Confession hour: I’m no good at sports. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a very active person (hiking, biking, water skiing and other water-based activities), but the type of things you see in the Olympics or on ESPN aren’t my forte. If there was a sport that didn’t involving running, catching a ball, throwing a ball, hand eye coordination, maybe I’d have something going for me. But in this world, I will remain a singer whose physical activity is at the gym, not the field.
That being said: I ADORE watching sports. Sitting on the sidelines, cheering my friends or just the celebrities I admire (looking at you Aaron Rodgers, Clay Mathews, Jordy Nelson aka any Packer) and I consider myself very lucky that, while it’s no college game day, Lawrence does have many opportunities for, as my athlete friends call me, NARP’s (Non-Athletic Regular Person) to be a part of the action.
In the past few months I was fortunate enough to get close to some people on the Football team (okay honesty hour, it’s my boyfriend) and in the spirit of supporting loved ones, and seriously missing high school games, I decided to attend as many home games as I could. Since my freshman year, I had only watched half an LU football game, so this was a little new for me. On multiple Saturdays, I made the walk over to the Banta Bowl, expecting to find the regular Lawrence half-filled seats. Don’t get me wrong, people here support the teams, but with the ever busy life of the average Lawrentian, it’s sometimes easier to coop yourself up in your dorm with yet another project due Monday.
Nicky Ulloa (’17 Defensive Back) and I after an LU football win!
However, as the season progressed, I saw little shimmers of how we get our cheer on for those on the fields and courts. Unlike the half a game I watched my freshman year, game days greeted me with the pep band, a group of conies (Conservatory students) who devote half their day to ramping up the energy in the bleachers. I also had the pleasure of enjoying the Lawrence Dance Team half time shows. Although not exactly one of our D3 sports, they received just as much support from the crowd, some attending the whole game because their roommate or friend filled the half time. Buses of students I didn’t expect to see there also arrived, as the shuttle between the Wriston turn-around and the Bowl faithfully made its rounds. There have also been new programs connecting the many sides of LU, including the ACE (aka the LUCC Athletic and Conservatory Engagement Committee). These wonderful people get musicians and athletes alike to attend each other’s functions, and show love for their differing talents.
Couple of besties celebrating on the field!
Often when I mention Lawrence sports, my relatives and friends back home respond with “Lawrence has a ____ team???” not believing our little Liberal arts paradise would have time for such affairs. But, as we gladly announce in every call, Lawrence boasts of our 22 varsity sports. No, we’re not D1 teams that get press and highlight reels shown on sportscenter, but the athletes here train hard, and put 100% into every game day, and it’s our honor to cheer them on. Even us NARPs can get involved in tons of ways, showing our pride for this great school, and every piece of it.