Intramural sports on the rise

By: Kevin Webber
Posted In: Sports

Salve began its intramural sports program four years ago, when Amanda Van Voorhis was appointed director alongside her job as women’s basketball coach, and the program has enjoyed growing success since. Salve did not have an intramural program prior to Van Voorhis’ arrival and this year the program has hosted fifty-eight teams thus far. It is an “exciting program – a great way to meet new people, continue participation in the sports these kids love, and stay involved in the Salve community,” she said.

Work-study students get the word out about roster sign-ups, scheduling, officiating, and promoting the program. Van Voorhis has an advisory board comprised on-campus students who assist her in all aspects of the program for which she is grateful.

Awards will be given at the next Student Life Night Ceremony. Awards such as a sportsmanship award, a spirited participant of the year award, and others will be given to both contributors of the program and participants alike.

“We’d love to see 50 percent of the on-campus population to participate,” Van Voorhis said and with the expansion of Miley more students are participating but she estimates only around 30 percent of students have participated. One effort to do this is the introduction of new sports such as badminton (a classic) and pickle-ball, a new sport much like tennis but on a much smaller scale.

Van Voorhis also urges people who do not consider themselves athletic to take part: “This program is not about athleticism or ability it is about having a great time,” she said.

The spring season means softball, the most popular sport offered, is fast approaching. Softball rosters are due by Monday, Mar. 29.