Rec sports wrap up school year

Luther students have been given many opportunities to participate in many different sporting events during the spring portion of the school year.

As the year winds down to an end, spring activities are also coming to an end.

Director of Recreational Sports Vicky Jaeger feels rec sports give students a great chance to be involved.

“I think our program gives students an opportunity to simply enjoy life, which I think we don’t do nearly enough of,” Jaeger said. “It’s something fun for the students here at Luther.”

Many students see other benefits with rec sports here at Luther as well.

“It keeps me active,” Matt Moen (‘12) said. “It allows a change from a workout. The treadmill does get old after a while.”

The most popluar event rec sports offers in the spring is sand volleyball, according to Jaeger.

“I have 22 teams playing,” Jaeger said. “Definitely the most popular activity in the spring.”

Ryan Fett (‘12), who played sand volleyball this spring, said it is his favorite way to stay involved.

“Vicky Jaeger does a great job of setting up tournaments and leagues,” Fett said. “It allows me to be active and involved with my friends as well.”

For rec sports, however, there are more activities set up by Jaeger than just sporting activities. This past Saturday, Jaeger and Outdoor Recreation organized a canoeing event for students in Decorah.

“We have tried to incorporate more “day” activities since I was assigned outdoor recreation,” Jaeger said. “We want to introduce students to the wonderful outdoor opportunities that we have in northeast Iowa.”

Many students have noticed that the amount of activities set up seems to have increased over the past few years.

“Not just the spring, but all year there is something going on,” Moen said. “There are so many times you can get your friends signed up and participate, which is great.”

Jaeger believes the key is not only picking and setting up events popular with students, but the timing the events take place.

“For example, flag football is being moved to the fall instead of the spring now,” Jaeger said. “Sometimes you just have to play around with the schedule and see what works.”

As the school year comes to an end, rec sports leagues are winding down, though a few events will still occur in the final weeks of the school year.

“Rec sports has been a very beneficial aspect in my time here at Luther,” Fett said. “A lot of fun times with friends getting to do things that we all love to do, it has been fun.”

As for Jaeger, she feels rec sports will continue to have an impact for students at Luther.

“Will people play competitive football for the rest of their lives? Probably not,” Jaeger said. “But they might play flag football for ten years after college and they might camp or canoe or rock climb for the rest of their lives.”