjoy intramurals because it's a way to have fun and interact with others," junior John Hawkins said. "I love the fact that, at Harding, we can have competition, but at the same time, we know we're just playing for fun," senior Dennis Van Erp said. Playing sports is one of the best ways to get to know people, Jobe said. Perhaps Jobe summed up the purpose of the intramural program when he said, "[lntramurals] provide good social and physical interaction. They try to promote good, clean competition. " - Rachel McCuiston
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