You may often hear “Dodge ball! Dodge Ball!” being yelled across campus Tuesday nights around 9 p.m. This is the voice of Andrew Pillar.
Pillar, a junior social work major, started dodge ball during his freshman year. “I was just looking for something to do on a Tuesday night instead of sitting in my room,” Pillar said. Since then dodge ball has been a constant game every Tuesday night in the Dixon Center from 9 p.m to 11 p.m.
Dodge ball is one of the open sports Cabrini offers to students throughout the year. Other open sports include ultimate Frisbee, soccer, volleyball and basketball. Each sport gets together once or twice a week and is always looking for new players.
“Open sports are a great way to get out, exercise, try new things and meet new people,” Orlin Jespersen, director of clubs and recreation, said.
This is the first time open sports have been scheduled activities. “It’s just starting to get off the ground,” Jespersen said. “As the word gets out, we’ll start seeing a lot more participants.”
“Playing with everyone is so much fun. You go after one opponent the entire game and after, everyone is friends,” Patrick Gallagher, freshman elementary education major, said.
There is always a core group of students who come out to play and they are trying to draw in a larger crowd. Pillar hopes to host a campus tournament sometime this semester.
“It’s great to get your dodge ball gear on and have some fun,” Pillar said.
A popular open sport is soccer. Riz Ishmail, junior Spanish secondary education major, began the team in his sophomore year. “I love soccer and wanted to just have some fun. I don’t have to dedicate much time or effort,” Ishmail said.
One of the huge perks of open sports is the lack of competition. “It’s about having a good time with friends, not winning or losing,” Fabio Bevilacqua, junior Spanish and secondary education major, said. After playing four years of varsity soccer in high school, Bevilacqua does miss the competition, but continues to play. “I love it. It’s my life,” Bevilacqua said.
“If you’re not sure about committing it’s a good chance to come out and still play,” Jespersen said.
The newest addition to the open sports schedule is rock climbing. Every Wednesday night two Cabrini vans depart from the Dixon Center parking lot and head to Philadelphia Rock Gym in Oaks, Pa. According to Jespersen there has been a consistent turnout every week of about 12-16 students. The trip is free for all students. All you have to do is sign up.
If you’re looking for a way to get active or just take a break from studying, come to an open sport night with a few friends and have some fun!
