Carleton University is adding some new competitive clubs to its athletic program for the 2014-15 year.
As a function of the new combined administration between the Carleton Unviersity Students’ Association (CUSA) and Carleton Athletics, there is enough grant money to support four new competitive clubs on campus. The new clubs are tennis, Quidditch, cricket, and powerlifting.
The club roster has a wide variety of sports including cheerleading, figure skating, and badminton.
These clubs compete against other universities just as any varsity-level team would, such as football and basketball.
Carleton currently has eight varsity teams, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s football, and women’s rugby. Each of these compete at the national Canadian Interuniversity Sport level, unlike the competitive clubs which participate in provincial championships through the Ontario University Athletics.
Carleton athletic director Jennifer Brenning said student interest is the primary generator of these new activities.
“Our whole objective with the club program is to provide competitive participation opportunities that are not as highly intense as the varsity teams,” she said.
Brenning added while these competitive clubs have tryouts, they are open to all students.
“We want the clubs to be healthy, and have a healthy roster size,” she said. “We want students to meet new people, make new friends, and have a positive experience.”
Brenning explained this upcoming school year is the first year under the newly- joined administration between CUSA, Athletics, and the Graduate Student Association.
“We gave grants to clubs, and CUSA gave grants to clubs, and now that we’ve combined, there’s more funding for additional clubs,” she said.
The Ravens powerlifting club are holding open tryouts Sept. 15-19 in the old varsity gym as a way of breaking in their new competitive status, and the Quidditch team will also be having a tryout Sept. 19 at Ravens Road Field.
