When computer engineering senior Alex Zajac saw his friend going to dodgeball practice every week, he figured it would be a good club to join.
Marketing senior Colin O’Brien said there are so many traditional sports clubs, but dodgeball club is something you just would not expect.
MSU Club Dodgeball practices every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at IM Sports-Circle. During practice they play the intense, but fun game of dodgeball. The ultimate goal of the sport is to get the other team completely out while still having remaining members on the team.
“It’s all about fun, running around and having a good time with friends,” Zajac said.
The club is very competitive, but fun is also an important aspect of the game.
“It’s a lot of fun to go out there and hit people (with dodgeballs) really,” O’Brien said.
Skill level is not important when it comes to joining the MSU Club Dodgeball. When Zajac first joined the club he was not the best dodgeball player.
“I was getting hit in the head with dodgeballs and I had contacts pop out of my eyes because it,” he said. “It was always some freak accidents that happen, but for the most part it’s a pretty safe sport.”
After becoming accustomed to the team Zajac decided to run for the position of assistant captain.
“I felt like I have always been a leader,” he said. “While I was on the court, people looked to me for help during game time. I figured it would be a good opportunity for me to help the team in anyway possible,” he said.
MSU Club Dodgeball currently participates in local, in-state and out-of-state tournaments. Some of the past tournaments have been held at Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan University and Kent State University.
“They are the most fun thing,” O’Brien said. “We are always one of the top teams in the league. We have gotten a lot better over the years and are currently ranked number one in the National College Dodgeball Association. Who doesn’t like going out there and competing?”
MSU Club Dodgeball lost to Grand Valley State University in the national tournament last year and several years prior to that. However, they beat GVSU in the first match this year.
“It was pretty exciting beating them,” Zajac said. “It was our first time in club history that we beat Grand Valley. We lost over 30 games to them prior so beating them was a pretty big moment for us.”
O’Brien said a lot of times the game against GVSU would either be a blow out or they would lose by one point. But this year was a different story.
“This year we came out there and got that win and it was just a huge relief and a monkey off our back for sure,” he said. “I didn’t play that well, but it was a great feeling to see my teammates pick me up.”
