Around Emory’s campus, frequent complaints of “nobody cares about sports here,” or “we aren’t that good at athletics,” can be heard from the mouths of students. Although last week’s men’s basketball game proved that Emory students do support their athletic teams, they can play some sports, too.

Welcome to the world of intramural sports at Emory — stop by the lower fields in the fall and early winter and you’ll see students matching skills in softball or football. These days, the Woodruff P.E. Center is filled with players from each of around 90 of Emory’s IM basketball teams every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

“[IM Sports] are a huge thing because they give students a chance to go out and play sports and get away from the daily grind,” says Daniel Overstreet, Emory director of intramural sports.

Overstreet is in charge of putting together the leagues, making the schedules and setting up the fields. He recognizes IM sports as an integral part of the Emory community.

“A lot of kids can’t or don’t make that next step and play sports collegiately; IM sports give that kid who doesn’t play varsity sports that avenue to still be an athlete,” Overstreet says.

Many Emory students come from athletic backgrounds and played a varsity sport in high school. For those individuals, IM sports are an opportunity to keep playing a sport that they love.

“I played basketball in high school, and I still enjoy the competitiveness and just getting out there and playing with people,” College junior Mike Zelenkofske says. “Intramurals have allowed me to enjoy something that was an important part of my high school career.”

For students like Zelenkofske, IM sports are also an opportunity to get some of the adrenaline that comes with competition pumping once again.

“There are definitely some games that you get up for more than others,” Zelenkofske says.

College sophomore Edwin Melendez agrees. A member of the varsity baseball team during his freshman year, Melendez decided not to play for the team in this upcoming season. However, Melendez cited IM softball as a way to keep up his baseball talents and keep enjoying the game.

“[IM softball] definitely fulfilled my desire to play,” he says. “If anything it shows the beauty of the sport because you are still playing even though it is at a different level.”

But the IM level is still an extremely competitive one, filled with plenty of memorable plays.

“Last year, Eric Laney made an amazing catch in the IM [A-League] football championship, twisting his body in mid-air to come down with the ball,” Overstreet recalls.

And then there are the fans. The attendance for the A-League football championship at the end of the fall semester hovered around 100, and the A-League basketball championship is known to draw a crowd.

In particular, the members of Alpha Epsilon Pi are known for coming out in droves for all of their A-League games to cheer on their brothers and heckle the opponents. In the A-League basketball championship last year, their fans stormed the court in a wild celebration after AEPi’s thrilling triple-overtime win.

Of course, no game is complete without referees. Those orange-shirted enforcers of sports law are frequent targets of enraged protests or sarcastic remarks from players who aren’t shy about expressing their disagreements with the calls on the field.

Melendez, who is also a referee, spoke about the situations that he has gone through with the players in IM games.

“I definitely understand players getting upset because I’ve been on that side and been upset.” he says. “But as a ref you just have to handle it coolly and just tell them that you made the call as you saw it.”

At Emory, IM sports gives everyone who participates a chance to have their own “One Shining Moment.”

— Contact Dan Ziment.