Captains weigh in on team’s success

As numerous teams compete for the entire school year in different intramural sports, only a select few experience the thrill of proving themselves as the best among Greek, residential college and independent teams. Even fewer earn the right to travel to regional and national tournaments with their teammates and friends.

With each intramural sport, teams compete against other teams within their division during the regular season. Greek teams compete against other Greeks, residential colleges face off against other colleges and independents play independents. However, once playoffs begin, teams see how they stack up against the best from other divisions, until one team – regardless of division – wins the tournament and is crowned Murray State champion.

From that point, some teams elect to travel to regional tournaments, where if they play well enough, they may get the chance to compete in a national championship tournament. … Continue Reading

4:30 Crew stays undefeated

Jonathan Ferris
Staff writer

Undefeated basketball teams seem to be common at Murray State University. On Monday night, the Vigilantes and the 4:30 Crew, both at 3-0, squared off in Carr Health.

The game started off at a fast pace with both teams running up and down the court. Halfway through the first half the 4:30 crew held a 13-12 lead over the Vigilantes.

As the captains urged their teammates to slow the pace down, the teams began working the ball around to conserve energy, fighting to a 16-16 tie with five minutes left before halftime.

After a frenzied final few minutes before halftime, 4:30 Crew established a three point lead going into the half at 23-20.

“We really focused on the defense tonight,” 4:30 team captain Darrien Shelton said. “The guys were tough down low and we were constantly swarming on them before they could get the ball to the rim, and it made a difference defensively.” … Continue Reading

Flag football team goes national

Jonathan Ferris
Staff writer

Everyone knows about the ninth ranked Racer basketball team. However, not many people know of another top-20 Murray State team.

Over the break, the Has Beens and the Hester men’s team traveled to Pensacola, Fla. to compete in the 2011 ACIS Flag Football National Championships.

Before earning an invitation to the national championships, both teams had to win the intramural tournament at Murray State. Additionally, both teams chose to travel to a regional tournament to compete against other college teams from around the country.

“We went to regionals to play but also to scout out some of the best competition we could see at nationals if we made it there,” Hester Captain Josh Jones said. “So then we took some of the tactics and plays we learned at regionals to come back and finish off the Murray State championship. From there we took what we learned at Murray State as well and went off to nationals.” … Continue Reading

Teams prepare for upcoming spring sports

Jonathan Ferris
Staff writer

School has started and that means one thing: Spring intramural sports are almost here.

“We’ve got some good competition for basketball coming up and it’s going to be really fun to start calculating the President’s Cup standings,” Steve Leitch, head of intramurals, said. “Hart has done well in the past, but we’ve got some new guys fighting for the top spot.”

While he remains excited, Leitch has a few concerns about teams and registering since students were focused on exams at the end of the semester rather than registering teams. “We are excited to see how our teams at nationals fare and we’re hoping to send several more teams to nationals in the spring and summer,” Leitch said. “We’re not going to change anything or do much different. We’re going to keep all our policies and rules the same because everything we’ve got is working.”

Intramurals look to late season finish

Jonathan Ferris
Staff writer

While many of the final flag football games have been delayed recently with rain and snow, intramurals director Steven Leitch said plenty of excitement continues to surround intramurals at Murray State.

“We’re getting excited about basketball starting up,” Leitch said. “We’re a bit nervous about getting a good amount of teams as people are focused on more important things this time of the semester, but we hope people will log on and create their teams before they head home.”

After the flag football season ends, Murray State will be represented at the national flag football tournament in Pensacola, Fla. by a men’s and women’s team.

“Typically there are 60 to 70 teams in these national tournaments and we will be competing against huge schools with 60,000 plus students,” Leitch said. “We haven’t brought home any first place trophies, but it’s spectacular that our teams can compete with teams from the University of Florida and schools like those.”

The ‘Has Been’s’ will represent Murray State women and the Hester Hedgehogs will represent the men. The women received the No. 1 seed at the Kentucky regional tournament and had a shot at the championship before the final games were canceled for weather. The men finished in the top eight and both teams received invitations to the national tournament which will be held over New Year’s. … Continue Reading