8/4/2019 Sputnik Issue 3 - Page 10

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The Sputnik // Wednesday September 1410

SPORTSKyle Denton // sports@thesputnik.ca

With the steady expansion of the Lau-rier Brantford campus comes the problemof a campus population outgrowing its in-

frastructure.Whether it is the amount of residenc-

es, classrooms or student spaces, Laurier

Brantford has been forced to increase pro-duction on new facilities to accommodatethe increasing student body. Residence

Lucy Marco Place was an example of thisincreased production in 2008 as were thetwo Research and Academic Centre wings

built over the past two years.However, another topic of concern is

Laurier Brantfords athletic facility; the

small and often cramped Wilkes RecreationCentre located on the south side of Darling.A building consisting of an undersized

gym and one that has neglected to include

a single barbell in its weight room, it wouldbe generous to even attempt to compare it

to other school facilities around the prov-ince. And yet, while some older studentshave ed to local gyms in the surrounding

area, there is hope for incoming studentsand applicants of the future with a brandnew, 130,000 square foot facility projected

to be ready for use in September 2014.As for the development, it has been a

slow process with many components to

work through, but Greg Stewart, Man-ager of Athletics and Recreation at LaurierBrantford says progress is being made.

From my vantage point we havecompleted level one of many levels tocome. We have completed a schematic, one

dimensional design, says Stewart.Laurier Brantford received 16.6 million

dollars from the provincial government

last year but Stewart admits that the school

will need some support from the municipalgovernment as well. With plans to build

the complex on Colborne street, where aneyesore of run down buildings once stood,the new athletic centre will be built in part-

nership with the YMCA.The concept design report states that the

complex is being built with a future student

population of 15,000.We have plans on paper we can

actually talk about. We need to build it big

to accommodate the future growth (of thecampus). says Stewart.

Stewart insists this is a complex for the

students and that the planned referendumsand campaigns planned are student driv-en, including the YES campaign headed by

fourth year student Nick Savage.The facility is to include multiple gym-

nasiums, a track, tness centre, volleyball

courts, multi-purpose rooms, a pool and

squash courts, as well as a student lounge,ofces and concessions. According to Stew-

art, if built according to plan, this facilitywill blow others out of the water oncenished and ready for use. The new facil-

ity is also planned to be able to hold OCAAmens and womens basketball that will be

joining Laurier Brantford for the 2014-2015

season.Certainly impressive, the plans for this

new athletic complex will make faculty and

students forget about the current recreationcentre woes that houses Laurier Brantfordsstudents. The Laurier Brantford/YMCA

joint athletic complex will be the supportsystem for the continuing growth of thestudent population at Laurier Brantford.

The Gym of the FutureLaurier Brantfords Upcoming Partnership with the YMCA

Kyle Denton

Section Editor

The start of the school year has begun

and it seems as if classes are already drag-ging along. Luckily, with the start of classescomes another fall season of intramural

sports beginning at Laurier Brantford.This fall semester, the Athletic and Rec-

reation department will be offering leagues

for softball, outdoor soccer, competitiveand recreation volleyball, ag football anddodgeball, all with the goal to entice stu-

dents of all kinds. Also starting this fall isthe hockey program, an intramural pro-gram that is played throughout the whole

year.With so many sports offered, intramu-

rals at Laurier Brantford have become an

integral part of campus participation offer-ing a fun atmosphere that allows studentsto meet new people while staying active.

Greg Stewart, Manager of Athletics andRecreation at Laurier Brantford sees intra-

mural sports as an opportunity for many

students to stay active both physically and

through campus life.I think (intramurals) is an integral part

because it provides an outlet for students

to get involved and stay in shape and toavoid the freshman 15, says Stewart.

He adds that intramurals here at Lau-

rier Brantford are a pinnacle aspect of thecampus that provides a strong balance tothe school work that often consumes most

of a students focus. Not only do intramu-rals provide an opportunity for studentsto compete, it also provides current stu-

dents the chance to ofciate in the variousleagues and make some extra money overthe course of the school year.

Many of the intramural sports that Lau-rier Brantford offers also come with uniquefeatures that continue to attract students

each year. For example, co-ed softball in-cludes 2 staff teams that allows studentsto play against faculty and other Laurier

Brantford staff including, Special ConstableTammy Maertens, professor Geoff Spurr,

External Relations coordinator Kevin Klein

and the aforementioned Stewart.

Laurier Brantfords hockey program isorganized through a pre-season draft toevenly divide teams, a system that is not

often used in other schools intramural pro-grams, let alone the Waterloo campus. Itis these unique features coupled with the

increasing growth of the campus that hasseen student participation increase steadilythroughout the years providing each league

with a wide variety of teams and healthycompetition.

Whether a

student decidesto sign up as anindividual or

with a team offriends in anygiven sport or-

ganized throughi n t r a m u r a l s ,(with the one

exception be-ing hockey) the

choice to sign up

often carries with it a plethora of benets.Whether it be meeting new people, stay-ing active or taking a break from studies,intramural sports at Laurier Brantford are

a great way to continue to play the sportsyou love in a welcoming environment.

To sign up for fall intramurals or apply

to ofciate this semester, visit the WilkesRecreation and Athletic Centre located onthe south side of Darling beside the Stu-

dent Centre. Registration starts this week.

A Break From Your StudiesIntramural Sports at Laurier Brantford

Kyle DentonSection Editor

A potential layout of the new Laurier/YMCA building. (Photo courtesy Cannon Design)