By Ryan Moore and Elaine Bonilla
The beginning of the fall semester means it’s also time for intramural sports to start up on TCC campuses.
Intramurals are team-oriented events that can help build friendships, said South Campus intramural director Michael Daniels.
The intramurals vary based on the facilities available on each campus. All campuses have cardio and weight rooms. Swimming pools are available on NE, NW and SE campuses. South and SE have a walking/jogging track while TR has access to the Trinity Trails. NE, South and SE have gyms available for basketball and volleyball. NE and South have racquetball and tennis facilities with sand volleyball available on NE and SE. TR also has a studio with boxing equipment.
South Campus’ instructional aide Billy Nix said the campus previously sponsored intramural sports such as volleyball, basketball and indoor soccer.
Daniels said he is also thinking of adding swimming to the fall intramural list.
Getting involved in intramurals can provide many upsides for students, said NE physical education instructor Kevin Harper.
“Students who get involved in intramurals tend to stick with school and get better grades,” he said.
Intramurals are also a “social component” to TCC, Harper said. The sports help students find others with similar interests, and this helps these students build friendships, some even long lasting, he said.
“Students have grown great friendships to where they don’t only hang out at school but also hang out outside of school,” he said.
NE Campus’ fall intramurals have included flag football, racquetball, bowling, dodgeball, pingpong and tennis, Harper said.
Last year’s NW Campus intramural director Ryan Stewart also stressed the benefits of joining an intramural team in college.
“Intramurals give students the ability to build relationships that can help further their success at TCC,” he said.
Stewart will not be the intramural director at NW this semester, but he says the campus will have various intramural activities such as volleyball, basketball, golf and some NW students are sponsored for the Toro Dash.
SE Campus’ fall intramurals will include basketball, flag football, volleyball, dodgeball, golf, swimming and the most popular event, the obstacle course, instructional aide Mark Baldwin said.
TR also participates in intramurals, but because of its facilities, it gets a little creative.
“Since TR doesn’t have a gym or field, it’s hard to have sports on campus but has had a strength and endurance competition,” instructional aide Nick Giovannitti said. “In the past, TR has joined with other campuses to take part in their intramurals.”
All intramurals are free for TCC students and provide a way to stay fit. For more information regarding intramurals, students can contact any campus coach. Along with all the intramurals, the HPE department schedules open gym throughout the semester.
Gym Hours:
NE Campus 817-515-6635
Mon.-Fri.: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sat.: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
NW Campus 817-515-7641
Mon.-Thurs.: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fri.-Sat.: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
South Campus 817-515-4543
Mon.-Thurs.: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Fri.: 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
SE Campus 817-515-3850
Mon.-Thurs.: 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fri.: 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sat.: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
TR Campus 817-515-1905
Mon.-Thurs.: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fri.: 6 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sat.: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sun.: 12-4 p.m.
