While many Northwestern students stay inside and cope with the disheartening weather by binge-watching Netflix shows, others have decided to deal with this bitter cold season another way. How do they do it? By playing games of basketball and chess offered by NW’s intramural program.
Every Monday and Thursday night, the basketball courts in the Rowenhurst Student Center are filled with students looking to cure their cabin fever in a friendly contest of basketball.
League sign-ups were offered during a short time in January, and the men’s basketball league was quickly filled up. With four games, two at 8 p.m. and two at 9 p.m., the college has kept busy each week.
With two referees assigned to each court and a designated scorekeeper, the chaos has been kept to a minimum in the first few weeks.
Each one of the nine men’s teams has a name; examples include “Airballers” and “Hoop Dream.” The race for the prized intramural champion t-shirt could become fierce in the coming weeks.
Freshman soccer player and education major, Adam De Boer, summed up what these games really mean to him.
“Intramurals allow for a below-average basketball player like myself to shine on the brightest stage,” he said, “In high school, I could come off the bench and average a measly four points a game. But in college intramurals, I am able to display my talents that I, nor my coach, was able to see.”
Many fans come cheer on their favorite team each and every night.
While basketball requires an excess of physical exertion, the chess league has been focused on challenging the mind. Chess intramurals have proven to be extremely competitive as well.
While the competitor pool is a little bit smaller than basketball, with only five in total, the competition is just as good. Contestants must stay mentally sharp through each match.
The championship round will start after the regular-season games have been completed.
These intramurals have been a pleasant sign of what’s to come after COVID-19 ended indoor volleyball intramurals.
When asked how the unexpected ending of volleyball affected her, sophomore Whitney Erickson said, “It was a bummer since it brings so many people in. It’s a fun way to meet new people and get involved, so it’s sad that it was taken away so soon.”
Volleyball came to an end within two regular games, but thankfully basketball and chess have made it past this barrier and continue to play.
