Another exciting semester in spring intramurals is gearing up at Ouachita, and Rec Sports Director Alan Greenwood is especially looking forward to the upcoming basketball season.
“There isn’t a better atmosphere as far as rec sports is concerned as basketball season,” Greenwood said. “The closed-in courts create crowd noise and great competition for students throughout the week.”
Assistant Rec Sports Director Ben Clardy is expecting an excellent turnout for basketball.
“Basketball is one of our top two sports as far as participation, so we are looking forward to a great turnout,” Clardy said.
With basketball being such a popular sport, making competition fair for varying talent levels in the student body is always a challenge.
“We will have an upper, middle and lower division for Rec Sports Basketball,” Greenwood said. “The upper division will have all-conference football players playing, while the lower division will have some of the less talented athletes on campus, which is more laid back and relaxed for fans and teams alike.”
The most challenging league to gauge talent in is the Middle Division, according to Greenwood.
“The Middle Division for Men’s is always a curveball, because the competition is some of the best that you’ll see,” Greenwood said. “With Team Da-Nuh-Nuh moving to the Upper Division after winning three-straight titles in Middle, it’s anyone’s title in 2010.”
Unlike football, there are no major rule changes that athletes with prior playing experience have to adjust to.
“Traveling violations and individual player fouls will be the most highly contested of calls, but when it comes down to it basketball is basketball no matter where it’s played,” Greenwood said.
Basketball is not the only spring intramural, and Clardy enjoys the change of pace that softball and soccer bring to campus.
“I enjoy softball and soccer after spring break because it’s back outside after playing three sports in SPEC,” Clardy said.
Sophomore Philip Reeves, captain of the reigning champion Heartbreakers soccer team, is looking forward to defending his team’s title.
“We have managed to put together a very stout team consisting of all classes, and will definitely be a forced to be reckoned with,” Reeves said. “I’m definitely looking forward to the intramural season.”
There have also been many inquiries about adding ultimate frisbee as another option during spring intramurals.
“We’re looking at some different options for spring sports in the coming months,” Greenwood said.
Intramural captains were polled during an information meeting about the prospect of adding ultimate frisbee and eliminating softball.
According to Greenwood the response was split almost 50-50.
“Whether we cut a sport down or create some new tournament opportunities, look for some new wrinkles for Rec Sports this spring in the near future,” Greenwood said.
By Townsend Keller, Signal Writer
