With high school ending, many Senior student-athletes find themselves wondering what they will put their athletic time and energy towards in future years. Was high school the peak of their athletic careers? Luckily, colleges have a wide variety of ways that all students can stay involved in sports.
“I think the key to staying involved in athletics is to not let your fear get to you. Think about how everyone around you just wants to have fun. So get out of your comfort zone and just do it,” Garfield alum and University of Vermont student Benny Smith Roberts remarked. In high school, Roberts was an avid runner, participating in Garfield Track & Field and Cross Country. Now, he continues to stay fit in college through climbing and other intramural sports. Intramural leagues within colleges offer wide varieties of recreational team and individual sports, and generally don’t cut players. They are a great way to meet new people, learn new things, and stay active in college. “I played baseball in high school. But, now I do intramural frisbee. Intramural sports have allowed me to try new things, and to be honest, I’m exercising the same amount, if not more, than I was in high school,” Garfield alum and University of Washington student Mateo Acevedo said. Intramural sports can range from low-stake casual games to competitive leagues with championships. Traditionally, intramural sports include basketball, soccer, flag football, volleyball, softball, tennis, and ultimate frisbee. However, most colleges offer dozens more, with many niche activities like canoe battleship, innertube water polo, log rolling, or even Mario Kart at some schools. “Intramural sports are really fun, especially if you do it with a group of your friends. Sometimes I play volleyball with my friends” Roberts added.
Similar to intramural sports, many college students turn to club sports. Club sports are typically student-run teams where athletes compete against other universities. They are great for those who are looking to continue to compete in college yet offer a lighter time commitments than college varsity sports. Club sports at colleges typically cut players and often require competitive training, travel, and extra expenses.
Finally, there are college varsity sports. College varsity sports are the highest-leveled and most difficult way to stay involved in college athletics and require large time commitments and skill. Many players are often recruited on athletic scholarships. Some athletes get on to these competitive teams through tryouts or “walking on,” but the first step is always to reach out to the coach. “I am going to be running competitively at Lewis and Clark college for their D3 Track and Field and Cross Country Programs… Going into the whole college process, I knew that continuing to run competitively was important to me… but I knew I didn’t want running to consume my life like a D1 program would, so that’s why I am really excited about a D3 program, which will be more holistic,” Garfield student Ava Stewart said. College sports aren’t always the right fit for everyone, and colleges also have easily accessible campus gyms that are included in tuition. However, there are many levels at which people can continue to do sports collegiately, so there will always be a way for people to fit them into their lives regardless of if they want to be a D1 athlete or just want to enjoy them as a hobby in addition to their studies.
