The power to unite

Posted by admin on Sep 1, 2006 in Sports | 0 comments

Trinity Western University, the campus you’ve become a part of, is home to unadulterated athletic intensity. We’re loud, we’re proud, and we’re really loud. You read me right, loud times two with some pride sandwiched in-between like a palatable cookie treat. Why are TWU athletics being ranked with the likes of humanity’s favourite milk dipping creation? Well I’ll tell you why not. Not because they’re the same colour, that’s why not. And not because Mr. Christie has invited blueberries and maple walnuts to come together in a cookie configuration anytime soon. So just forget it. I will, however, give you four irrefutable benefits to watching the blue and gold rather than sitting in dorms whilst plopping an Oreo into any percent of milk.

If TSN means anything to you, you may have encountered the intensity of TWU athletics already: last March the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) volleyball championship between our Spartans and the defending U of A Golden Bears was broadcast. Having met in the finals before, the rematch had players “anticipating a five-set thriller” (Jeff Lindemulder) yet again. This was only partially prophetic; fans witnessed our complete domination over the Golden Bears in every aspect of the game. The result was an exciting straight set victory and the first national championship for our men.

If such teeth-grinding intensity blows your hair back, there’s more than volleyball.Such a high calibre of talent is characteristic of our CIS and club teams.

Men and women’s soccer teams have captured Bronze and Gold respectively at the national level in the recent past. The men’s basketball team faces stiff rivalries in the playoffs, calling for incredible crowd support at away venues. Our club hockey and soccer teams have shown themselves superior in skill in their respective leagues capturing tournament titles.

Regardless of the league they’re a part of, TWU athletes have proven themselves highly skilled and successful. And talent like that is something we can be proud of.

Perhaps more than our other programs, athletics allows TWU to be part of our world. Certainly there are other powerful and meaningful venues to be a part of, such as ministry and political groups; but the quality unique to athletics is its grand in scale. Yes, graduation is big, but graduation is also boring. We need events and accomplishments to be excited about as a community. Cheering on our teams with a common pride creates, if for only an hour, a bond held by the entire campus, and, in turn, gives us a taste for such camaraderie in other events and missions. This is the power of sport to unite.

With your fellow students you will cheer and boo, throw paper airplanes and ride tricycles; you will snuggle up close to them under a blanket during an evening soccer game, and sit beside them on a late-night bus trip back from UBC during the playoffs. It is this group, a diverse montage packed closely together with one heart and purpose, that will ultimately bring TWU athletics to life. So whether you roar on the baseline with the “Spartan Faithful” or clap in the nose-bleeds while asking why the whistle blew, just remember: Oreos have nothing on this.