Photo Illustration by Tom McKiver and Max Farinato/The Mirror
Glory is something that every “athlete” strives for. Whether it is winning a state championship your senior year in high school, winning the MAAC championship, or simply winning a T-shirt, the feeling you get after a hard-fought victory is undeniable.
A T-shirt? For all those who embark on the intramural journey at Fairfield University, they know that this T-shirt is a lot more than 100 percent cotton.
“That T-shirt means everything,” said senior Dakota Fontanello with a grin. “It is like our own little Super Bowl Trophy.”
The “T-shirt” is given to every player who wins an intramural championship at Fairfield. They are typically given out directly after the final game, making it that much sweeter.
For a lot of former high school athletes, intramurals are a chance to return to the glorified playing fields. The transition from playing 4 years (in some cases longer) of sports for your high school to intramurals is not always easy. As a varsity athlete, your school pride means the world to you and your teammates.
You have the pressure of playing for your school’s tradition, and in some cases, the pressure to make history. The scenery changes from playing in front of 3,000 people in a rivalry game, to playing in front of a handful of close friends and your teammates’ boyfriends or girlfriends.
“When I’m playing intramurals I think they’re pretty intense,” said senior Andy Cardone. “Everyone playing was probably an athlete in high school too, and everyone wants to show what they can do.”
During the fall semester at Fairfield University, there are seven sports offered. So far, 379 students have signed up during the “early fall” period. Flag football is the most popular sport, and is broken up into the A and the B division. Since Fairfield has not fielded a varsity football team since 2003, the turnout is typically great.
“It is supposed to be a lot of fun and competitive. I’ll tell you what, I have seen some of my friends play when I was an undergraduate here, and sometimes it gets more personal than things did when I was playing basketball at a Varsity level,” said Greg Nero, the director of Intramurals and former Stag basketball standout.
“Kids get really into it, but I love that, that’s what it means, that’s why you should be here because you’re competitive,” Nero added. “At the same time it has something for everybody; not everyone has the same mindset coming in, and playing intramurals. It is really diverse, and it’s special.”
The diversity of the intramural program may be the reason it is so well received at Fairfield. According to the Fairfield Intramural website, there are over 25 intramural activities. The participants range from former division one athletes to everyday students that just want to get some exercise.
“Intramural sports are great for team building- you get to know new people and learn to work together in different ways towards a common goal,” said senior Melissa Randall.
“It’s a good way to meet people, and a good way to do something else besides go to class. It is an important way to connect to people rather that just an academic level,” said Rocco Wall, class of 2011 graduate.
Another interesting aspect of intramurals is the rivalries that develop over the years. In high school, town boundaries and tradition make up natural rivalries. In some cases, the whole town shows up for these battles. The intramural rivalries that develop may not be as well known, but quite often they are just as intense.
“It felt awesome to win the championship sophomore year because I thought we should have won the whole thing our Freshman year,” said Cardone, whose team “Eddy Curry” won the B league 5 on 5 basketball championship in 2010. “Also, I beat my Orientation Leader so it was that much sweeter.”
Intramurals are an effective way to help new students adjust to the college life. Some people come into Fairfield knowing little to no people, and being able to bond over things on the field tends to lead to relationships off the field.
“I feel it’s a way to bond with your current friends and make more friends…especially freshman and sophomore year. I met a lot of people playing intramurals and just shooting around in the gym those first few years…most of whom I’m still close to today,” said Cardone.
Although it is not on the level of varsity athletics, intramurals are very near and dear to a lot of students. The camaraderie and pride it brings to a group of friends playing together is something very worthwhile.
“It’s great sharing a common passion with your friends. It makes the game more fun to have your best friends on your team,” said Randall.
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