When Drew University's club sports are competitive with other schools' Division III teams, something must be going right. Since hiring Campus Recreation and Club Sports Director Tremaine Young in 2005, Drew University's Intramural Sports program has done nothing but improve.
"Our club sports have progressed tremendously over the three years that I've been here," Young said. "The amount of participation just keeps growing."
With increasing interest and involvement on campus, club sports are gaining the respect of other schools, as well as the student body.
"All of our teams are competitive for the most part," Young said. "Men's and women's rugby are really coming together, along with ultimate Frisbee."
Although Drew's club sports are talented, most squads are not yet eligible to compete at the Division III level.
"It's getting there," Young said. "It may not be there quite yet, but it will be."
The running club is one of several clubs that is on the verge of becoming recognized as a Division III sport on campus. The running club will be competing at open track meets, where there will be individuals from Division I, II and III schools.
Volleyball is another growing intramural sport. With 14 coed teams comprised of three men and women per squad, it is likely that it will eventually become eligible for Division III competition.
"I'm not totally sure what all [of] the regulations are pertaining to club sports becoming NCAA Division III teams," Young said. "But I would say that our club sports teams could definitely compete with some schools at the Division III level."
Although most of Drew's club sports have never competed on the NCAA stage, intramural sports teams have participated in intramural competitions at campuses such as Ohio State University, Boston University, Cornell University and the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Drew's intramural program also has full membership within the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association. Although Young is the driving force behind these accomplishments, he is not alone in his quest to improve.
"Our student commissioners, Justin Yu ('08) and Gary DiClementi ('09), are showing their commitment by doing their part to elevate the program," Young said. "Yu, John Almanzar ('10) and I attended the National Conference in Minnesota last spring, and have plans to attend this year as well."
Because of the efforts of Young, Yu, DiClementi, Almanzar and others, Drew now offers a wide range of competitive club sports, intramurals and activities on campus.
"My favorite intramural sport is basketball," Milfranc Evra ('10) said. "The games are really competitive and I know how to contribute to the team."
In addition to basketball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, rugby and running, Drew also offers intramural sports such as tennis, softball, dodgeball, flag football and dance.
"There are so many popular club sports on campus," Evra said. "But we could always use more."
With so many competitive sports available to the student body, many athletes compete in more than one sport. Evra participates in flag football, volleyball and basketball. He finds that all three sports demand team chemistry.
"Most of the club sports require a great team effort," Evra said. "It's not just individual. Everyone has to play well for the team to win."
This vast array of intramural opportunities has also given students the chance to experiment entirely new sports without worrying about the pressures of competing at the Division III level.
"Although I'd never played football before, winning the flag football championship was my best intramural experience ever," Evra said. "I learned so much, and it felt so great to win."
As intramural and club sports continue to grow in quality and quantity, students will have the opportunity to explore new interests.
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