Kaitlyn Turner Contributing Writer

Intercollegiate sports have been offered at Pierce for years, but with the construction of the HEC building 5 years ago came a new idea—that the gym would be the place to host intramural sports teams. According to Doug Carlson, Pierce’s women’s volleyball coach and HEC and intramurals director, intramurals were introduced to Pierce “for the rest of the student body—not just the athletes.”

In comparison to intercollegiate sports, intramurals are “less serious and a lot more fun,” said Carlson. While the women’s volleyball team he coaches has to practice every day and travel to other colleges for games, intramural sports stay “within ourselves.” “Any student, staff, or faculty” can form a team to play against other teams from Pierce, said Carlson.

Intramurals at Pierce offer students that want to be active but don’t have the skills and/or time to be on an intercollegiate team the opportunity to be active. There are set dates that the teams come together to play. “These teams never practice. They just come and play,” Carlson said.

Jorge Cruz, Pierce student and intramural sports coordinator, described intramurals as “a free chance to come play and get active.” Another benefit of participating in intramural sports is the forging of new friendships. “I just love meeting the people that come out… people you’d never expect to play a sport,” said Cruz.

In the past two quarters that he’s been involved in intramural sports at Pierce, Cruz has interacted with people of “all different cultures and ethnicities,” including international students. Intramurals encourages diversity at Pierce, because it doesn’t matter the background or skillset a person shows up with—whoever wants to play gets to “run around and get sweaty,” said Carlson.

Currently, students and staff may partake in either flag football or dodge ball for the fall quarter. In the winter, basketball and possibly kickball will be offered, and in the spring, students and staff may participate in soccer and wiffle ball.

While there are currently about 20 members on the flag football team alone, it is hoped that in the upcoming seasons, more people will come out and try intramural sports.

Recently, coordinators have been discussing the possibility of eventually setting up a game with Tacoma Community College, but future plans would be dependent on Pierce student and faculty participation.

Carlson highly encourages people to give intramural sports a chance. “It’s a chance to run around a little bit and meet new people and get exercise,” he said.

People interested in partaking in intramural sports should contact Jorge Cruz, the intramural sports coordinator. Information specific to a certain sport can be found on flyers posted around the campus.