Belles find on-campus sports
By MOLLY McVOY
Assistant Sports Editor
Changing the face of athletics at Saint Mary's College involves more than just varsity sports; it also involves intramurals.
Together, athletic director Lynn Kachmarik and student intermural director Janel Miller hope to revive the intramural program at Saint Mary's.
"I'm hoping [this program] will build more hall spirit and more excitement about intramurals," Miller said. "You look at Notre Dame and there is huge enthusiasm. I hope everyone comes in and plays. Wait, I'm not hoping. They will."
The program has had many problems in the past, both in organization and participation. Forfeits were widespread both because teams were apathetic and schedules were unclear. Both of these problems they hope to address with this new program.
The program will be based in the residence halls this year, and both Kachmarik and Miller are looking for their enthusiasm to make it a success. All members of the team must live in the same hall and they will compete to make their hall the champion.
There will be a basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer competition this year which will all culminate the night of Midnight Madness on March 31. The finals of each of the sports will occur that night. Kachmarik and Miller feel that this alone makes it more exciting for the student body.
"This year, its leading up to something," Miller said. "We're offering more for those who participate."
The season will run like a typical sports season, and the number of games played depends on the number of teams participating. The determination of the winning hall will depend on points earned both through winning the most games and having the most participation, according to Kachmarik.
"Again, we're offering more this year," Miller said. "Not only t-shirts for the winning sports, we already have a huge plaque for the winning dorm to be engraved and presented."
As the opening of the season approaches on Febuary 14, one of Miller's few concerns is her inability to control if teams forfeit or not.
"[Forfeits] are the most frustrating part for me. When a team doesn't show up, schedules are a mess and I can't do much about it. I'm going to enforce to two forfeit rule. If they don't call me 24 hours in advance, they will not be included in the finals."
Miller also hopes that making the schedules more clear and available will also help. Meetings for the team captains will be held in each of the residence halls before the opening of the season and Miller is going to take advantage of technology to get the word out. She will e-mail the schedules and post the schedules on the Saint Mary's athletics web page.
Even with these worries, both Miller and Kachmarik are really excited about the intermurals.
"Our whole goal was to get more women involved," Kachmarik said. "These intramurals really bring in every aspect of wellness for women."
All Sports Stories for Friday, January 28, 2000
