In a town where football is a way of life and the players are celebrities, it seems that too often other sports are completely forgotten. But behind the "Stoops for President" signs and bright stadium lights, an alternative sport counterculture is growing on campus.

Many freshmen who come to OU from an athletically-involved high school life are searching for a team in college they can be a part of again. Nathan Hewes was one of those students.

Hewes, a mechanical engineering junior, played baseball and football in high school and came to OU still wanting to do something athletic.

"I heard about the crew team and I thought it was pretty cool," Hewes said.

Hewes, who is the events coordinator for Oklahoma Crew, said most of the rowers on the team were involved in high school sports such as baseball, basketball and football.

"About 85 percent of rowers at the collegiate level have never rowed before," Hewes said.

Hewes said crew is an extradordinarily team-oriented sport, so new participants can experience the social and athletic values they may miss from high school sports.

"Rowing is completely different," Hewes said. "You can't win with just one great rower. It's got to be four people rowing together. So basically [it's] the biggest team sport I've ever been on."

Erin Case, assistant adviser of Oklahoma Crew and one of the founding members of the club, said the feeling of being out on the water with your team is what keeps the rowers coming back year after year.

"There's nothing better than rowing and having everyone competing, and the oars just gliding over the water, and just feeling that you, along with these three other people...are powering this boat," Case said. "It is very addicting, and it's fun."

Ultimate Frisbee is another sport that a large group of students have found addictive. Mary Henson, business freshman and a new member of the girls' Ultimate Frisbee team, said the game is more fun than any other sport she's played.

"Most people who come out to play stick with it," Henson said.

One reason the sport is so popular is the sense of community it gives its players.

"The people in this sport are probably the friendliest people I've ever met before," Henson said. "Most sports I've played, if you do something wrong, you have to like, run laps or do whatever, but people out here, they really want you to enjoy it and have a good time."

Phil Lewis, a philosophy junior and a member of the team for the past three years, agreed that the friendships within the team distinguish the sport.

"The Ultimate Frisbee guys are competitive, and it's a fun sport, but we hang out together and party together," Lewis said. "It's more about the community of people."

Alex Perry, a freshman from Powell, Ohio, is part of a new group of students trying to popularize lacrosse on the OU campus.

Perry, who played lacrosse for five years in Ohio, said he has found a significant interest across campus in starting a team.

"We've just been playing for fun out in the Walker-Adams Mall, and people come up and ask if they can play all the time," Perry said. "We've found about 24 or 25 guys to come out and play."

Almost every student that has showed interest in playing lacrosse is already an athlete of some sort, Perry said. The lack of popularity of the sport in the region has not stifled the growing desire for a team.

"These guys have been watching lacrosse on ESPN and want to play," Perry said.

Perry said he plans to start regular team practices soon and hopes the spring semester will bring games every weekend.

Searching for a place to feed their need for competition, students found not only a place to stay in shape and learn a new game, but stumbled upon a new circle of friends.

-This article is from Crimson Traditions.
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