It's Not Personal - RecSports

M A G A Z I N E
It’s Not Personal
Baraka Bouts are About
More than the Boxing (p. 6)
Also in this issue:
p. 3 Floor Hockey Tradition Heats up Monday Nights
p. 10 Meet Popular Fitness Instructor Indiana
p. 12 Healthy Living: Eat Breakfast!
Issue No. 3
Spring
2008

TABLE of
CONTENTS
Issue No. 3, Spring 2008
2 Q&A: What is your
favorite food on campus
and where do you find it?
2 Team RecSports:
Spotlight on Dick VanParis
3 Featured Activity: “In Goal” at Rolfs
6 Feature: It’s Not Personal
by Dan Scime
10 Group Exercise: Turn the Beat Around
by Steph Pajakowski
10 Healthy Living: Don’t be
SAD this Winter
11 Healthy Living: Putting the Exercise
Pieces Together
12 Healthy Living: Mother was Right:
Breakfast is the Most Important
Meal of the Day
by Kate Donlin
14 Fall Sports Roundup
by Christopher Wilson
16 Word Search
RecSports Mission Statement
Page
3
To serve the Notre Dame community by enhancing
the mind, body and spirit through recreational
sports.
Rec Magazine is published by RecSports twice a
year at the beginning of each semester. Contributors
to this issue: Kate Donlin, Steph Pajakowski, Jennie
Phillips, Sean O’Leary, Dan Scime, Greg Weber,
Chris Wilson, Ann Marie Woods.
Sally Derengoski: Director of RecSports
Rich O’Leary: Director of RecSports
Design: Notre Dame Media Group
Principle photography: Matt Cashore

Q&A:
What is your favorite food on
campus, and where do you find it?
Becca Hartrich
The candy wall in LaFortune
or popcorn in Coleman-Morse
Center (especially when they
make it extra buttery)
Gary Burke
Grilled chicken wraps or
spicy chicken wraps at Café
de Grasta in Grace Hall
Chrissy Andrews
Turkey sandwich made with
GLUTEN-FREE bread from
the gluten-free room in North
Dining Hall (by Grab-n-Go)
Betsy O’Neill
Turkey croissant sandwiches
at Café Commons in Mendoza
College of Business
Katie Motto
Chicken Feet in the Huddle at
LaFortune (a chewy candy, in
case you were wondering)
Molly Casanova
Mango Smoothie at Reckers
in South Dining Hall
TEAMRECSPORTS: Spotlight on...
Dick VanParis:
A Seasoned Veteran in More Ways than One
Who is that seasoned veteran behind the front desk at Rolfs Sports Recreation
Center? It’s none other than Dick VanParis handing out equipment, answering
questions, and, of course, folding towels. Dick has been a member of the
Rolfs front desk staff since the doors opened in February 1998, but a Domer
his whole life. A native of South Bend, Dick enrolled at Notre Dame in 1941,
but didn’t graduate until 1948, as he spent 1943–46 in the U.S. Army during
World War II. While most of his military time was spent stateside, his bags
were packed to head to Japan when “The Bomb” was dropped. This halted
his deployment and he returned to school. Following graduation from ND’s
College of Commerce, Dick was the manager of the South Bend Auto (outdoor)
Movie Theater, a probation officer, and finally the district administrative
manager for the State Highway Commission operating out of LaPorte, Ind.
Wanting to stay active during his retirement, Dick first became an usher for
Joyce Center events. Still needing to keep busy during the day, he came to Rolfs,
where he has been ever since. “The front desk position allows me to deal with
people. I enjoy the conversations with the students and staff.” Outside of work,
Dick spends a lot of time reading. He’s also been a Notre Dame football season
ticket holder since 1948, and has only missed one home game during that
time—in order to attend his son’s wedding. When asked what he believes has
been the biggest change at Notre Dame since his graduation, Dick cites, “Going
from all male to admitting women. I’m also amazed at the number of buildings
built since 1941.”
So the next time you come into Rolfs during the morning or early afternoon
hours, make sure you stop by to say “hello” to Dick VanParis.
FEATUREDACTIVITY
“In Goal”
Father Tom of Stanford Hall leads a floor hockey
tradition that heats up Monday nights at Rolfs
It’s Monday night. Do you know where your rector is? Well, if your rector is Father
Tom Gaughan from Stanford Hall, you can be sure he will be “in goal” at Rolfs Sports
Recreation Center for drop-in floor hockey.
atRolfs
Each night of the week, Rolfs reserves certain areas for students, faculty, and staff
to “drop in” to participate in team activities. It has become a Monday night tradition for
Father Tom and the residents of Stanford Hall to strap on helmets and gloves to face off
against each other in floor hockey on the sport court. The residents of Stanford have been
loyal participants since the fall of 2005, when a couple of freshmen and sophomores from
the hall were given the idea by Father Tom. Stanford Hall had just enjoyed a successful
intramural floor hockey season, and taking advantage of the Monday night drop-in time
was viewed as a great opportunity to keep up the team’s floor hockey skills.
3

4
FEATUREDACTIVITY
Drop-In
Schedule
Drop-In activities take place during
the academic year whenever
classes are in session.
Hudson Sullivan, a senior from Stanford
Hall and floor hockey participant since his
freshman year, enjoys the healthy competition
and camaraderie gained from his floor hockey
experiences. “Father Tom was the initial
motivating factor, as he knew there was a core
group of hockey fanatics in the dorm, and he
made us aware of the availability of the floor
hockey time slot. After being involved with
hockey as well as other sports throughout
high school, it was great to have a time set
aside each week to still take part in those
activities and make a routine out of it,” says
Sullivan.
Stanford Hall junior Mark Quaresima
agrees. “The camaraderie of the Stanford
guys who show up each week is like nothing
I’ve seen in any other pick-up league I’ve
played in. With such a variety of skill
levels and experience, divisions usually
develop between the more and less talented.
However, on Monday nights, we’ve all
become good friends both on and off the
rink.”
No stranger to hockey himself, Father
Tom dons the goalie equipment each week
and joins his fellow Stanford Hall Griffins.
Having played pond hockey and pick-up
hockey his entire life, Father Tom welcomes
the chance to join the students each Monday
night. “It’s fun to be around the students,
especially in an activity like this where I
can be on the same plane as them. It builds
good chemistry. The core group is loyal to
the game of hockey and will play anywhere,
so it’s great to see the hockey skills and
background that they bring to the game.”
In addition to the game serving as a stress
reliever and opportunity to spend time with
his students, Father Tom believes that many
memories are formed on the sport court. For
example, last year after their varsity hockey
season ended, Ryan Thang and Kevin Deeth
joined their fellow Stanford Hall residents on
the sport court. According to Father Tom, “It
was a great experience to be in goal against
some of the best scorers in the college ranks.”
On the other hand, Quaresima believes
that every time you score on Father Tom is
a great moment. “It’s fun to bury one in the
net on him and follow it up with a victory
celebration in his crease. For an old geezer
out on the surface with us young guys, he
usually makes a number of great saves in
net. I’ve made it my duty to keep FT’s ego
down by making a sarcastic comment to him
each time he makes a good save. My favorite
expression is to claim a save was through
divine intervention!”
Over the years since the core group from
Stanford first started coming for drop-in
floor hockey, the group has expanded, as
word spread throughout the residence hall
and among their friends in other halls. The
games are just for fun, and all are welcome
to come toss their stick into the mix to see
who they’ll be playing. As Quaresima says,
“No matter who wins, we’re all willing to
shake our opponents’ hands and say, ‘See
you next week.’”
Day Activity Location Time
Saturdays Badminton Court 2 RSRC 9:00 p.m.–10:45 p.m.
Sundays In-Line Hockey Court 1 RSRC 8:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
Mondays Floor Hockey Court 1 RSRC 8:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
Tuesdays Indoor Soccer Court 1 RSRC 8:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
Wednesdays Volleyball Court 4 RSRC 7:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.
Thursdays Lacrosse Court 1 RSRC 8:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
Fridays Badminton Court 2 RSRC 7:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
5

6
FEATUREDEVENT
For these young women, the Baraka Bouts are more about raising funds
to battle poverty and disease than achieving dominance in the ring.
It’s Not Personal
In mid-September, over 75 young women began
training for the 10th year of the Notre Dame Women’s
Boxing Club. The hard work culminated on December 6
with the Baraka Bouts—the female boxing tournament
at ND that raises funds for some of the neediest people
in Eastern Africa.
Anxious excitement filled the air in anticipation
of the season to come. When Maria Paula Elizondo
said, “I was a little bit nervous. I thought it was going
to be really tough,” it’s hard to imagine that she was
feeling much different than most of the other women in
training.
Women from all corners of campus were drawn
to the team, and each had her own unique reasons
for wanting to participate in this year’s bouts—in
addition to their primary reason to “make a difference
in the world.” Many joined as a way to have fun, meet
people, and stay in shape. Some women have a family
connection with the bouts, like freshman Amy Libardi.
By Dan Scime
“My sister did it for two years while she was here, and
loved it. She used to fake box me at home, and she
would always say how much fun it was,” said Libardi.
Then there’s sophomore Kristen Burke, “I grew up
around boxing and other contact sports, but I couldn’t
ever really participate. The opportunity to try it out
was something I couldn’t pass up.” Her dad and brother
participated in the men’s program, and in fact, Mr.
Burke boxed three undefeated years in the Bengal Bouts
program when he was here in the ’70s. Other women,
like Kia Johnson, a sophomore, participated in similar
sports long before matriculating here. Johnson has
kick-boxed since high school, and she says that she
joined Baraka Bouts to continue training and to keep
up her conditioning for the summer.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, junior Elizondo
had no connection to Notre Dame boxing and no
previous experience with any similar activity. In fact,
Elizondo had never even played an organized sport.
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FEATUREDEVENT
Sarah Layne vs. Laura Okonokhua
Anna Dwyer vs. Jackie Sheridan
Lauren Kopsky vs. Jenna Zigman
Sarah Burch vs. Keaton Van Beveran
Alyssa Hartsell vs. Maeve Maher
Sarah Angle vs. Sara Fossum
Whitney Endsley vs. Kyle Rocca
Catherine Crawford vs. Jen Leong
Ezinne Ndukwe vs. Jackie Spengler
Tarah Brown vs. Colleen McCormick
Carolyn Hersh vs. Maureen Sefton
Kelly Davin vs. Meghan Slentz
Casey Carney vs. Dee Gulis
Kia Johnson vs. Emily Rickert
Emily Harig vs. Amy Libardi
Cara Norton vs. Emily Rhatican
Lauren Cummings vs. Cigi Low
Megan Cimino vs. Maria Paula Elizondo
Kayla Bishop vs. Kristin Burke
Nicole Koors vs. Rebecca Neville
Sarah Davidson vs. Jen Malherek
Elyse Hoffman vs. Erinn Mullee
BARAKA BOUTS
PARTICIPANTS
Bengal Bouts
Legendary football coach Knute Rockne first
organized boxing at Notre Dame in the 1920s
as a way to help keep his players fit during
the off-season. Over the years, it evolved
into an intramural sport with a championship
tournament. In 1931, admission was charged for
the first time for this championship tournament
that came to be known as the Bengal Bouts,
as all proceeds were sent to the Holy Cross
Missions in the province of East Bengal, India
(now Bangladesh). That first year, $500 was
sent to the missions. In 2006, the Bouts raised
$52,000 for the missions.
The 2008 Bengal Bouts:
Prelims: Mon, Feb 25 @ 6:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals: Thurs, Feb 28 @ 6:30 p.m.
Semis: Tues, March 11 @ 7:00 p.m.
Finals: Fri, March 14 @ 7:30 p.m.
Her interest in the “sweet science” blossomed last year. “The
first time I went to Bengal Bouts I got boxing in my head. And
then I watched some movies like Million Dollar Baby and
Cinderella Man, and thought that I liked the sport,” she said.
People may wonder why someone like Elizondo would
choose to subject her body to boxing’s grueling training
routine. “It was a challenge to do something I had never
done before—to gain a kind of respect for myself,” Elizondo
said. She wanted the type of respect that could only be
earned by achieving something that even she doubted she
could. “At the beginning of the summer, I could not have
done more than two or three push-ups. But I went in there
thinking that I would just do the best that I could do,
and just hope to keep improving.” With that mentality,
she sweated and bled and bruised for two months
with almost 80 other women; most importantly,
though, she improved.
Elizondo claims to have gained a great deal
from this experience. After all, boxing is like no other
competition. “Once you are in the ring, it’s just you,” she
said. “There’s no one to pass the ball to. You are the only one
taking punches.” She said that her two months of boxing
taught her much about reacting to adversity. “Boxing has
pushed me to respond to certain situations in life where I
had to react and make decisions quickly.”
So much of this program, she said, is “having the discipline
to still go there even after setbacks—even after things haven’t
gone your way.” Every other woman in the program echoed
this determination.
The true beauty of the Baraka Bouts, according to the
participants, however, is that the event not only provides
an opportunity to develop skills, increase fitness, and make
friends, but it also provides a way to help those in need a
world away—people and circumstances many of us would
otherwise overlook. “You are not just doing it for yourself,”
was a phrase repeated often during training.
Since its inception, the Baraka Bouts have raised
thousands of dollars to benefit Holy Cross missions in
Eastern Africa. In December, as each boxer stepped into the
ring and faced her teammate, she kept the real “prize” in
mind. Despite the personal accomplishments the tournament
represents for the boxers, they know the real fight takes
place outside the ring, where impoverished people continue
to battle famine and disease. Each year, Baraka Bouts
participants box to raise money to aid in that battle. That is
what the bouts are all about.
Dan Scime is a freshman from Amherst, New York,
who will be gearing up for the Bengal Bouts in the coming weeks.
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GROUPEXERCISE
Turn the Beat Around:
Popular Fitness Instructor Thanks You!
By Steph Pajakowski
O n
your way into Rolfs Sports
Recreation Center, you may have
heard the enthusiastic voice of an
instructor along with the beat of techno
music drifting down from one of the activity
rooms. You may have wondered who it was
(and why you heard her voice so often!).
This loud voice belongs to Indiana, one of
RecSports’ most popular fitness instructors.
She currently teaches six fitness classes at
Rolfs each week.
Originally from Managua, Nicaragua,
Indiana moved to the United States in 1994
without knowing a word of English. She
gradually learned English by watching
TV (she learned her first words in English
from Sesame Street!) and then by reading
the newspaper and various magazines.
Although she was adjusting pretty well to
the new culture and learning English, the
shock of her new life caused her to gain
weight during her first couple of years in
the United States.
She didn’t feel good about this and
decided to do something about it. She took
a fitness class at a local gym to help her
get back in shape. At first, Indiana said, it
was difficult for her to keep up with the
rest of the class, and she wanted to quit
because it was embarrassing to be so
far behind. But her instructor wouldn’t let
her. When Indiana told her she could not
do certain exercises, her instructor said,
“Why not?” and helped her through them.
Indiana kept up with this fitness class and
got back into shape. She learned to love
going to class so much that she eventually
decided that she wanted to become an
instructor.
After being certified as a fitness instructor
at the YMCA, she was hired by RecSports
in 1998. Her classes are now so popular that
they fill up within the first couple hours of
registration.
By signing up for one of Indiana’s
classes, you can expect a personalized
class with lots of energy. Indiana says
her students feel comfortable in her class
because she does it just for them. On the
first day of each class, she’ll tell you, “This
is your class!” She finds out what everyone
wants to work on and plans her classes
based on their feedback. Like her past
instructor, she also will not let you give up or
get down on yourself. She knows how hard
it is to keep up and stay motivated, because
she has been in that position before. After
an hour of hard work and an enjoyable
atmosphere, many of her students thank her
for such a great class. But Indiana doesn’t
want thanks. Instead, she thanks you for
taking time out of your day to come to her
class and for working so hard.
Steph Pajakowski is a sophomore Arabic
and Spanish major at Notre Dame.
Don’t be
SAD this
winter…
This winter if you’re feeling lethargic,
irritable, sad, withdrawn, or even
craving carbohydrates, you may be
suffering from a condition known as
SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Research suggests the shortage of
light in the winter (shorter days, and
in some climates, a lack of sunshine
during the day) can cause a drop
in the production of serotonin, a
natural brain chemical thought to
regulate mood.
What are SAD symptoms?
Some of these symptoms, which
begin in the fall and may disappear
in the spring, may signify SAD:
• decreased activity level
• difficulty concentrating or
processing information
• drowsiness, hopelessness,
anxiety
• increased appetite (especially
craving carbohydrates)
• irritability
• social withdrawal and/or
sadness
What to do:
If you noticed that any of these
symptoms hit you this past fall and
have either not improved or have
worsened, seek professional help.
Call the University Counseling
Center at 631-7336 and schedule an
appointment with a professional.
SAD can be managed through
medication, psychotherapy, and
even light therapy. However, only a
qualified professional can determine
what course of action best suits you.
Putting the Exercise
PIECES TOGETHER
There is so much information about
exercise and fitness constantly swirling
around us. The evening news tells us
to do “this”; a magazine tells us to do
“that”; and then there’s the Internet,
which tells us everything!
Exercise is not a complex puzzle
that takes lots of effort to figure out.
If you understand the pieces, you can
put together a well-rounded exercise
program.
Pieces of the Puzzle
The two biggest pieces are aerobic and
anaerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise
utilizes large muscle groups repetitively
over a period of time; e.g., walking,
cycling, swimming, and cross-country
skiing. This type of activity is important
because it burns fat! Anaerobic exercise
requires quick bursts of energy that
lead to fatigue; e.g., strength training.
Anaerobic exercise is important because
it builds muscle.
Three other components
also need to be considered:
1. Frequency: how often you’re
working
2. Intensity: how hard you’re working
3. Duration: how long you’re working
The American College of Sports
Medicine (ACSM) recommends that
American adults get some form of
moderate activity (such as walking 3–4
mph) on most, preferably all, days of
the week.
Warm Up and Stretch!
Always start your workout with a
five-to-10-minute warm-up. The
warm-up transitions the body from
rest to exercise. Activity should be
low-intensity and progressive, such as
walking to jogging.
Don’t forget to stretch! Being more
flexible helps decrease your risk of
injury. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons
are more elastic when they’re warm, so
you’ll get better results by stretching
after your warm-up or at the end of
your workout. No bouncing while
stretching either. Go to the point where
you feel the stretch and hold for 5–20
seconds, release, and repeat three to
five times for each muscle group. As
always, don’t forget to breathe.
Cardio
Now you’re ready to enter the 15–60
minute cardiovascular endurance phase
of your workout. This is when you’re
working harder and burning fat. How
hard should you be working? A simple
way to determine intensity is the “talk
test.” You should be able to converse
during exercise but feel slightly winded.
If you’re rattling off this weekend’s plans
without a problem, you’re not working
hard enough. If, on the other hand,
you’re sucking wind, you’re working too
hard. Most cardio equipment displays
your intensity level by measuring your
heart rate.
Ok, you’re feeling it…the end of your
workout is near. But don’t stop just yet.
You need to cool down first. Simply
lower the intensity level so your body
can readjust to a decreased workload.
Spend three to five minutes slowing
things down.
Muscle
Now it’s time to build muscle through
strength training. Muscular strength
is important for decreasing your risk
of injury in daily activities. Moreover,
the more muscle you have, the more
calories you’ll burn when you’re
not active. The ACSM recommends
training two to three days a week on
nonconsecutive days. Should you use
machines or free weights? It all depends
on your experience level and goals.
Ok, so there are the pieces. Do you
see your exercise program forming? If
not, help is only a phone call or a couple
of keystrokes away. Call RecSports at
631-6100, or visit recsports.nd.edu to
learn how to put together your own
exercise puzzle.
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HEALTHYLIVING
Mother was Right…
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day
By Kate Donlin
We’ve all been there. After hitting the
snooze button three times, piling on
enough layers to battle the brutal South
Bend winters, and finishing your last
few homework problems, there’s no
time to eat breakfast before your 8:30
a.m. class. Think it’s okay to wait to
join the masses at South Dining Hall
at your lunch break until you have
your first bite to eat of the day? Think
again. Studies have shown that eating
breakfast not only helps enhance your
attention span and ability to focus, but
also serves a crucial role in weight
maintenance.
Even if there is no time to sit
down, pour yourself a bowl of cereal,
and grab an apple, it is important to
jump-start your metabolism for the
day. Occasionally replacing your usual
breakfast with a quick, on-the-go meal
is easy and makes a big difference.
The key to a quality breakfast is
getting a combination of protein and
carbohydrates. Proteins digest slowly,
therefore fending off hunger until
lunchtime; and the carbohydrates will
provide you with the energy you need
to get through the morning.
Keeping your dorm room stocked
with quick, easy breakfast foods is
the first step in establishing a healthy
morning meal routine. Make sure you
have foods on hand that you enjoy
so you’ll be likely to grab them, but
also ones that will satisfy your body’s
nutritional needs. By the time it takes
you to run to the vending machine
and buy a pack of Pop-Tarts, a much
better option would be to prepare some
instant oatmeal. Oatmeal is high in fiber,
which not only digests slowly, but also
helps to lower cholesterol and manage
blood pressure. Adding fruit, nuts, or
cinnamon to oatmeal will not only
create more diversity, but also add more
nutritional benefits to your breakfast.
Meal replacement bars have also
become a popular on-the-go breakfast
choice for students. The Huddle
and quick-snack stops like those in
Mendoza and Jordan sell NutriGrain,
Clif, and Luna Bars. Instead of skipping
breakfast, try one of these. Because
they provide a balanced mix of protein,
carbohydrates, and fiber, they supply
you with sustained energy. In addition,
many of these bars provide a decent
amount of one’s daily calcium and
vitamin needs. Luna Bars are designed
for women, having fewer calories
than traditional protein bars and an
emphasis on calcium, iron, and folate,
essential components of women’s health.
The important thing is to get some
type of nutritious food in at the start
of your day. Avoiding simple sugars
and refined carbohydrates is a sure way
to avoid a sharp, temporary spark of
energy that will only leave you feeling
tired and hungry.
Kate Donlin is a sophomore Marketing
and Political Science major from Atlanta, GA.
Studies show that students who eat a good breakfast every day experience better health than those who eat breakfast only some of the
time. In addition, in the book Fitness and Health (Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics, 1997), author Brian J. Sharkey, Ph.D., states that
eating a good breakfast is essential to performing well in work and sport.
Other research suggests that you should eat your largest meal at breakfast—definitely more than a muffin and coffee—since adults who
eat nutritious breakfasts have been shown to maintain better mental and physical efficiency throughout the day in contrast with those
who skipped breakfast.
Register for Classes Online
No more waiting in lines!
Beginning January 24, you will be able
to sign up for fitness classes online
through our new RecRegister website.
Just go to recsports.nd.edu/recregister.
WORDSEARCHANSWERS
(from pg. 16)
RecSports Staff Profile: “He’s Got a Basketball Jones”
By Ann Marie Woods
For junior Alex Klupchak, basketball
has been one of his passions from
a young age. Hoping to have the
opportunity to continue his athletic
interests at a competitive level while
at Notre Dame, Klupchak became
involved in intramural
sports on campus.
Klupchak has played
basketball since he was
five, and says his favorite
part of the sport is the
competition aspect, both
on an individual and
team level. Participating
on O’Neill’s interhall
basketball, football,
and racquetball teams allows him to
pursue his competitive passion. It also
allows him to enjoy the camaraderie
that interhall sports generates among
the students in his residence hall. It’s
been fun, he says, to participate in
“the natural rivalries that have formed
between dorms over the years.”
A captain for O’Neill’s basketball
team, Klupchak is pleased with the
wide variety of intramural sport options
available to students. “From broomball
to being the only place in the country
with intramural tackle football, there
really is something for
everyone.” He’s also glad
that he can access the
basketball courts as much
as he does.
Not only does Klupchak
play, he also works as
a RecSports official for
basketball. He’s found
officiating to be both a
flexible and enjoyable job
at RecSports. Here at Notre Dame and
through RecSports, Klupchak is able
to continue his passion and love of the
game both on and off the court.
Ann Marie Woods, who resides in Farley Hall, is a
sophomore American Studies major and RecSports staffer.
13
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FALLSPORTS
FALL
SPORTS
ROUNDUP
By Christopher Wilson
This fall’s intramural postseasons
contained more than their fair share of
upsets and comeback wins, with dreams
of perfection both crushed and realized
along the way.
The conditions were certainly not
beach-like for the Co-Rec Sand Volleyball
final as the South Bend fall erased the last
traces of summer for the championship
game. In one of the first titles to be
awarded last fall, the top-seeded Tall
Girls won an extremely competitive
match over seventh seed Facial Challenge.
The day after the last Irish football
home game marks the tripleheader
championship games for men’s interhall,
women’s interhall, and the Grad-Faculty-
Staff (GFS) football leagues that always
leaves some combination of blood, sweat,
and tears on the field. The previously
undefeated Welsh Family Hall ran into
an insatiable Cavanaugh defensive line
and had their dream season end one
game short as the Chaos captured the
trophy 14-0.
“The Battle for the Chapel,” Keenan and
Stanford’s annual meeting for naming
rights of their shared chapel (henceforth
to be known as “Stanford-Keenan Chapel,”
at least until next year’s matchup), got a
postseason sequel when the two squared
off for the title after a 12-8 victory by
the Griffins to end the regular season.
Undefeated Stanford, after outlasting
Dillon in an overtime thriller to start
the playoffs, survived a battle with their
cinder block brethren, holding on for a
7-0 victory.
The most entertaining game of the
afternoon, though, came in the GFS game,
as the Law Dawgs found themselves
needing a Hail Mary at the end of
regulation to overtake the 81,000 Cash.
Their prayers were answered with a deep
pass to the end zone finding its way to a
receiver as time expired, giving them the
crown in a thriller.
In GFS baseball, CE/GEO knocked
out top-seeded Big Marbles in
the championship at Eck Stadium.
Stanford knocked out Siegfried in the
men’s semifinals with a grand slam,
then survived one by Keenan in the
championship game to take home
another fall crown.
The finals of “The Beautiful Game”
were just that, as both the men’s and GFS
soccer championships went to shoot-outs.
Siegfried Premier rallied through the
playoffs as the eighth seed, winning four
consecutive games, including the final
over Keenan A 2-1. The GFS title game
lit up the scoreboard, with Tainted Fruit
continuing their dynasty with a 5-4 win
over the MSA Program.
Individual glory can be gained along
with hall points, as Farley’s Finest,
Maureen Champa and Dillonite, Mark
Witte won the women’s and men’s
interhall tennis tournaments.
Christopher Wilson is a senior English major
and Journalism, Ethics and Democracy minor who wants
to get into the news business after graduation.
Intramural Champions
Fall 2007
CoRec Softball:
MSA Program
Campus Horseshoes Singles:
Eric Bolyard
Campus Horseshoes Doubles:
Ted Lawless/John Coyle
Campus Tennis – Mixed Doubles:
Martin Klubeck/Deanna Ponsler
Interhall Women’s Golf Scramble:
C. Curley/L. Koerbel - Pasquerilla West
Interhall Men’s Golf Scramble:
Dan Humboldt/Jordan Koerner - Zahm
Interhall Women’s Dodgeball:
Pasquerilla East
The RecSpys: Year-End Awards
All of these events add up for a chance at
the All Interhall Championship, an award
given out at the RecSpys each year to the
male and female dorm that accumulated
the most points over the season, through
participation, final standings, and
sportsmanship points. RecSpys are
also given out for the best athlete of the
year—male, female and GFS—and for the
game, team, and fans of the year. With the
intramural season over halfway complete,
Siegfried, Stanford, and Morrissey are in
a three-way tussle at the top of the men’s
standings while Cavanaugh holds a quality
lead over both PW, PE, Farley, and Lyons.
Interhall Men’s Dodgeball:
Fisher-Reigning Champs
Interhall Men’s Cross Country:
Siegfried
Interhall Women’s Cross Country:
Pangborn
CoRec Flag Football:
Little Giants
Interhall Men’s Racquetball Singles:
Ryan Peterson - Siegfried
Interhall Men’s Volleyball:
Morrissey
Interhall Women’s Volleyball:
Cavanaugh
CoRec Basketball:
Ballers
15

16
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RecSports Staff Profile: Doing Double Duty
By Ann Marie Woods
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As an anthropology and psychology major involved in Teach for America, the
Gender Relations Center, and numerous other activities on campus, senior
Matt Gibson also manages to find time to work as a fitness room manager
and building supervisor at Rolfs Sports Recreation Center. Because he’s
interested in fitness and conditioning, working at Rolfs was a perfect fit for
Gibson. As a fitness room manager, his duties include answering questions,
leading fitness orientations, and ensuring the upkeep of the exercise
equipment. Gibson can also be seen wandering Rolfs later at night, as a
building manager, “providing excellent customer service and making sure
the building is in order.” When asked to weigh the good and the bad of his
on-campus job, Gibson replied, “What’s not to like? I get to meet all kinds of
people and I get to help them out.”