Allison Mueller/Winonan

After the Winona State University football teams and soccer team exit Verizon Wireless stadium, a different group of athletes takes over the field.

There are over 20 intramural sports offered during the school year for students to join that include four-on-four coed basketball, coed soccer, men’s softball and women’s volleyball.

To play an intramural sport, all a student has to do is join or form a team and pay a small team fee.

After a classmate asked junior Emanuel Deng to help form a coed soccer team, Deng has played as an attacking midfielder ever since his freshmen year.

“The games are competitive but not totally serious,” Deng said. “There’s a fun atmosphere, people just coming together to play.”

Mark Bambenek, director of intramurals for 24 years, said that the goal of intramural sports is to have fun and socialize.

“We try to provide an opportunity to get together and have some fun with friends,” Bambenek said.

In addition, there is more to intramurals at Winona State than just sports teams.

“We have a full aquatics program that offers open swim and swim lessons,” Bambenek said. “And we have all the fitness classes, about 20 of those a week, that are all free to the students.”

As director of intramurals, Bambenek has many responsibilities and is in charge of many programs.

“First and foremost, I’m in charge of running the tournaments and leagues for the teams which includes scheduling, registration and hiring officials,” Bambenek said. “And then also I’m in charge of the swimming pool so hiring lifeguards and swim instructors, as well as hiring the instructors for fitness classes.”

Bambenek is also in charge of the open rec gym located on the second floor of the Integrated Wellness Complex (IWC).

The IWC on main campus is home to the free open rec gym and all of the free aquatic programs and fitness classes.

Freshman Andrea Yechout participates in multiple fitness classes a week that include “Butt ‘N Gut,”

“Yogilates” and “Power Hour”. She is also looking forward to trying “Turbo Kick.”

“You get a good work-out in, which is a nice break from homework and studying,” Yechout said. “And you can also go with friends and get a chance to socialize.”

Fitness classes, intramural teams and open swim all offer a chance for students to be active, have fun with friends and meet new people. Competitiveness is not what intramurals are aimed towards.

“There’s a little bit of competitiveness, especially when it comes to intramural games, but we try not to make things super competitive,” Bambenek said.

The IWC’s free activities and intramurals offer an opportunity to be active and take a break from classes.

Contact Allison at [email protected]