Club Sports Awards Presented

They’re not just parrying and thrusting with their verbal acuity on the debate team at UT Dallas — some students are doing the real thing as members of a new fencing club.

Though only in its first year on campus, fencing is now the second most popular club sport, fast closing in on ultimate Frisbee’s popularity. Another popular sport at UT Dallas is roller hockey, played on roller blades instead of skates. The men’s roller hockey club has even won five consecutive Division II titles from the Southwest Collegiate Hockey League.

On April 26, the recreational sports department at the University held its first awards banquet to recognize the students who organize, manage and maintain the 15 club sports on campus. There are 230 students playing club sports at UT Dallas, and any UT Dallas student can join one of the clubs as long as they are currently enrolled and have proof of medical insurance.

Nominations were accepted for five categories and the winners included:

• New club of the year – fencing
• Officer of the year – Julianna Chung, swimming
• Athlete of the year – Jason Burger, roller hockey
• Instructor of the year – Terrell Bennett, jujitsu
• Club of the year – racquetball

The men’s roller hockey club has won several five consecutive Division II titles from the Southwest Collegiate Hockey League.

In addition to these awards, individual clubs used the occasion to present their own awards. The racquetball club, for example, awarded the most calculating player of the year, the roller hockey club recognized its rookie of the year, and fencing recognized the fastest learner of the year.

Megan Greene, coordinator of club sports and special events, is the advisor and liaison to the clubs. She helps with all aspects from travel to club management. It was her idea to hold the awards banquet after the popularity of club sports on campus skyrocketed this past year.

“Club sports are between intramurals and varsity athletics,” said Greene. “Intramurals compete in leagues or tournaments on campus against their peers. Club sports practice, compete and interact with teams from other schools.”

Most of the competition with other schools is within Texas, but Greene says sometimes the clubs compete out of state. The wrestling club has competed in Kansas for a conference tournament and in Florida for the national competition. Swimming went to North Carolina for nationals and the ultimate Frisbee club travels to Louisiana every year for a tournament. The recreational sports department supports some of the travel, but the clubs raise most of the money for the trips themselves.

More information about the club sports program may be found on the recreational sports Website at www.utdallas.edu/recsports/club_sports/clubsports.html.