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Anyone Up for a Round of Wushu?
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While volleyball and tennis need no further explanation, some of the more unusual sport clubs offered by the program do. Wushu encompasses all of Chinese martial arts and the TerpWushus participate in combining aspects of sport, performance art and martial art. Kendo is the Japanese art of fencing and the club is offered to participants of any skill level. Illustration by Jeanette J. Nelson.
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Major club team accomplishments include: TerpWushu was named the university’s best sports club for 2006—including hosting the East Coast Intercollegiate Tournament and competing in the 10th Annual Intercollegiate Tournament.
Most know that Head Football Coach Ralph Friedgen ’70, M.A. ’72 played football during his college career, but add one more accolade to his athletic resume´—Club Rugby player. Friedgen played back in the early days of the team.
The University of Maryland Field Hockey Club won the 2006 National Field Hockey League Championship against James Madison University with a final score of 1-0.
The Boxing Club hosted the first boxing event, Rumble in Ritchie, on campus in over 50 years at Ritchie Coliseum last February. In attendance was Athletic Hall of Fame member Garry Garber ’55. Garber was the 1954 NCAA National Champion.
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When you think of sports at Maryland, maybe basketball, football and lacrosse come to mind. But what about aikido, kendo and wushu? These are among the 40 sports available through the University of Maryland Sport Club Program.
Where varsity sports leave off, the Sport Club Program picks up. The purpose of the program, which began operating under Campus Recreation Services in 1985, is to provide opportunities for students with a common sport interest to compete in organized activities. In addition, the program helps develop leadership skills in its members. Each club is self-managed, taking care of its own competition scheduling, recruiting and fund raising.
The Sport Club Program has something available to everyone from ballroom dancing and rugby to crew and ultimate Frisbee. With 2,500 students choosing among 40 different clubs, they can turn a large campus into a small community.
Those aren’t the only benefits. Katie Marzocca, assistant director of sport clubs, says, “I believe students in these clubs develop lifelong friendships and remember their club experiences as an integral element of their overall experience at the University of Maryland.”
David Griffin ’77 participated in fencing while a student, “I found a sense of camaraderie that I had never experienced before—many of my college teammates are still good friends, even after the passage of 30 years.”
During her time on campus, Pamela Gouws gained lifelong friends while playing as one of the founding members of the women’s club rugby team. She also maintained her connection to the team—she is now the coach. “When my past teammates come to watch my girls play I beam with pride as an alumna of this great team,” Gouws says.
For sport clubs, success isn’t only about winning—it’s about ensuring that each club member has the best experience possible—whether learning a new sport, engaging in a shared interest, acquiring a new skill or developing a lasting friendship. -MLB
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