News

Urban students at Portland State University find unique ways to participate in recreational activities in a city environment. The Rec Clubs program, offered by the Department of Campus Recreation, earned regional and national recognition for the achievements of several clubs during the past year.

Jenny Welnick, the recently hired advisor for the Rec Clubs program, is impressed at the accomplishments of students in recreational clubs at PSU. "Students create recreation opportunities all over the Northwest," said Welnick. "The diversity of our campus really comes together in these clubs."

The growth of Rec Clubs at Portland State is evident by several achievements:

• In their first full Road Racing season in the Northwest Collegiate Cycling Conference, PSU Cycling Team won two of the three Season Championships. McCageor Byrd became the Men's B Category Champion after dominating the Criterium event through five race weekends. Jeanne Zoppo won the Women's B Category after battling all season with her PSU teammate Rachael Cate, who took second place honors.
  
  
• The Dancer's Club won the Grand Championship during the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association Spring Fling Competition in Portland this year. The club also took home several trophies from other categories, including first place in team competition. Students are excited to continue competitions under the guidance of coaches Mark Richman and Rachel Lidskog.
  
  
• The PSU Sailing Club's incoming coach, USC Varsity Sailing Team alumni and Laser Master's World Championship silver medalist Bill Symes, has a great team to work with. This past year, the PSU Sailing Club ranked second for the second consecutive year in the Northwest college sailing conference, placing just behind the University of Washington in nearly every regatta, including the Northwest Sloop Championship, the Northwest Women's Singlehanded Championship, the Northwest Team Racing Championship, and the Rainier Cup. Graduating senior and Varsity B Skipper Anika Olsen was recognized for the third year in a row by the Northwest Awards Committee for All-Northwest Women's Skipper of the Year. Jeff Causey, two-time All-Northwest Coed Skipper of the Year himself, also received a nod for honorable mention.
  
  
• The first college club featured in Tennis Times magazine, the PSU Tennis Club captured tournament titles in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho during the United States Tennis Association's Campus Club Cup. The club also won the 2004 USTA/Pacific Northwest College Showdown.
  
  
• As featured in Transworld Snowboarding Magazine, PSU was named a "100% Legit Shred School", thanks to the campus proximity to hot snowboarding locations, year-round access to Mt. Hood, and the Snowboarding Club. The club made several trips over the year, including trips to British Columbia and Whistler over long weekends.
  
  
• A newcomer on the scene has already built a solid arsenal of weaponry. The Medieval Combat Club uses the full speed, full contact martial sport system developed by Belegarth (www.belegarth.com). Play is intense and fast paced with "battles" that resolve in only a few moments. The club is associated with the local Belegarth chapter which frequently participates in national events with names like Western Wars, Chaos Wars, Armageddon, and Spring War, where the forces arrayed can number in the hundreds.
  
  
• The new Handball Club burst onto the scene with two weekly play sessions and participation in the Multnomah Athletic Club's 2005 Pacific Northwest Regional Handball Tournament. The club took home four trophies of various flavors.

For more information about Rec Clubs and Campus Recreation, visit www.campusrec.pdx.edu.