The Guilford College athletic scene exists in many different forms, from the world of varsity and club sports, to the somewhat more informal world of intramural sports and activities. Guilford is home to 16 varsity sports, a diverse intramural program and four club sports teams. There is something here for everyone. While varsity sports and athletes may be more publicized, club teams and intramural athletes share the same desire to get involved at Guilford.

“Club sports are for people who are passionate about staying active and enjoy camaraderie,” said junior Alex Thibadeau.

Junior and student coordinator Brittany Ford spoke for the intramural program: “Intramurals are for non-athletes or former athletes who want a setting with less pressure than a varsity sport.”

The laid-back intramural atmosphere has attracted a large student following, which has forced intramural coordinator Nick Pendergraft to think of interesting and diverse activities for students.

With fall semester briefly underway, intramurals recently concluded their annual Hall Olympics, which placed different dorms against each other for bragging rights. Other intramural opportunities during the school year are soccer, tennis and street hockey in the fall, and a Texas hold-’em tournament, Madden tournament, and basketball and volleyball in the spring.

Unlike the intramural sports that occur during either the fall or spring semester, Guilford is home to competitive club teams that compete year-round. The Guilford men’s rugby team recently finished their 2008-09 season with a winning record and celebrated a win over cross-town rival UNC-Greensboro last spring. Furthermore, a burgeoning Ultimate Frisbee team, a women’s rugby team, and an archery club will be competing this year. The goals of club teams, aside from winning, are quite different from those of varsity teams.

“Guilford College ultimate is about the spirit of the game,” said ultimate player Courtney Mandeville, a sophomore. “We play hard but we also like when we can teach the game to someone who has never played before.” This sort of devotion to the game, which is for the sake of improving the game, is common among athletes at the intramural and club levels.

“I play intramural basketball because I love basketball,” said sophomore Tyler Lupton, who competes in Guilford’s spring basketball league. “It’s fun and it’s a great way to meet people.”

The task of bringing people out to play, however, falls squarely in Pendergraft’s lap.

“We’re not at UNC (University of North Carolina) where we have a base of 10,000 people,” said Pendergraft. “We have to get creative.”

Participation for both intramurals and club sports at Guilford are at an all-time high. The opportunities are plentiful, and it’s easy to get involved. Just get out there and play.