Students show team spirit

The Intramural Sports and Recreation program's season at Austin Community College is in full swing and has been characterized by hard competition, great fun, and large turnout.

One of the major problems facing the intramural program in the past has been the lack of attendance and the inability to have enough students participating in different events.

So far, that has not been the case this year. Although the basketball teams and soccer teams have been the front runners in terms of attendance, even smaller events such as the kickball match between the Student Life staff and the students had more than enough participants and even a good sized crowd.

Competition has been fierce as well, and anyone who thinks that participants might not have that competitive spirit or edge, would be dead wrong. The basketball teams especially put on a display of fiery competition as all teams that came out to play in the first few matches all played as hard as they could and surprisingly resulted in some very close and very good match ups. Even the crowds that the respective teams and competitions have garnered stay during all the games, and the cheers stay loud throughout entire match ups.

Sportsmanship has been on display through the first part of the intramural season as well, and though sometimes players and teams become heated amongst each other, overall congratulations are given at the end of games, and players have respect for each other.

One of the more remarkable things that I have personally witnessed is the ability that the teams have to become cohesive. Think about it, most of these players have never met each other before, and have not had any practice time together, yet as the games go on they learn how their teammates work and feed off each other.

When the games are over, and this is evident through maybe two games played by some teams so far, it already becomes evident that these teams have grown and become great cohesive units

Most importantly through, the first part of the season, having fun has been the main focus and so far it's been nothing but fun for all involved. When observing the crowd, it's not unusual to find everyone laughing, cheering, having a good time.

Student Life's new revitalized focus on the intramural program is not only evident through the players, and crowd but also it's leadership. Tracy Partin, Student Life's Intramural Sports and Recreation coordinator always seems to have a smile on his face during the competition, and it's obvious that everyone, the staff, students, volunteers, player and even parents are a result of that care and excitement he puts into this program.

With everything coming together so smoothly through the first part of the intramurals season, we can expect the rest of the fall season to be exciting, full of exciting finishes, and most of all fun.