NEWS

Team sports provide camaraderie, help relieve student stress

Matt Rosolowski is a student-athlete at WCC who runs cross country. Lily Merritt

By Brian Babcock
Staff Writer

Throughout the fall, Washtenaw Community College is offering a plethora of Wolfpack club and intramural sports to spice up the daily grind, including some new ones: flag football, kickball, basketball and soccer.

Students with a strong competitive edge can choose to partake in any of the club sports offered, too: cross country, men’s baseball, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, ice hockey, competitive dance, women’s basketball and men’s basketball.

Getting involved in an athletic club or intramural sport offers many benefits to students. Joining a sport can help students make new friends and become more involved in the campus community.

“When I came to WCC I was really excited to find they had a cross country program; it allowed me to continue something that I loved in high school into college,” said Matt Rosolowski, a second year student. “I’ve met a lot of great people and I’ve gotten to know a lot of people that share the same passion.”

“I really have made some great friends here at WCC getting involved in a sports program,” Rosolowski added.

Another key benefit of getting involved in campus sports is that it can help students budget their time more effectively, said Matt Lucas, supervisor of sports at WCC.

“An active student on the campus and in the community is going to be more engaged with their schoolwork and more structured,” said Lucas. “Sports does a great job of teaching that.”

Rosolowski said running cross country is not only a great way to have fun but also burn off stress.

“There have been several times where I’ve been studying for an exam for most of the day, and I would take a quick break and run,” he said. “It helped me focus and blow off some steam; there were a bunch of benefits there.”

Club sports typically have two practices per week and play local colleges and universities on weekends. For questions on how to get involved, visit the WCC sports office located in room 108 in the Student Center or call the office at 734-973-3500.

Phi Theta Kappa, Beta Gamma Alpha and WCC sports are also teaming up for a fall field day. This event will be held at the WCC sports fields on Friday, September 13 from 2:30 to 6 p.m. A variety of sports, including basketball, soccer, ultimate frisbee and kickball will be played, and food will be served.