Getting Involved at Marist With Intramural Sports

Marist University is known for its plethora of sports, with 23 Division I teams and over 20 club sports offered for students to accelerate their athletic careers. Despite the popularity of these sports around campus, not everyone can or will play at the collegiate level; for many, intramural sports are the way to go. 

With nine different programs offered, including spikeball and tennis, intramurals serve as a pathway to getting more involved on campus. Intramurals are organized sports played by Marist students with and against their peers, rather than against another school. More casual environments form for-fun communities with a competitive edge.

Students joining a team get a chance to work on skills such as teamwork and communication outside of the classroom. Emilie Kent ‘29 played on an intramural volleyball team her freshman year at Marist and plans to continue. 

As a commuter student, Kent finds it beneficial to have a sports team as an outlet to make new friends and experience more of campus. Kent enjoys the team dynamic and competitive spirit of sports, as she played basketball throughout high school.

“It makes commuters feel more included,” Kent said. 

Despite her packed class schedule and travel time to get to campus, Kent has learned how to incorporate this activity into her days. She enjoys the opportunity to play sports in a more low-key setting. 

The most popular intramural at Marist is co-ed volleyball as there are about 750 students who play over the course of the year. Since the games are run as you would see in a typical college game, it gives players that same feel in a lower-stakes environment. 

Despite the beginner-friendly atmosphere, all leagues end in playoffs and ultimately crown a champion at the end of the season. Winners earn t-shirts and their spot on the Intramural Wall of Champions located in the James J. McCann Center. 

Michael Dantzman ‘29 has taken full advantage of the various programs, participating in soccer, volleyball and pickleball so far at Marist. 

With his previous experience in soccer and tennis in high school, he likes improving his skills while also playing casually. He stays active and focuses on getting his work done before games. Along with his love of the game, Dantzman was also able to make friends and can now play with them. 

“I genuinely met so many people through intramurals,” Dantzman said. 

Another perk of becoming involved in Marist intramurals is earning priority points. Students at Marist earn priority points based on grade point average (GPA), disciplinary history, condition of residence halls as well as campus involvement.

As a part of campus involvement, students can earn up to two priority points per semester for participating in intramural sports. All of these points are combined when it comes time to select housing for the year ahead.

More information on these activities is available at the Marist Recreation Instagram page (@maristrec).