Campus Recreation News

The Mountaineers placed first in two divisions at the virtual championships, and did it in style!

The WVU Dance Team took home the championship title at the 2021 NDA D1A Virtual National Championships last week, winning their first title in over a decade! Despite CDC restrictions, an all-virtual competition, and choreography that has been put on hold for over a year, these dancers were able to pour their hearts into their performance and come out on top.

The team consists of 28 dancers, each with years of dance experience under their belt. With 16 veterans and 12 rookies, this well-balanced team was more than capable of pulling off a win. The choreography for the dances performed at Nationals was crafted during the Fall 2019 semester. With the sudden occurrence of lockdown in Spring 2020 and further restrictions to be put into place from that point on, the dances were put on hold. It wasn’t until March 1st of this year that the team was allowed to meet in person, and even then the looming threat of the pandemic made its way onto the dance floor. The two dances, on top of needing to be taught to rookies and re-learned by veterans, could now only consist of ten socially distanced dancers. These restrictions prevented the team from performing as they typically would, forcing them to make many adjustments in a short amount of time. But despite these challenges, the girls were more committed than ever. Practicing for 2-3 hours on multiple days a week, the team worked hard to make their dances competition ready. Fourth-year veteran Gillian Wanosky spoke highly of the team’s efforts, saying “each dancer gave 100% commitment at practices to make up for lost time, and our coaching staff put in countless hours outside of practice so that we could be productive when fixing the dance.”

Through balancing coursework, jobs and extracurriculars, being a tired college student is seemingly inevitable. All too often, students turn to sugary caffeinated beverages to combat their case of fatigue. Though, developing a dependence on caffeine is not without its drawbacks. Luckily, there are a variety of healthy habits students can implement to kick their caffeine fix to the curb.

Focus on food

Our Mountaineer faculty, staff and students are capable of wonderful things, and Stephanie Calhoun, the WVU Campus Rec Coordinator of Competitive Sports, as well as Gabriela Jasek, the WVU Campus Rec Graduate Assistant for Operations and Events, are proof of that. Through their hard work and vigorous election process, they were both elected to NIRSA, a “nonprofit membership organization that provides resources and education for advancing campus recreation.” This is a huge achievement, and we can trust that Calhoun and Jasek will make WVU and West Virginia proud.

Stephanie Calhoun has been elected to NIRSA’s West Virginia State Director, where she will connect NIRSA members of West Virginia as well as connect West Virginia to other states in Region II. She will also help coordinate the WV State Workshop, lead state check-ins and provide opportunities for members to be involved in the association. When asked how her role as Coordinator of Competitive Sports here at WVU has prepared her for this position, she answered, “I believe that my role has helped me learn to coordinate and collaborate with others, especially large groups of people. I think that is a skill that will translate well...Our state has a lot to offer and I am excited to help facilitate that. I hope to continue the growth and momentum that has been brought to the state association over the past few years.”

Have you ever wanted to go mountain biking or kayaking but don’t have the equipment? Mobile-Try It has that covered.

Morgantown is a great place for adventure. West Virginia is full of mountains, trails and water and we have it all right here. Some of the best ways to enjoy these things are mountain biking or kayaking. But as a student here at WVU, these things can be difficult to obtain. The equipment can get pricey and dorms and apartments can be too small to store them away.

Make 2021 your year to have some wild and wonderful fun outdoors. Adventure awaits you this Spring and Summer. After a long, hard Winter inside, there is no better time to plan thrilling journeys outside, where you can stay socially distant while still having the time of your life. While hiking is always fun, why not make these adventures more interesting by picking up a new and exciting hobby? Don’t learn by trial and error; instead, attend an Adventure WV Workshop to learn the basics and find the recreational activity perfect for you.

Have you ever wanted to kayak but want to be sure to do it safely? Join a roll session.

Here in West Virginia, we have some of the best areas for whitewater in the nation. The Mountain State is filled with countless world-class quality rapids, and the weather is often perfect for water sports. In fact, some would say it’s even a lifestyle for those adventure driven people living in these mountains.

With Spring here and Summer on its way, it is time to get moving and #FindYourFit!

WVU Campus Recreation will be offering the return of Intramural Sports this spring. These activities are a great way to stay active and social, all while staying safe.

2v2 Spikeball will be available for registration on January 19th on the WVU Campus Rec website. Gameplay will begin on Monday, February 1st, with games taking place on Mondays and Thursdays. This will continue for the duration of a 3 week season, followed by 2 weeks of playoffs. Spikeball is a casual sport that is easy to learn and can be enjoyed by players of any athletic ability.

John Burkhart and Chris Bailey discuss the trials and triumphs of opening a new business in the midst of a pandemic

Fayetteville, W.Va is one of the“coolest small towns” in America. It has water, adventures and a not so secret sandwich hub.

It was a rainy, oddly chilly day in June, but there were still loads of hungry people waiting outside to order from a secret place in Fayetteville, W.Va. Usually, people gather there at the end of their adventurous day at the New River or once they’re tired and barely dragging from playing in the lake at ACE Adventure Resort.