By: Leada Felli

The Student Recreation Center turns one year old this month.  The $38 million center, mainly used as a gym, offers for-credit fitness classes, club teams and intramural teams where 1900 students play.

From weight-lifting class to badminton, there are classes a couple times a week to help you stay in the gym.

“I believe the Student Recreation Center changed campus life. There are fitness classes, personal trainers, and plenty of equipment for all students,” said Dale Ramsey, intramural director.

“There are also group fitness activities, locks, towels, showers, intramural sports, clubs, and all of it is free,” said intramural coordinator Justin Peterson. “The only thing there is a small fee for is a personal trainer, which is still cheaper than going out and getting one.”

Online sign-ups for intramural teams allow captains to schedule times most convenient for the team members.

The university also currently has 20 club teams, with new ones still being created. Some of the club teams the university offers are fencing, ice hockey, baseball, ballroom dance, golf, lacrosse, racquetball and table tennis.

Ramsey and Peterson said students who get involved at the SRC can earn friendships, stay in better shape and avoid the freshman 15. Involvement in intramural and club sports also boosts your resume and will just be fun, they said.

The most popular intramural team, no surprise, is basketball. There are 108 teams made up of 1000 students.

Last year, the indoor facility allowed the addition of an indoor soccer league. They had 24 teams last year and had to turn some teams down, but this year they hope to accept 50.

For most teams there is an option for men, women, and co-ed teams.

For more information you can visit the website for the University of Louisville’s intramural leagues. Don’t forget to check what they have in the spring.

For more information you may go to the website http://louisville.edu/ intramurals

Photos by Leada Felli / The Louisville Cardinal SRC5 SRC4 SRC1