As students return to campus this week, many are likely buzzing about the football team's game-winning drive against the LSU Tigers in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. Others might be reliving the thrilling NCAA women's volleyball championship match between Penn State and Texas late last month.
As those teams' seasons end and many varsity teams on campus -- both basketball teams, the wrestling team, etc. -- continue theirs, there is an important block of teams that Penn State students should keep in mind as the spring term begins: club sports.
Often it can be easy to forget the club sports teams on campus.
They don't quite get the exposure that most of the varsity teams do.
They don't have big name coaches like Joe Paterno, Russ Rose or Ed DeChellis.
And they don't have what would typically be considered the top athletes on campus.
Chances are, though, many students know at least one club sport athlete, as close to 4,000 students are involved in the club sports program, according to the Penn State club sports Web site.
That's almost one in 10 students. So whether they realize it or not, many students are likely more familiar with a club sports athlete or team on a personal level than they are with some of Penn State's varsity programs.
Also lost in the shuffle is the fact that many of Penn State's alternative teams participate on the club level. Sure, Penn State is home to several mainstream club sports teams like baseball, basketball, volleyball and soccer, but it's also home to such squads as the disc golf team, the crew team and the synchronized swimming team. None of those teams have a varsity sister team, so really, they're the best at what they do on campus.
And perhaps the most important aspect of club sports that many might forget is that the participating athletes take part for nothing more than the love of their game. Most don't attend Penn State on an athletic scholarship, yet many work just as hard as varsity athletes and often achieve success at the highest level.
This past fall, the women's club cross country team won a NIRCA national championship, and both the men's and women's club soccer teams competed at the NIRSA NCCS National Soccer Championships in November.
In the next four months, Penn State will play host to such club events as a boxing exhibition -- only the second in 12 years -- on Feb. 6, the Pennsylvania state powerlifting championships on March 20-21 and several other tournaments or championship events.
So the next time you're sitting at home, complaining about the fact that your favorite varsity squad is on the road or out of action for a period of time, consider the club sports teams at Penn State for some entertainment.
With close to 70 teams and organizations, the club sports department at Penn State is sure to offer something that interests you.
