The Race for All Sports: What Each Club Needs to Secure Victory

Heading into the spring semester of 2024, the race for all sports looks similar to previous years. The men of Chi Lambda Phi and the women of Gamma Rho have been the most successful, leading both divisions by at least 80 points. Here are where the standings left off at the end of the fall semester:

Men’s:

Chi Lambda Phi: 555

Delta Gamma Sigma: 440

Freshmen class: 365

Kappa Sigma Tau: 320

Psi Epsilon: 21

Alpha Gamma Omega: 15

Women’s:

Gamma Rho: 568

Lambda Chi Zeta: 481

Theta Theta Theta: 241

Freshmen class: 224

Iota Kappa Phi: 26

Beta Beta Sigma: 7

The competition has been fierce according to intramural director Josiah Schmitt.

“Intramurals have gone well. I’ve seen a lot of competitive games,” Schmitt said. “There have been a lot of matches throughout the different sports in which games could have been won by either club. I’m excited to see how the next couple of sports and tournaments shape the standings.”

With all clubs fighting for their positions, here is where the contenders stand and what they will need to do if they want to win it all.

Chi and Gamma: Win an A League Championship

Chi and Gamma have done their jobs so far. Jaxton Boyd returned as athletic director for Chi after winning an all sports title last year and knows how to build winning rosters alongside fellow director Kade Schuermann. 

Chi does have one thing going against them; star player Luke Ashpole has graduated, taking away an incredible athlete. But losing Ashpole should not be an immediate issue, as they still have plenty of depth and an athletic rush class. Schuermann spoke on how his younger brother can step up for the club on the basketball court.

“We’re excited about the upcoming emergence of sophomore Brody Schuermann,” Schuermann said. “Brody is a stout defender, an all-out effort player and a fundamentally-sound offensive weapon.” 

Meanwhile, in the women’s division, Gamma Rho has put together a similarly impressive record throughout the fall semester, making every A league final and winning two of them. Athletic director Natalie Smith attributes their success to good team play.

“As a club, we help each other win,” Smith said. “As long as we play together, I’m not worried about anything.”

So what do Chi and Gamma have to do to win all sports? For the frontrunners, making the finals and winning one of the two remaining A league sports leagues is all they should need to lock into first place, unless there is a complete collapse in the minor sports.

Lambda and Delta: Place Ahead of Chi and Gamma in Playoffs

Despite struggling to compete with the lead clubs, Lambda and Delta have done their job in keeping the race competitive. All they have to do is finish intramural leagues at least one club above the leaders. The most challenging aspect is depth: these clubs need to not only place ahead in the A league, but in the B league and for Delta, the C league as well.

Delta has leaned heavily on Luke Ferguson, a junior Spring Sing director, to help lead the club. Ferguson has played on all three of Delta’s A teams so far, using speed, agility and great field awareness to help keep Delta in games. Expect him to be one of several members who step up if Delta wants to push for first in the all sports standings.

For Lambda, the name to watch out for is Anna Strother. Strother just rushed Lambda this last fall and has immediately made an impact on intramurals. The six-foot junior was a key piece to Lambda’s success in volleyball A and pickleball singles, where the club placed first in both. When Lambda needs someone to step it up when the pressure is on, expect Strother to be involved.

Freshmen, Freshmen Women, Theta and Kappa: Beat Lambda and Delta in the Finals

The third and fourth place teams in both divisions have more work to do if they want to contend. Beating the two defending all sports champions is hard enough, but these clubs also need them to place third or worse in the standings.

Still, all four clubs have flashed athletic prowess last fall that could rally points for them in the spring. The freshmen have made some moves, winning the boys B league volleyball championship under the leadership of Landon Parker, and the girls side, led by Josie Floyd, is just as competitive.

Kappa will be bringing back Kohl Kirby and Desmond Rolle, two stars that helped their club make the basketball A final last year. For Theta, watch out for Allie Neilson and Mattie Baird. Baird won the freshmen athlete of the year award last year, and Neilson has been leading Theta intramurals ever since she rushed last January.

It will take a week or two for intramurals to return. But once they begin, expect some high skill competition in the A leagues, chaos and fun in the C leagues and no free time in the basketball gym.