RecSports: Our Best of 2023
A lot happens in 365 days on the Forty Acres, and at RecSports, there’s always something going on. We picked 10 of the moments this year that have stuck with us as we look ahead to 2024. From new spaces to new faces, here are the best moments of 2023 at RecSports.
Pickleball on the Forty Acres
It’s no secret that pickleball may be the biggest craze in the United States, and we didn’t want to be left behind! RecSports brought pickleball to the main UT Campus, adding four courts to the Caven-Clark Courts. We even created a hub for all things pickleball so that, even if you’ve been living under a rock, you can start playing. The craze shows no signs of stopping, as evidenced by the over 500 singles and doubles teams that participated in intramural pickleball this year. If there’s one thing we know about 2024, it’s that pickleball will be part of the journey.
2023 RecSports Scholarship Recipients
Each year, RecSports has the pleasure of awarding 17 deserving student-employees over $37,000 in scholarships, thanks to many generous alumni and donors. This year, we selected and celebrated another outstanding group of students who represent all areas of RecSports. While many of these students have since graduated, their contributions are still felt throughout the department.
Poker Walk is Reborn as RecSports Recharge
This year, we refreshed the annual Poker Walk event for faculty and staff with new movement-based activities using a drop-in model to best fit faculty and staff schedules. RecSports Recharge gave UT faculty and staff an opportunity to visit Gregory Gym, participate in a variety of activities, earn rewards, and build community with their colleagues. Over 400 participants spent the afternoon moving together and celebrating the end of another successful term.
Texas Taekwondo and UT Weightlifting Win National Championships
Our Sport Clubs are no strangers to success on the national stage. This April, Texas Taekwondo won its fourth consecutive and fourth overall national championship at the National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships in Boulder, CO. UT Weightlifting also brought home the hardware with team and individual titles at USA Weightlifting Nationals this July in Colorado Springs, CO.
In true UT fashion, the Tower was lit to honor these clubs’ success.
RecSports Staff Recognized for 175 Combined Years of Service
When the President’s Office shares their Staff Service & Outstanding Staff Awards, it’s a safe bet that RecSports will be well represented. This year, nine full-time staff were recognized for their years of service. Collectively, these valued members of our team have served the University for 175 years. In addition, one RecSports student employee was recognized as a finalist for the Student Employee of the Year Award.
Welcoming the UT Class of 2027
This summer, over 8,800 incoming freshmen Longhorns descended on campus, eager to learn about their home for the next four years. We spent the summer meeting with new students to share the opportunities RecSports offers, and we can surely say that the Class of 2027 is a lot of fun! Each week, we hosted Rec@Nite, opening the doors of Gregory Gym to let students get a taste of what awaited them in the fall. We’re already counting down the days until we meet the Class of 2028 next summer!
Evolving the Gregory Gym Basement
As the first part of a series of facility improvements, RecSports expanded functional training opportunities by adding more functional training stations in the FIT Studio, located on the basement level of Gregory Gym. The new space features two racks with a variety of functional training tools. Lynne Kammer, a personal trainer at RecSports, authored a blog post detailing the importance of functional training.
RecSports Ambassador Marianna Deynzer spoke with the Division of Student Affairs about the ever-evolving space for a recent episode of the Living the Longhorn Life®️ podcast. Give it a listen below!
The next phase of improvements will open in spring 2024, with the addition of a new powerlifting space, added lighting and audio/visual features to the FIT Studio, and the Golf+ Simulator.
Party on the Plaza Reaches New Levels of Participation
Every year, RecSports hosts Party on the Plaza, welcoming students back to the Forty Acres. The event features a student organization and campus resource fair, a scholarship shootout, and a variety of activities. In its 25th year, Party on the Plaza, presented by American Campus Communities, welcomed 333 student organizations and 21 university departments to share involvement opportunities and resources. The annual Scholarship Shootout, presented by University Federal Credit Union, drew a record number of participants, with 268 of nearly 800 students advancing to the finals. Two winners emerged, receiving a $2,500 scholarship and $1,000 from UFCU.
Hall of Honor Class of 2023
Founded in 2017, the RecSports Hall of Honor recognizes individuals and groups who have had a significant impact on RecSports throughout its long history. Among the 2023 honorees are individuals and teams with outstanding accomplishments in intramural sports, former RecSports employees, and adventure trip guides who have led trips for the program for over 30 years. We were honored to celebrate this year’s class and their families at our annual Hall of Honor Awards Cocktail.
Intramural Flag Football Takes the Field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
An intramural championship game is already a pretty big deal, but playing on the same field as so many Longhorn greats? Unforgettable. This fall, our flag football championships were played in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and wow, it was a fun night! Teams showed out and brought along a great crowd of fans.
