The fall semester is coming to a close, and along with it, many society sports. However, the next semester offers students many chances to get involved in sports, including basketball, volleyball and water polo.

This past semester, students were able to participate in smaller, more individual sports besides soccer, including disc golf, dodgeball and flag football. Eleven men’s societies participated in flag football, with games played before and after Thanksgiving break.

This semester societies also played a short season of ultimate frisbee for the first time. Teams were coed, with a requirement of at least two women players at all times. Ten teams participated, many of them consisting of a brother-sister society combination.

Society basketball also began at the end of this semester and runs through February of next year. Both the men’s and women’s leagues have championship and recreational divisions, which were created to allow anyone to play regardless of talent or previous experience. 

Last season, the Alpha Razorbacks won the men’s championship league in basketball, and this season they look poised to make another championship run. 

Alex Raddatz, Alpha’s athletic director, said the team lost a few players but is still in a good position to win the championship. “We have some skilled seniors and an elite coaching staff in our lineup,” Raddatz said. “We also have some big bodies on our team that have the leadership abilities to lead our younger players to a successful season.”

Jacob Rodriguez, the athletic director for the Phi Beta Chi Bulldogs, said his team is excited to start the new season. “We have guys who love to play basketball and can’t wait to get the season started,” Rodriguez said. “We have never been looked at as one of the major basketball societies, but we would love to turn some heads this year.”

Other contenders for the championship title include the Cavaliers, the Royals and the Beta Patriots. In the recreational league, Sigma Alpha Chi, Beta B and Cavaliers B are expected do well this season.

Last season in the women’s basketball league, the Colts A and B teams won both the championship and recreational divisions, defeating the Classics.

This season, for the first time, the Colts have three teams. Kristyn Rygh, the Colts’ athletic director, said her society teams look good going into the season. “Our A team hardly lost anybody, and we gained some talented freshmen to fill the holes,” she said. “I have no doubt our girls could go all the way.”

As always, the Classics performed well in their basketball season last year and are looking to do the same this time around. Cheyenne Wisenborn, the Classics’ athletic director, said the Classics have made it to the championship game every year for the past three years. This year their teams look forward to incorporating freshmen players with the upperclassmen.  

“We have a lot of fresh blood to get acclimated with the previous teammates,” Wisenborn said. 

The Kangas A, Tigers A and Flames A all have solid teams and could make it far in the championship league as well.  For the recreational league, Classics B and Colts B expect a good season, too.

Next semester, women’s societies will also have the opportunity to compete in water polo. The games are typically held on Saturday mornings. Last year, the Tigers beat the Seagulls 4-0 to win the championship game.

Societies can also play softball during the last few weeks between spring break and graduation. Last season, the Cobras and the Rams both finished their seasons with a 4-1 record. Both the Colts and the Tigers finished their season with five wins and one loss.

Some other smaller spring competitions that have been done in the past include tennis, racquetball and ping pong. These more individual sports allow students to get involved without having a big-time commitment. The specific individual sports for the spring semester are yet to be determined.

No matter the sport, society athletics allow students to participate in low-pressure competition. Rygh said she enjoys the diversion that sports offer. 

“I love playing society sports because of the friendships that are built,” she said. “Plus, it’s a fun outlet from schoolwork.”