By Jessica Stark
Ohio University's exceptional recreational facilities and vibrant learning community make it an ideal host for the National Intramural Basketball Tournament. On April 17-19, teams from all over the country will travel to Athens to compete in the tournament.
Ohio University's Ping Student Recreation Center has five basketball courts where playoff games will be held. The three-floor Ping has more than 160,000 square feet of space for aerobic activity, strength training, an indoor track, a climbing wall and other recreational facilities.
"There's always so much to do on Ohio University's campus," student Jason Bell said. "Whether I take a walk in Emeriti Park, work out at Ping, or play in a pickup basketball game on South Green, I always have fun, I always have something to do and I always have something to get involved in."
As with many activities at Ohio University, the core aspect of the intramural tournament is student involvement. Student volunteers plan, organize and run the tournament. Student officials from across the country have competed for the opportunity to officiate the tournament games.
"We take pride in the fact that this tournament is planned and administered by students for student participants," said Kurt Schooley, tournament director and the University's coordinator of intramural sports. "Many former student volunteers have used the experience they have obtained at our tournament as a springboard to professional success."
Eighty percent of college students participate in recreational sports and 69 percent of incoming students intend to play intramural sports. Ohio University is no exception to the national trend with 72 percent of students participating in intramural and recreational sports programs. It's not just students who get involved in the tournaments.
"Being a part of three Ohio University tournaments, I always found it amazing how members of many different campus departments, including the University president, Ohio University alumni, National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, the entire Ohio University campus recreation staff and all the different local businesses all came together to create such an unforgettable experience for hundreds of college students," said Michael Penner, athletic event coordinator of Ohio State University.
The National Intramural Basketball Tournament is sponsored by the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association. Teams wanting to participate in the tournament can either qualify through regional and state qualifying tournaments, or they can register for a limited number of open slots. For more information about the tournament visit www.ohio.edu/recreation.
Jessica Stark is a student writer with University Communications and Marketing.
