As a member of club tennis, great blog post! :-D. Agree with everything.

It’s exciting to see some positive mention of clubs within the university. Coverage in the DA is much better, and hopefully we can let people know how much club sports benefits everyone, not just those playing.

Playing sports in high school was always a great way to help me stay focused in classes during the day because I had something to look forward to at the end of the day. At WVU, being on the club lacrosse team gives me the same outlet for stress and helps me stay focus on my classes because I know at the end of the day I’m going to be doing something I love. It ultimately sucks that there is so much pride coming from these club teams and we get nothing in return. To stay alive the team needs funding. If we raised our dues, we’d probably just lose team members and the team would no longer be in existence.

Riding for the WVU Snowboard team has been some of the most fun I have had at WVU. However, it’s tough for the team and myself to go to Nationals, which we earn a spot in, when funding is so low. Many other clubs have the same problems. We compete at high levels and earn the right to go to regional and national competition, but the price deters many from competing at the level they have attained.

For a university trying to shed its label as a party school club sports is a perfect way to keep students focused on something other than partying. With regular practices, meetings, and tournaments students have an opportunity to advance themselves as well as learning teamwork through competing in club sports. I think that the university needs to take a better look at the club sports and what all they provide to the students.

I know that the NCAA teams have a large budget because they generate revenue for the school but I believe the club sports offer opportunities to students that cannot be provided by any other source. The school seriously needs to look into the budget for the club sports.
With an operating budget of over $700 million dollars there has to be a way for these teams to get adequate funding. These club teams wear the same colors, practice just as hard, and represent our school just the same as all of the NCAA sports.

So with just $42,500 to split among 22 teams the money doesn’t go all that far to help run these programs. Compared to other notable universities our figures are insanely low. The University of New Hampshire funds its clubs with $378,701, Virginia Tech’s teams recieve $123,000, UCONN gets $268,000 for their clubs, and the University of Vermont recieves $607,500. As you can see, other schools know the value of their club sports and how they can positively infulence the students at their universities. I just wish that our school we see the positive value in our club sports and would help our national caliber teams compete and represnt the school they love.

Club sports is a great way for students to represent WVU. It gives students a sense of pride and team comradery. Among the twenty one club sports many of them are nationally ranked teams. It is unfortunate that the funding for these nationally know teams is so low. Team dues barely cover a small percent of team costs. Every team fundraises and helps in many community services to give back to the city, the county, and the state. These teams work hard practicing in the early morning hours and travel long distance to compete. The passion and determination to succeed is unwaivering within each club. As the president of the Equestrian Club, a club made up of two nationally ranked teams, I strongly urge the University to find a way to give more back to the twenty one clubs that are helping build the positive reputation of WVU.
Go Mountaineers!!

I personally feel that the system in which money gets distributed between sports clubs needs to be fixed before we get any more money. As the system sits right now it does not promote growth in the newer up and coming sports clubs no matter how successful or expensive they are. As of right now, if the sports clubs were to get more money, the majority of it would go to the 3 oldest clubs; even if they dont totally deserve it. As it went this year 3 clubs ended up recieving about 43% of all the money the school gave us(These are not the 3 clubs with the highest budgets nor the 3 highest ranked clubs in their respective sports). That leaves 18 different clubs that get the other 57%. Clearly the current system is flawed and MUST be fixed and or regulated by the school before we get more money

I appreciate the well deserved attention for club sports Jason!
My first semester here at WVU I had a difficult time getting adjusted and thought this college was not for me. In the spring of my freshman year, I joined the WVU Women’s Rugby Team. It has changed my life forever in a positive way. I have my set friends for life, more mental and physical strength and self-confidence.
All of the club sports represent WVU in a very positive aspect and makes others know that WVU is in it to win.
With the correct equipment and less questioning of how we are going to pay for gas to get to our game, we all will be on the road to success? and I know for a fact that that is the path that WVU wants all of it’s students to go down.

Over the past 6 months much more attention has been given to club sports on the WVU campus, this is only because individual clubs, club members, parents, and alumni have made calls and emails to university decision makers, and gotten the SGA involved. I have talked with Jason several times, and myself and others including club sports president Ryan Post, met with senior WVU administration in regards to fields at WVU.

Previous administrations at WVU have not supported club sports, as they have failed to realize that club sports are actually a draw to your campus (until recently, President Garrison, and Craig Walker were supporters)
High school players are searching for schools where they can continue to play the sports they did in high school, but at a non-NCAA level. Elite high school athletes are wanting to come to WVU to play hockey, club soccer, softball, and rugby but the lack of funding and lack of facilities let these athletes go to other schools that WVU competes against (Ohio State, Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers, Radford, JMU). Funding for club sports at these other schools is 10-20 times that of WVU. In addition many of these schools give club sports access to varsity facilities.
As I outlined to a presentation to SGA last April, if WVU was truely committed to club sports they would do the following.
1) Establish a club varsity sports program similar to Penn State with some of the following sports:Men’s Hockey, Women’s Soccer, Men’s Soccer Women’s Equestrian, Women’s Rugby, Men’s Rugby, Women’s Softball with more added later.
Give these sports access to varsity facilities like Milan Puskar stadium, soccer practice fields, and the Caperton center when varsity sports are not using them.
Have the university give each sport a couple of out of state tuition waivers, this way these clubs could bring in 5 or more elite athletes to help their clubs stay competitive (i.e Arkansas State Rugby, Idaho State Rugby)
All the money for club varsity could easily be funded thru WVU Foundation/WVU by a variety of sources including alumni, university donors, university funds. Have the bigger clubs/older clubs in club varsity would open more money for newer clubs. You can’t tell me that there aren’t big time donors who are willing to support club sports!!!
2) Complete the design, fund, and begin building a multipurpose field-turf field at old St. Francis fields for club soccer, club rugby, club softball/baseball.
Again find a donor to put their name on the complex, and secure corporate help.
2a) Redo the intramural fields at hospital with field turf for club ultimate, flag football, and other intramural sports. Again find a donor to put their name on the complex, and secure corporate help. The calls for this to be a parking lot or building for the hospital are counter-productive to WVU’s quality of life
3) Help find the funds to construct a new ice rink at Mylan Park for the club hockey teams. Again find a donor to put their name on the complex, and secure corporate help.
4) Increase SGA and WVU’s funding for other club sports to at least quintuple what it is now ($200,000-$300,000), so we are on par with other universities.

WVU Club sports are currently winning regional championships, competing at national championships, and winning countless tournaments across the country all the while receiving little to no support from the university that we represent. Imagine if WVU actually put money into club sports, and facilities, how many more championships would club sports bring back to Morgantown!!!

Jon Niles
Head Coach WVU Men’s Rugby (UNPAID)

Thanks to everyone who has commented thus far. Please keep them coming!

When I was first elected SGA President, one of the issues I put priority on was club sports.

The issues surrounding funding and field space are ones that the University must address – and are issues I am very committed to pushing.

With the feedback we received at the open forum last Spring (you can read some of the feedback at the SGA mainpage by clicking the Speak Up icon) and the comments on the blog, I think we’re in a good position to make the case to the administration.

In the near future, SGA Governors Tyler Pearson, Ian McCulloch, and I will be sponsoring a resolution to be adopted by SGA asking the administration to begin tackling these issues.

During that meeting, we’ll also ask Ryan Post and others of you to make a presentation.

Thanks again for your comments and keep them coming! This is a very important issue for us to address together.

Competing in the club sports program has had a huge impact on my life as a student here at WVU. I’ve been on the cycling team for several years. It has allowed me to develop from an average athlete to a national level competitor and multi-time state champion. Our club has produced national champions and professional racers. But athletic successes aren’t the most important part of the club sport system.

It is in WVU’s interest to increase club sport funding to be competitive with other schools because it attracts quality, tuition paying students.

In cycling, there are only a handful of varsity programs in the entire country, which means that the vast majority of aspiring cyclists are on club teams just like ours. Each fall, we meet with high school seniors interested in coming to WVU just to race with the team. Some come, but most go to other institutions with better funded clubs. I’m sure that several other clubs are in a similar position. WVU could set itself apart and attract out of state and international students with a stronger club sports program.

Club sports are foremost good for the students, and the cycling club has been a great asset. Contacts within the cycling team helped me get summer internships in the cycling industry, where I plan to seek employment upon graduation. I’ve met a lot of great people, made life-long friends, represented the school at races across the country. I’m proud to pull on the flying WV (even though the university makes us pay to use it on our official uniforms; the licensing proceeds support varisity sports) every weekend and represent our school to the best of my abilities. I know that the hundreds of other club sport athletes are proud to do the same and it makes me very happy that the SGA and administration are recognizing the important contribution non-varsity student-athletes make to the University.

As a first year participant on the cycling team this year, I must say that it has made a huge impact on my life in various ways. Firstly, I’ve found a group with such great cohesion that it has not only inspired me to be a better athlete, but a better all around individual. The deep rooted values of teamwork, helping others, and striving towards constant improvement are preached here in our club sports, and will continue to be. I believe many people who wish to participate in the club sports here at WVU are deterred by the extremely high out of pocket expenses that must be paid by the individual. For example, I’m also planning on racing with the WVU Ski team this winter, and the out of pocket membership cost is $250 to cover just hotels and lift tickets at various events, and this does not include fuel to travel to the events themselves. On the cycling side of things, the average race weekend equates out to anywhere from $40-$80 a weekend to cover fuel and lodging, and we race every weekend from the 2nd weekend of August until the 3rd weekend in October for mountain bike season. I truly feel that we could see more participation in club sports and make them more affordable to the already dedicated individuals that represent this school abroad and wear the flying WV jersey. The benefits of these programs are forever great.

Regards,
-Chad Lowers

AS current co VP of club tennis this is a great post!!! We are doing our job trying to promote competitive and fun tennis on many levels and are proud to represent WVU now and in the future.

My freshman year at WVU, I was a member of the NCAA Women’s Rowing team. Since then, I have gained other interests and am now on both the club cycling and triathlon teams. I think it’s safe to say that the main difference in the experiences I’ve had while participating in a Division 1 sport rather than a club sport is the lack of funding. Club sports are an excellent way to get involved with campus life and represent the University, and athletes who participate in club sports work just as hard as any other athlete on campus. Both cycling and triathlon require expensive equiptment and a lot of travelling, and any extra bit of financial help would make a huge difference to not just the sports I participate in, but in the entire club sports community here at WVU.

This is my second season as a member of the WVU Cycling Club. As a new graduate student last fall to WVU, I was a newcomer to the town, and knew very few people. The cycling club was an excellent way for me to meet people that share my love for cycling, and a great channel for me to become involved in the cycling community in Morgantown. Weekly riding with friends, racing against other colleges, and doing fun raisers with the club have all greatly enhanced my experience here at WVU. Increased funding for clubs such as this would be a great benefit, and allow the clubs to grow as they need too and reach out to more students.

Often times on race weekends, the money aspect keeps some students at home instead of going out and supporting the university at a collegiate race. With more funding would help to alleviate these issues and students would be very thankful for the help.

I am very proud to be a member of the cycling club, and any help that we could get would be very beneficial!

All of the clubs here are great, and they all deserve the proper funding! Please help them out!

It would be a mistake on WVU’s part not to increase club sports funding. In order to be competitive with other schools, the club sports attract quality, tuition paying students that wouldnt normally have the chance to participate in sports elsewhere. There have been numerous instances where we dont have a team to show up at various road races due to other riders’ tight funds. Students have to watch what they do because money is tight and increasing funds would be very beneficial in this respect. It is unfortunate that the funding for these nationally known teams is so low. Team dues barely cover a small percent of team costs. Every team fundraises and helps in many community services to give back to the city, the county, and the state. These teams work hard practicing in the early morning hours and travel long distance to compete. But they are inable to compete because they cant cover the cost. Thanks for your time and consideration.

The presence of a cycling club at WVU influenced my decision to attend this institution. I highly value the opportunity to compete with my peers in collegiate cycling races. A lack of funding is the only thing holding me back from participating in more collegiate races.

Schools with programs committed to their cyclists have the ability to draw a whole range of students capable of winning national titles for their school. If WVU increased their funding for the cycling team it is likely a national champion could one day proudly wear the WVU team jersey, setting the institution heads and shoulders above the rest.

As a member or the Rifle club I am happy to see that there is positive news about club sports. However I can say that many students dont realize that we have a rifle club let alone a rifle team.And I would like to take this chance to put it out there that there is a rifle club. Even though this is a small forum at least some people wil find out that we havea rifle club.