Monday, 6/23/97 Exercising your options CLUB: Myriads of
classes, sports offer activities for every Bruin’s taste
By Rocky Salmon Daily Bruin Staff UCLA is known for its strong
diversity. From the contrasting architecture between North and
South campus to the variety of sports offered to UCLA students, the
campus is a breeding ground for variety. This variance is reflected
in the great number of athletic options there are for UCLA
students. Varsity sports may get all the attention at UCLA, but the
clubs and intramural (IM) leagues engage most of the Bruin
population: over 16,000 students participate in IM sports in one
year. During the academic year, the Wooden Center offers recreation
classes, IM leagues and club sports for a small fee. Club sports
are offered in snow, ice, water, mountain and grass fields. During
the winter, Bruins participate in snowboarding and ice hockey. All
other clubs – ranging from lacrosse to ballroom dancing – are
offered throughout the school year. This year, Bruin club teams won
championships in cycling and men’s gymnastics – both repeat
performances. Men’s lacrosse and women’s rugby made it to the
playoffs after surprising seasons in which both teams dominated
their respected leagues. Moreover, club sports attract a variety of
levels of competition, ranging from beginning to advanced levels.
For example, the cycling team has an A, B and C squad, where each
member participates in every tournament in their perspective field.
"There is something for everyone," cyclist Judy Hue said. "I
started off not knowing how to cycle but immediately I was racing
in the tournaments. It is just a great feeling racing with your
friends." For club sports, the emphasis is not only placed on
winning but also on camaraderie. The teams are not supported by the
school, but they provide students with a chance to meet people and
exercise. "Our team goes out and plays with their hearts every
game. There is no quitting on the field," Corey McLain, an ultimate
frisbee player, said. "But winning is not the most important part.
It is fun going out and playing with fellow students." This summer
there will be numerous club events, such as rock climbing, sailing,
cycling, table tennis and windsurfing. For water sport activities,
UCLA has a Marina Aquatic Center located in the Santa Monica Bay.
The Center offers several classes on sailing, canoeing and
windsurfing, with levels ranging from beginner to expert. The
intramural leagues consist of soccer, basketball, football and many
others during the school year, but this summer there will be three
leagues in which students can participate. A coed softball and a
3-on-3 basketball league will be offered during the month of July.
From July to August there is a 4-on-4 sand volleyball league for
all those who wish to join. Have you ever wanted to learn how to do
martial arts or dance ballet? The recreation classes offer what you
are looking for. Most classes are held in the Men’s Gym, the Dance
Building or the Wooden Center. These classes are non-competitive
and instructive. The recreation classes are broken down into seven
categories: Martial arts, fitness, dance, the arts, sports,
swimming and tennis. The dance classes, which include unique
options such as hip-hop, universal swing and ballet, are a fun way
to exercise and learn. Each dance class is offered to beginners and
teaches students how to do the most famous dance steps in the
assigned area. The martial arts class is one of the most popular
options, with classes including Tang Soo Do to kung fu. Each class
conditions the mind and body in a different way, especially Tang
Soo Do, where the emphasis is on physical strength. The fitness
classes are another favorite because of the vigorous workouts they
offer. Running and hiking classes take place everywhere from inside
the Wooden Center to planned excursions to local parks. For rock
climbing aficionados, a newly constructed rock climbing wall is
scheduled to open this summer. Swimming classes are offered
year-round. These classes give participants a chance to swim in the
same pool as the world champion UCLA water polo teams. Tennis
recreation classes are offered at the Los Angeles Tennis Center
(LATC), the same courts the Bruin team plays on. Classes are
offered throughout the day for beginners to the extremely advanced.
The sports classes offer the most diverse activities, from polo to
in-line skating. Many activities take place off-campus, but rides
are offered from the Blue Bus Transit line to shuttles. If you
cannot find the class you want to be in, all it takes is 10 people
with a common love and the Wooden Center is willing to designate a
class in your interest. It is up to the students to decide what
type of sport they are interested in establishing. Students are
responsible for picking and choosing the leaders of their sports
team and who runs the class. There are still more athletic events
taking place throughout the summer. Many sports have weekend
tournaments for those who can not participate in leagues or
classes. On the Fourth of July, there is a backpacking expedition
to Mineral King. The Marina Aquatic Center is holding a Labor Day
racing tournament for anyone who wishes to participate. UCLA is so
rich in variety that every student is allowed the opportunity to
play sports, practice dancing, or learn Taekwando. There is a
little something for every student no matter what the interest is.
Exercise, friends and winning are three words that sum up the IM
and club experiences at UCLA. The school has slowly emerged as a
powerhouse in club sports and hopes to continue by influencing
incoming students. "UCLA has started to grow the past few years in
athletic competition but if no one participates then it is hard to
maintain it," Amy Tobaggi, president of women’s lacrosse, said. "We
are not a varsity club so we cannot recruit players. We play for
fun and because we have that, we want to win." If you are
interested in participating in any of the sports, contact the John
Wooden Center at (310) 206-8307. (above) Keith Henderson, a student
in the School of Dentistry, is a member of the cycling team.