Written by: Mackenzie Branch, Staff Writer
Intramural sports provide students with opportunities to beat the stress of classes and strengthen friendships. Bryan’s fall intramural season began September 4 with sand volleyball. Though rainfall set the schedule back a week, double elimination tournament rounds will take place September 25-27. Ultimate Frisbee began September 25.
Michael Padgett, Graduate Assistant of Intramurals, organizes and oversees the intramural sports program at Bryan College. Padgett participated in intramurals during his undergraduate years. His involvement gave him the opportunity to meet other students.
“It is a time for students to take a break from school stuff and the busyness of life and just have fun for a little bit without worrying about anything else,” Padgett said.
Intramural sports are not as serious as some students may think. The goal is to have fun and spend time building relationships, Padgett said.
Players may not know each other at first, but relationships form when teams have to work together. Freshman Sydnee Goff didn’t know what she was getting into when she signed up for sand volleyball, but has enjoyed the experience.
“I didn’t expect everybody to work together as well as we do,” Goff said. “It’s like we’ve played together before. There’s a lot of connectedness.”
For volleyball enthusiasts who missed the sand volleyball season, indoor volleyball is coming up in October. Other sports yet to come include basketball, dodgeball, and kickball, as well as ping-pong, billiards, cornhole, and foosball.
Intramural teams typically play 2-3 games a week, with games lasting around 45 minutes. Depending on the sport, seasons range from single day events to 3 or 4 weeks of regular games followed by a final tournament.
Students interested in joining an intramural team must register with IMLeagues to participate. Through the IMLeagues website, students can create or join a current team or watch for an upcoming sport.
MacKenzie is a junior studying Liberal Arts. She works part time as a nurse, and enjoys hanging upside down from ropes over 
rivers and doing homework in a hammock on her tiny back porch. Working as an editor and operating farm retreat ministry are her long-term goals. Contact her at mbranch6965@bryan.edu.
