By Ashley Parsons
Intramural basketball is yet another thriving activity “happening” at the University of Louisville.
The number of teams has jumped from 73 last spring to 87, even better than the improvement of only three teams in the spring of 2006.
While the number of teams is increasing, the intramural department has had difficulty finding referees to officiate all of the games. One of the biggest problems that Intramural Coordinator Dale Young runs into is scheduling. Most teams request to play at the latest time possible, which is also hard to work around. Working with only a handful of referees makes the combination of scheduling and team preference a difficult task.
“We really work hard to accommodate all of the teams,” Young said. “Yet it’s impossible to get to them all.”
While some teams are focused on what time they play, others are focused on who they play. Competition between the teams involved is, without a doubt, intense. Whether it is between two friends or two fraternity teams, fans can constantly feel the heat.
Students are offered a variety of competitive outlets. The intramural department holds a one-on-one and three-on-three tournaments played on half of the court. Those tournaments were completed last week and the champions have already been crowned.
While winning means a championship shirt and a picture on the illustrious intramural hall of fame, many students concede they play just for fun.
Despite bringing home both the one-on-one and three-on-three closed titles, the sisters of Delta Zeta said that their main reason for playing is the entertainment.
The girls make sure that they look good while doing it.
Delta Zeta all sport DZ athletic shirts with many of them having the names of the sorority’s founders on the back. Most Greek squads wear a uniform that in some way displays their organization. Sigma Chi Fraternity, who also won the one-on-one and three-on-three fraternity league titles, sport the letters IHSV, meaning “through the sign we shall conquer” according to freshman political science major Ross Smith.
Many U of L student athletes also enjoy playing intramurals. This year the women of the field hockey team competed in the three-on-three tournament.
According to sophomore midfielder Jenna Ahern, who watched her teammates from the sideline, none of the members of the team have every played basketball before. So, while the girls have played together numerous times, it’s still challenging to play on the basketball court. The biggest difference seen between the field and the court is the competition levels. Ahern compared it to apples and oranges. Even when they play against the toughest intramural team it doesn’t compare to that of the Big East teams.
“If they were that competitive,” Ahern said. “They would be out there playing that sport.”
Other league members use this as a chance to get away from everyday stress and spend time with friends. Sophomore mechanical engineer major Jordan Dorwart uses this as a catalyst to escape the everyday chaos of his speed school Co-Op.
“Being a co-op student,” Jordan said, “It’s great to get away from work and have a little fun.”
Students will be glad to know intramural basketball will continue this week with the five-on-five league.
Whether it’s an easy going night with friends or a hard evening of competition, intramural basketball serves many people, in many ways.
