Fun and competition at intramurals
Campus, Feature, Sports September 17, 2025, Comments OffThe first intramural event of the semester began with a night of cornhole, which drew 15 teams and provided lots of humor, competition, and camaraderie. Numerous students see intramurals as more than simply games; they’re an opportunity to engage with others and make campus feel smaller.
“We had 15 teams show up today, so 30 people,” said Gus McPherson, Director of Intramural Sports. “Probably just being able to meet new people and make friends is my favorite part of putting this together. It’s a good way to connect on campus.”
There was more to the event than just throwing beanbags onto wooden boards. Students from different organizations and backgrounds have the opportunity to socialize outside of the classroom. Approximately a quarter of the players were new students, which McPherson believes sets a positive tone for the rest of the year.
Intramurals will continue weekly, with soccer up next, followed by sports such as football, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, and even wiffleball in the spring. “Intramurals is really fun. You should come out and do it,” McPherson said. He also mentioned the program is looking for more referees, which is a paid position.
For some students, cornhole was a familiar pastime. Freshman Mason Laurin, a member of the bass fishing team, said he grew up playing in his hometown in Alabama. “We used to actually play in the parking lot because we had nothing else to do in my small town.” He acknowledged that he may not be the best player, but he still valued the friendly rivalry and emphasized the value of meeting new people. “Just put yourself out there and meet people. Find your group of friends so you can go into things with others rather than just yourself.”
Other players stated they were unsure how their abilities stacked up. Freshmen David Luchka and Jeremiah Brewer, who are both on the bowling team, came out after a friend invited them at lunch. Despite saying that they were not particularly good, they won the tournament. “It feels okay,” Luchka said with a laugh. Brewer added, “there were a couple close games. It was very eventful… it was fun.”
Intramurals have become a tradition among upperclassmen such as senior Dan Koebringer. Koebringer, a member of the fishing team, stated that he has competed every year since his freshman year. “It’s a fun time for everybody to hang out, have a little competitiveness, but overall, it’s pretty fun,” he said.
Whether students come to compete, cheer on friends, or simply try something new, intramurals provide a continual means for socializing throughout the school year. As McPherson put it, “it’s a good way to meet new people and make friends.”
That spirit of fun competition continued throughout the night, and in the end, freshmen David Luchka and Jeremiah Brewer won the corn hole tournament. Even though they were humble about their skills, the two bowling friends won the semester’s first intramural event, paving the way for more competitive games in the future.
Photos courtesy of Katelynne Summers
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