Open gym takes place of whittled down intramural programs

Mt. Hood Community College’s intramural program has shifted from a popular activity in the 1990’s to a now almost non-existent activity students are unaware of according to MHCC Physical Education instructor and basketball coach, Fred Schnell

He said that he saw the intramural program at its highest point in 1990 under the direction of Daryle Broadsword, MHCC Women’s Basketball and PE Coach.

There was basketball, volleyball, flag-football and softball in the spring, said Schnell. And he added that trophies were given out to the programs to teams with the most wins, the funeral services and fish hatcheries always had good teams.

“Slowly the programs started to slip and people didn’t want to commit to a team. It fell apart,” said Schnell.

Students can still get a game in at the MHCC basketball courts Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from noon to 1 p.m., or play volleyball Tuesday or Thursday at the same times, but for now that is all that is left of an intramural program at MHCC.

Kelley Wilkerson, a part-time physical education instructor at MHCC, is always on hand at the open gym and said she’d love to see a more organized intramural program at MHCC.

Wilkerson said that there is a basketball league in the works, “it still needs to be approved,” and that there would need to be three available players for every team in order to be eligible for play.

Other program ideas that Wilkerson mentioned were flag-football, wiffle-ball, and dodge-ball. She said she would like to see more students and kids in the community in the gym.

“Just to get kids out of the house,” said Wilkerson, adding that anyone in the community can participate in the open gym or up and coming intramural leagues.

The athletic program is open to suggestions and would like to see the intramural programs get back into full swing but students need to show more interest, said Schnell.