By Jordan Hay
Bragging rights are up for grabs with the start of the Ryerson intramural playoffs. And, it’s all fun and games for the 122 teams competing to be crowned champion of one of the leagues’ eight active sports.
For the past 50 years, Ryerson members have been forming teams and taking part in the casual competitiveness of the intramural program. Each school year roughly 2,300 students, staff and faculty participate in ice hockey, ball hockey, basketball, indoor soccer, dodgeball, ultimate frisbee, co-ed volleyball, 3-on-3 volleyball, co-ed softball and flag football.
“It’s a way that students can interact within the university, socialize and meet new people,” said Randy Pipher, intramural co-ordinator.
In last Sunday’s ball hockey quarter-final first seed Team Filmore and third seed Team Shagswell dominated with 11-1 victories over team 2 Balls, One Stick and team AEPI respectively. Team My Dad Can Beat Your Dad narrowly edged out team Showtime 9-7 in a tooth and nail showdown while team Civil Enforcers eliminated team Max Power 9-5.
“It’s competitive, everybody takes it pretty seriously,” said Jeremy Netto, a member of My Dad Can Beat Your Dad. “It was tough.”
There was also plenty of action last Thursday at the RAC as the indoor soccer post-season kicked off in front of an impressive crowd. Teams The Happy People, Les Chevaliers, F.C. Sexy Time and F.C. OSSR advanced to the competitive semi-final.
“(Intramurals are) good friendly competition,” said Jon Hutcheon, a fourth year ITM student and member of the dodgeball team Pit Four.
Like Hutcheon, most students participating in the intramural program feel the leagues provide a much-needed balance to university life.
“It provides stress relief from the academics and class,” said Pipher.
“It keeps you active, it’s nice to get out once a week and shoot the ball around,” said Netto, a third-year RTA student. This is his second year playing in the program and he says he will keep coming back.
Playoffs continue this week with the basketball, dodgeball, ball hockey, ultimate frisbee and co-ed volleyball finals, as well as the indoor soccer semis and the 3-on-3 volleyball quarters. All leagues run for single semesters with the next season beginning in January, the exception being ice hockey which begins in November.
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