Spring Break
Racquetball gains club sport status
Laurie Wilbur
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: News
UConn's Racquetball Club will be an official club sport in Fall 2009.
Jonathan Bailey, a 4th-semester chemical engineering major and president of the team, and Prasant Venimadhavan, a 4th-semester mathematics-statistics and accounting double major and vice president of the team, went before the Club Sports Council on Feb. 25 and found out the next day that they were approved. Like all club sports, the team is subject to a one-year probationary status, which means that they will not be eligible for funding until fall 2010.
The team participated in the Eastern Collegiate Racquetball Conference (ECRC) this year and finished 16th out of 30 teams. "This is impressive because we only went to one out of the four meets this past season, and we still won over other teams that had gone to two or more meets," said Veminadhavan.
Bailey described racquetball competitions as "close knit communities" and that members get to know faces quickly.
The team's officers hoped to hire Russell Palazzo as their coach next year. Palazzo is a former racquetball competitor and father of Joseph Palazzo, one of the highest ranked racquetball players in New England, according to Veminadhavan. The team hopes to obtain funding when they bring the team's proposal to a USG meeting in April.
Even in the current state of the economy, the team stays positive about funding. According to Bailey, the racquetball team is "one of the cheaper club sports" at UConn. He said the only major expenses they would need covered is transportation. Equipment is not a major expense and tournaments will hopefully be covered by club dues, which will be $100 a member.
The club dues will only be collected once every academic year and will cover ECRC entry fees.
Fundraisers are also being discussed to help financially support the team. According to Bailey, they are looking into a video game competition to raise money. He hopes to organize this by the end of this semester.
Currently, the team has 40 members, with an average 15 to 20 consistently attending practices, according to Bailey. Practices are every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Student Recreational Facility and are open to anyone who is interested in joining.
"We're always looking for new players," said William Alvarez, a 6th-semester accounting major and chief financial officer of the racquetball team.
Currently, they are seeking women to join and encourage players to join the United States Racquetball Association, according to the UConn Racquetball Club Web site.
All skill levels are welcome and members are not required to go to every practice. According to Alvarez, who is now an avid racquetball player, he didn't play his first game until his sophomore year at UConn.
"It's addicting," Alvarez said.
Anyone who is interested in joining should go to a practice. More information can be found on the UConn Student Activities Web site.
Jonathan Bailey, a 4th-semester chemical engineering major and president of the team, and Prasant Venimadhavan, a 4th-semester mathematics-statistics and accounting double major and vice president of the team, went before the Club Sports Council on Feb. 25 and found out the next day that they were approved. Like all club sports, the team is subject to a one-year probationary status, which means that they will not be eligible for funding until fall 2010.
The team participated in the Eastern Collegiate Racquetball Conference (ECRC) this year and finished 16th out of 30 teams. "This is impressive because we only went to one out of the four meets this past season, and we still won over other teams that had gone to two or more meets," said Veminadhavan.
Bailey described racquetball competitions as "close knit communities" and that members get to know faces quickly.
The team's officers hoped to hire Russell Palazzo as their coach next year. Palazzo is a former racquetball competitor and father of Joseph Palazzo, one of the highest ranked racquetball players in New England, according to Veminadhavan. The team hopes to obtain funding when they bring the team's proposal to a USG meeting in April.
Even in the current state of the economy, the team stays positive about funding. According to Bailey, the racquetball team is "one of the cheaper club sports" at UConn. He said the only major expenses they would need covered is transportation. Equipment is not a major expense and tournaments will hopefully be covered by club dues, which will be $100 a member.
The club dues will only be collected once every academic year and will cover ECRC entry fees.
Fundraisers are also being discussed to help financially support the team. According to Bailey, they are looking into a video game competition to raise money. He hopes to organize this by the end of this semester.
Currently, the team has 40 members, with an average 15 to 20 consistently attending practices, according to Bailey. Practices are every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Student Recreational Facility and are open to anyone who is interested in joining.
"We're always looking for new players," said William Alvarez, a 6th-semester accounting major and chief financial officer of the racquetball team.
Currently, they are seeking women to join and encourage players to join the United States Racquetball Association, according to the UConn Racquetball Club Web site.
All skill levels are welcome and members are not required to go to every practice. According to Alvarez, who is now an avid racquetball player, he didn't play his first game until his sophomore year at UConn.
"It's addicting," Alvarez said.
Anyone who is interested in joining should go to a practice. More information can be found on the UConn Student Activities Web site.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
me
posted 4/02/09 @ 11:07 PM EST
why not mention the other teams that gained club sports status?
Like timber sports or women's ultimate frisbee who are going through the same thing? All teams have done exceptionally well thus far. (Continued…)
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