Intramural team practicing in Draddy Gymnasium. LENNOX LEE/COURTESY
Andrew Mannion, Sports Editor
Manhattan University’s Department of Recreation and Wellness has announced that it will be offering a club basketball program for the upcoming winter. With a competitive team that will travel to play other schools, basketball players around the university will have the opportunity to play above an intramural level, but below D1 competition.
The idea was originally presented by the school’s Board of Trustees, who loved the idea of having a club basketball team. They went to Assistant Director of Recreation and Wellness Antoine Orr, who spoke to how the idea was presented to him.
“There were two trustees that came to Kristell [Lowe] and said ‘Look, this is something that we really want to do,” Orr said. “They’re big basketball fans. They love all things sports for the school, but I think basketball hits a certain nerve with them.”
Being a former MAAC basketball player at St. Peters, Orr found this to be something he was very passionate about bringing to life. He explained how he found a league for the school to compete in.
“Knowing that I was a former college basketball player, and it’s really my world, one of the first things I was tasked with was getting this thing up and running,” Orr said. “I made some calls, had some conversations, found this National Basketball Club Association in which it really expands the map.”
The team would play in the Northeast Atlantic Conference, which would have the club traveling to other schools to compete. With a professional website for schedules and stat keeping, the league will provide a quality experience for the team.
The main point of the new program is to increase the college experience for the students at the university. Vice President of Student Life Kristell Lowe spoke on the importance of providing plenty of opportunities for students to enjoy campus life.
“We need to ensure our students feel great inside and outside the classroom,” Lowe said. “They study hard, they work hard, they juggle priorities, internships, as well as personal goals and ambitions. One can only thrive when they feel at their best. Intramural sports are one way to get there, have fun, be active and make lots of friends. So is fitness, but beyond fitness is wellness. Wellness has many dimensions and can look very different from one person to another. For one student, it might be the thrill of the last second goal scored to secure the victory. For another, wellness might mean spending time with friends who put a smile on your face.”
That sentiment is felt by students around MU. With the school already providing open gym sessions at Draddy Gymnasium and intramural leagues, students have said having a club team would make the experience even better. Brian Astacio, a senior at MU, spoke on how having a club team would bring the level of competitive basketball up even higher.
“As a student who’s played intramural basketball for three years, I can honestly say it’s been a lot of fun,” Asacio said. “I feel like having a club team would make it so much better. It’s not just about playing, it’s about representing our school, meeting new people, and making stronger connections on campus. Having more extracurricular activities like this brings energy and excitement to campus life. Plus, it makes basketball feel more intense, which brings out the best and sometimes the worst in people, but that’s what makes the competition real and exciting.”