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Monday, 6/23/97 Exercising your options CLUB: Myriads of classes, sports offer activities for every Bruin's taste

By Rocky Salmon Daily Bruin Staff UCLA is known for its strong diversity. From the contrasting architecture between North and South campus to the variety of sports offered to UCLA students, the campus is a breeding ground for variety. This variance is reflected in the great number of athletic options there are for UCLA students. Varsity sports may get all the attention at UCLA, but the clubs and intramural (IM) leagues engage most of the Bruin population: over 16,000 students participate in IM sports in one year. During the academic year, the Wooden Center offers recreation classes, IM leagues and club sports for a small fee. Club sports are offered in snow, ice, water, mountain and grass fields. During the winter, Bruins participate in snowboarding and ice hockey. All other clubs - ranging from lacrosse to ballroom dancing - are offered throughout the school year. This year, Bruin club teams won championships in cycling and men's gymnastics - both repeat performances. Men's lacrosse and women's rugby made it to the playoffs after surprising seasons in which both teams dominated their respected leagues. Moreover, club sports attract a variety of levels of competition, ranging from beginning to advanced levels. For example, the cycling team has an A, B and C squad, where each member participates in every tournament in their perspective field. "There is something for everyone," cyclist Judy Hue said. "I started off not knowing how to cycle but immediately I was racing in the tournaments. It is just a great feeling racing with your friends." For club sports, the emphasis is not only placed on winning but also on camaraderie. The teams are not supported by the school, but they provide students with a chance to meet people and exercise. "Our team goes out and plays with their hearts every game. There is no quitting on the field," Corey McLain, an ultimate frisbee player, said. "But winning is not the most important part. It is fun going out and playing with fellow students." This summer there will be numerous club events, such as rock climbing, sailing, cycling, table tennis and windsurfing. For water sport activities, UCLA has a Marina Aquatic Center located in the Santa Monica Bay. The Center offers several classes on sailing, canoeing and windsurfing, with levels ranging from beginner to expert. The intramural leagues consist of soccer, basketball, football and many others during the school year, but this summer there will be three leagues in which students can participate. A coed softball and a 3-on-3 basketball league will be offered during the month of July. From July to August there is a 4-on-4 sand volleyball league for all those who wish to join. Have you ever wanted to learn how to do martial arts or dance ballet? The recreation classes offer what you are looking for. Most classes are held in the Men's Gym, the Dance Building or the Wooden Center. These classes are non-competitive and instructive. The recreation classes are broken down into seven categories: Martial arts, fitness, dance, the arts, sports, swimming and tennis. The dance classes, which include unique options such as hip-hop, universal swing and ballet, are a fun way to exercise and learn. Each dance class is offered to beginners and teaches students how to do the most famous dance steps in the assigned area. The martial arts class is one of the most popular options, with classes including Tang Soo Do to kung fu. Each class conditions the mind and body in a different way, especially Tang Soo Do, where the emphasis is on physical strength. The fitness classes are another favorite because of the vigorous workouts they offer. Running and hiking classes take place everywhere from inside the Wooden Center to planned excursions to local parks. For rock climbing aficionados, a newly constructed rock climbing wall is scheduled to open this summer. Swimming classes are offered year-round. These classes give participants a chance to swim in the same pool as the world champion UCLA water polo teams. Tennis recreation classes are offered at the Los Angeles Tennis Center (LATC), the same courts the Bruin team plays on. Classes are offered throughout the day for beginners to the extremely advanced. The sports classes offer the most diverse activities, from polo to in-line skating. Many activities take place off-campus, but rides are offered from the Blue Bus Transit line to shuttles. If you cannot find the class you want to be in, all it takes is 10 people with a common love and the Wooden Center is willing to designate a class in your interest. It is up to the students to decide what type of sport they are interested in establishing. Students are responsible for picking and choosing the leaders of their sports team and who runs the class. There are still more athletic events taking place throughout the summer. Many sports have weekend tournaments for those who can not participate in leagues or classes. On the Fourth of July, there is a backpacking expedition to Mineral King. The Marina Aquatic Center is holding a Labor Day racing tournament for anyone who wishes to participate. UCLA is so rich in variety that every student is allowed the opportunity to play sports, practice dancing, or learn Taekwando. There is a little something for every student no matter what the interest is. Exercise, friends and winning are three words that sum up the IM and club experiences at UCLA. The school has slowly emerged as a powerhouse in club sports and hopes to continue by influencing incoming students. "UCLA has started to grow the past few years in athletic competition but if no one participates then it is hard to maintain it," Amy Tobaggi, president of women's lacrosse, said. "We are not a varsity club so we cannot recruit players. We play for fun and because we have that, we want to win." If you are interested in participating in any of the sports, contact the John Wooden Center at (310) 206-8307. (above) Keith Henderson, a student in the School of Dentistry, is a member of the cycling team.