Simon Valaskova-Howard (left) threw the ball to Brayden Keelan during practice. WCC sports teams allow both newcomers and returning athletes to participate in the sports of their choice. Courtney Prielipp | The Washtenaw Voice
Sofia Oganezova
Staff Writer
At WCC, the start of the semester doesn’t just mean new classes—it means game time. Across fields and courts, students will soon be warming up and trying out for spots on WCC’s club sports teams. For some, it’s a return to competition; for others, it’s a first step into organized athletics. Either way, it’s a chance to test skills, make connections, and become part of a campus tradition that’s about more than just the scoreboard.
WCC Sports Manager Matt Lucas said the tryouts are about much more than athletic performance.
“We are looking for students that are engaged with what we do, they have an understanding of what a club sport is and want to be part of that,” Lucas said. “We’re looking for someone who’s eager to learn, eager to get better, and have fun with the experience…we want to have students that are having a positive experience with what we do.”
Club sports at WCC are open to all students, including those without prior competitive experience.
“The great thing about club sports is that it really is for students who may not have prior competitive experience,” Lucas said. “We want you to feel included.”
For baseball player Brayden Keelan, who is studying elementary education, tryouts are about more than making the roster.
“I came last year. We were rebuilding, and I saw potential in my team,” Keelan said. “I had nothing better to do, so I decided to come out and have fun.”
That sense of fun and openness is exactly what Lucas hopes more students will discover.
Club sports are “a critical component of retention efforts” at WCC, helping students feel part of campus life, explained Lucas. “We never want it to be like, ‘I take a class and go home.”
“Between all of our clubs—sports and e-sports—that helps create a place of belonging… we get a lot of that, where people make friends and relationships from here that go on for a lifetime,” Lucas said.
Lucas encourages students who are unsure about trying out to take the leap. “You are in college, and college is a time to try stuff that is new,” Lucas said. “You have this time in your life where you could take part in a sport, learn something, meet new people. If you’re looking for that, this is the place to be because we create a family atmosphere.”
Keelan agreed and offered advice to anyone on the fence: “They should try it. The worst that’s going to happen is that they have fun.”
See more photos from baseball tryouts here.
