Rec teams play for fun, fitness

Between football season and Thanksgiving preparations were underway for a championship game on campus. No, the WSSU RAMS football team didn’t get invited to the CIAA championship game; that was already one by North Carolina Central University . Wednesday November 15, the 2006 WSSU intramural flag football championship game took place on the practice field on campus. The intramural football team Young Money, competed against the defending champions, the Goon Squad for the 2006 championship. The flag football championship is one of the highlights of the intramural program at WSSU. “The intramural program is growing, and we always need more teams and participants”, this from the Director of Campus Recreation, Dash McNeal. Also plans are in the works for a big basketball game, student’s vs. faculty and staff on November 30. The Intramural Sports Program gives students a new way to meet people, get in shape and compete. The program, which has become the most popular extracurricular activity on campus encompasses more than just football and wins and losses. The program covers a variety of sports suited to all people. WSSU’s program offers basketball, football, badminton, kickball, volleyball and softball. All the sports are either co-ed or have divisions for women and men. In addition, the Campus Recreation Club plans adventure trips that allow students to broaden their horizons and try new things. “This spring we have adventure trips scheduled for skiing on February 9, and deep sea fishing on April 14″, McNeal said. Students wanting to attend adventure trips must sign an” assumption of risk” waiver before attending. Limited numbers of spots are available for students. Interested students should contact campus recreation as soon as possible. The benefits of playing intramural sports are many and advanced. Students get exposed to new people, competition, teamwork building and physical fitness. Jesse Pittsley Ph.D is the coordinator of the Exercise & Science program said, “Intramural Sports are a great way for students to maintain and improve physical fitness in college. Many of WSSU students were active in high school but often lose track of fitness once entering college. Consistent participation in intramural sports can decrease body fat, increase cardiovascular fitness, improve sleep quality and can serve as extra motivation for students to exercise”. Although being healthy is important competition is on the mind of the participants. Breon Hagans a junior, President of the Sports Management Club and player on the Goon Squad made that clear when he said,” The competition is growing as the program goes. The competition level rises when we leave campus to compete in tournaments against other schools”. And just so everyone knows the players take intramural sports as seriously as the athletes on other sports teams, Breon of the Goon Squad offered a little guarantee: “We will be repeat champions this year”. That turned out to be a bad guarantee as team Young Money dethroned the Goon Squad 24-17.