For those with a competitive spirit looking to satisfy that urge, intramural sports among Arizona State University’s four campuses are there to help. With tournaments and league-play—flag football, volleyball, basketball and softball—the athlete in everyone can be brought out. The Downtown Phoenix campus has given students the entrée, the extreme of these sports.
The Intermural organization for Downtown Phoenix is in its third year, a full semester in now. In this time sports like kickball, bowling, Ultimate Frisbee—you name it—have been offered. In addition to the opportunity to compete, the opportunity to keep competing attracts students. According to Jessica Abercrombie, a junior journalism and mass communications major, last year the organization hit about “80 percent before now leveling out.” Abercrombie is an Intermural Specialist.
“I really hope it’ll (the organization) further embed itself here at ASU,” Abercrombie says. “The relationship between downtown Phoenix and ASU is an integral part. We’re in the sixth largest city.”
That 80 percent has represented the school and that representation will result in more opportunity in the future. This semester, the flag football league expanded on their success. The men’s team, the Goodfellas and the co-ed team, the McGibblets both advanced to regional play. The two teams traveled westbound to California to meet other teams.
The University of California, Los Angeles had held the event. The McGibblets were runner-up losing to the University of Arizona while the Goodfellas were knocked off late by the University of Las Vegas; Vegas had won it all.
“It was a great opportunity. They (Intramural organization) paid for the whole service,” says sophomore nursing and exercise and wellness sophomore Eddie Gutierrez, captain of the Goodfellas. “It got a little competitive. This will attract more athletes, just to go out there and compete.”
With this success, there were also others; this year had been the first year where flag football included an all-girls league.
So as teams were growing, so was the organization; it’s expanding to higher levels too. Approved for spring 2013, the organization will tentatively have its own facility. Using the Student Recreation fee that comes with enrollment, according to Abercrombie, the complex will have the works—cardio/weight room, basketball courts, an outdoor pool and possibly an indoor track. Supposedly, the Lincoln YMCA has no affiliation in the expansion process; details are still in the works.
Pending this transition works out, ASU Preparatory Academy, who has housed intramural sports thus far, will not be needed as much; however, the fields will still be needed as the new facility has no plans of having any.
The goal was to connect the fibers at ASU, to make the student body one strong, giant tapestry. With opportunity knocking as well as blueprints in the works, this furthermore supports that initiative.
“There’s more people, more diversity,” exercise and wellness sophomore Gloria Valdez says. “Whoever you play, you play. It’s all about making new friendships.”
So as Valdez blows her whistle—she’s a referee and a player—she can see growth in the making. Not only are students working together to the eye, but secondly, this is the becoming of the downtown Phoenix campus.
Any questions? E-mail me at bcapria@asu.edu.
