IU racquetball club seeks to gain new members

A tiny blue object comes hurtling toward Ethan Wygant’s face at 100 miles per hour. Inches before turning his head into a crater, the object smacks thunderously against a large pane of glass and ricochets in another direction.

The object is a racquetball struck by junior Jack Coleman, president of the IU racquetball club.

“Most people don’t understand that racquetball is played on a competitive level. They don’t even think it’s a sport,” Coleman said.  

The truth is, however, racquetball is just as fast, just as exciting and just as legitimate as any other sport.  

The racquetball club at IU is led by faculty adviser Jim Tippin and a handful of student administrators. Tippin said he has been delighted to see this year’s officers especially interested in leaving behind a legacy for future racquetball enthusiasts at IU.

Coleman and Vice President Mary Pryse in particular have worked diligently this semester to make the club more focused, organized and professional.

Both Coleman and Pryse said they think the club could be improved by more frequent practices and a few new members. Currently, official practices are from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays at the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

The officers said one or more regular practices a week could dramatically improve the team’s talent and social cohesiveness.  

No experience is necessary to join – only a $15 club fee and the willingness to learn. Tippin said he even prefers walk-ons who have never played the sport before because they can learn proper fundamentals from the get-go. When Wygant joined the club this fall, he had never really played racquetball before.

“He started from scratch,” Tippin said, “soaking up anything he could learn.”

The IU racquetball club is interested in attracting more women and freshman members. With most of the group graduating within the next two years, freshman players are needed to fill in those spaces. Coleman recommends that freshmen join so they can develop their skills during an entire college career.

Coleman said he loves both the strategic elements of the game and its quickness. He added that outwitting his opponents has become oddly addicting and being one step ahead of the competition requires a constant commitment to form, technique and practice.

“Joining the club made me feel good about myself and gave me something to look forward to after class,” he said.

Pryse said she agrees that players are in control of their own skills.

“It comes down to just doing it for yourself,” she said. “It’s a very mental game, so there’s always room for improvement.”

Pryse and others have also pointed to the fun atmosphere of the club as a major incentive for joining. A lot of humor is involved, and the members said jovial trash-talking is an essential part of the game.

To learn more about racquetball and the club at IU, students can visit its Web site at www.indiana.edu/~racquetb/index.html. A Facebook group has also been set up titled “IU Racquetball.”

Perhaps the most enticing aspect of racquetball is the health benefits. Wygant said if you play hard, you can burn up to 1,000 calories per game.

“It’s definitely a rush,” Wygant said. “It’ll get you in shape.”