Campus gyms offer opportunity to join sports

For off-campus students, finding competitive exercise opportunities in intramural sports can be done in a variety of places on campus.

At three facilities — IM Sports-West, IM Sports-East and IM Sports-Circle — MSU offers a variety of sports in the fall and spring in which all students can participate. They also have several club sports and other special activities.

The goal is to facilitate to a wide range of students with different interests and skill levels and keep fitness a priority, said Dennis Mayer, the associate director at IM Sports-East.

“Our students know that they’ll feel better and can relieve stress and tension,” Mayer said. “Most of the things students choose to do they enjoy. It’s a release from some of the stresses and pressure. They want to do those things because they know that the health benefits for those things make them a better person.”

IM sports include anything from basketball and touch football to sand volleyball and dodgeball. MSU additionally offers about 50 club sports.

Students interested in joining an IM league only need to attend a team managers’ meeting. More information on meeting times and locations can be found online, but even if a student does not have a team assembled prior to attending the meeting, he or she can be placed on one of the existing teams.

“It’s a great way to get to know new people,” said Johnny Allen, assistant director of IM sports. “The social aspect is really big. Outdoor soccer is really big, and about half of it is men and women playing together.”

Soccer has overtaken touch football as the most popular fall IM sport on campus. Lacrosse is one of the newer sports and is in just its second semester of play.

Students can use almost all the features at the IM facilities by just showing their student ID, but there is a charge to use the fitness centers, outdoor pool at IM Sports-West and to participate in group exercises.

Rates are $60 per semester for group exercises and $80 per semester for the fitness center. To have access to both as well as the outdoor pool, it’s $120.

Starting Oct. 19, however, the fitness center rates will drop in half since the semester will be half-way done. Students also can have daily access to the fitness center or group exercises for $3.

Lexi Justice, an elementary education freshman, purchased a pass at the beginning of the semester and said it’s been very worthwhile thus far.

“I probably work out every day,” Justice said. “It’s definitely worth the money. I only got one semester because I wanted to see, but I’ll definitely get it again next semester.”