One of the best nights in college thus far has been intramural bowling night during my sophomore year, no lie. I belonged to a church bowling league when I was ten years old and I have enjoyed bowling ever since. I am by no means a professional. I don’t own my own ball or shoes, and I haven’t participated in any league since that church league that I can barely even remember. But now I can say I am a two-time reigning Bridgewater College Intramural Champion of women’s bowling with all the pride in the world.

I heard through the grape vine that there was intramural bowling offered at Bridgewater and it was a one night event where we got to bowl for free so I convinced some of my friends to join my team and come along for the fun. Going to this event for the first time I was nervous because I had no idea what to expect. I knew my team wasn’t going to put up 200s each game but was that what we needed to win?

We arrived at the bowling alley, figured out our shoes sizes, picked a lane, gathered our not so heavy bowling balls, and put silly nicknames up on the board. We tried scoping out our competition to see what our chances were of winning that prized, free t-shirt that everyone wants at least one of before they graduate. We soon realized that one team had an individual who routinely scored in the 200s so they rest of the night we were constantly trying to catch a sneak peak of their team score without seeming too creepy. As we got closer to the end of the night, the nerves built up as we thought we were in the lead but couldn’t know for sure. The atmosphere of the night was fun and entertaining as we took turns bowling, talking with each other, talking with the teams on the lanes next to us, eating the best bowling alley fries, screaming when we got a strike, laughing when we accidently got a gutter ball, and dancing while we walked up to the lane. In the end we received the email the next day saying we were victorious but it still would have been a fun, competitive night even if we had lost.

Bridgewater College offers several other intramural opportunities that range from one night events to week-long competitions where the team or individual that comes out on top wins the ultimate prize of a Bridgewater College Intramural Champion t-shirt that is offered in several different colors. Almost every sport that is offered offers either co-rec, men’s, or women’s and provides different skill levels. For example, for basketball there is an A league, B league, and C league. There are also different divisions for sand volleyball. Sports like indoor volleyball and both seasons of soccer have a recreational league and an open league. The open league includes players from the varsity teams but anyone who wants tougher competition can participate in the open league. Even if you are not good at softball or football there are sports like badminton, table tennis, chess, or even Comitatus which is a type of sword fighting.

Obviously, intramurals are a way to get involved on campus while meeting new people, getting some exercise, and participating in friendly competition but here are some reasons students gave for why they participate in intramurals.

“I participate in intramural sports because it gives me a way to play sports for fun and takes away some of the time commitment that comes with playing at the collegiate level,” said Megan Ford, who captains a softball team during the spring.

Troy Soaper, who participates in a variety of the sports, said, “Well it’s a nice study break from classes and homework. It’s a good way to get together with friends and other people at the college that you otherwise wouldn’t necessarily see. Plus it’s fun and competitive. And of course the shirt.”

Intramurals aren’t just for students who do not participate in any collegiate sports, but it can be a way for students who chose to play one varsity sport to play other sports that they love. Andrea Walker who has made second team All-ODAC for women’s golf two years in a row, said, “They give me a chance to play sports other than golf for fun and competition. I love basically all sports and intramurals give me an opportunity to express that. It can be kind of hectic to play a varsity sport and intramurals. I usually have to run back from practice to an intramural game but it’s so much fun that it’s definitely worth it.”

For me, intramurals is a way to bring back those feelings that I miss about once being an athlete while still having time to do other things to further my education. It brings back those nervous feelings before a game, the times where you scout out your competition, and being part of a group of friends that also happen to be teammates.

For more information on the Bridgewater College Intramural program you can like their Facebook page, Bridgewater College Intramurals, or visit the Intramurals page on MyBC.

Upcoming Intramural Sports:

Co-Rec Sand Volleyball Deadline: September 16

Men’s and Women’s Horseshoe singles Deadline: September 21

Men’s and Women’s Golf singles Deadline: September 21

Men’s and Women’s Frisbee Golf singles Deadline: September 21

Co-Rec Kickball Deadline: October 2

Ultimate Frisbee Deadline: October 2

Sports offered in the Fall/Winter (October 12-December 2):

Racquetball, Chess, Comitatus, Basketball, Foosball, Table Tennis, Billiards, Bowling

Sports offered in Interterm (January 6-January 11):

3/3 Basketball, Free Throw Contest, 3 Point Shoot-Out, Badminton, Indoor Soccer

Sports offered in the Spring (February 24-April 20):

Dodgeball, Indoor Volleyball, Softball, Tennis, Cornhole, Horseshoes, Frisbee Golf, Golf, Power Puff Football, Sand Volleyball, Outdoor Soccer

The complete 2015-2016 Intramural Program schedule can be found here.