While many Butler University students like to watch men’s basketball games and try their hand in self-officiating, only a select few actually get the opportunity to take part in the real deal.

Students are getting that opportunity at the Health and Recreation Complex through the intramural program.

Student officials have to go through a two-day training period to become an official, said Emily Gadzichowski, intramural supervisor.

They spend one day in a classroom and one day in on-court training before getting experience in practice games at the HRC.

Colin Holmes, intramural supervisor, said they recruit officials to go through training via social media and callout meetings.

Holmes said the supervisors are in charge of off-court operations and leave it to officials to take care of games.

“We check out a lot of jerseys, we check and make sure scorecards and everything are right, (and) any type of injuries or misconducts are our main duties,” Holmes said. “And then if we see any way we can help out the refs off the court. That’s what we try to do.”

Senior official Jon Collar said he wanted the job because of his love for sports.

“I’ve been doing this for about three years,” Collar said. “I just really like sports, and it seemed like a good job on campus.”

Collar, who primarily officiates basketball and football games, said officiating events can be an exciting experience.

“It depends on the sport and who’s playing, but it can get pretty intense,” Collar said.

Sophomore official Austin Del Priore said he enjoys the experience of the on-campus job but isn’t sure whether he would like to continue officiating after college.

“We spend a lot of time training, and to get to the next level is pretty competitive, probably more than people realize,” he said.

Though it’s merely at the intramural level, most players seem to think the officials do a good job.

“Obviously they’re amateur officials,” Foster said. “They’re not doing a full-time job, but I feel like they’re doing a pretty good job. I’ve witnessed some training in the past, and they do a pretty strenuous process. And I think they do a pretty good job for the situation given.”

Two champions were crowned at the intramural fields Sunday afternoon as the co-recreational and men’s softball tournaments came to a close.

Photo by Reid Bruner

Miracle on 38th St. won the co-recreational tournament championship game 5-1 over 633/Coliseum.

The title is the second consecutive tournament championship the team won.

“A bunch of us have been playing all four years,” senior team member Scooter Stein said. “About one half to two-thirds of this team played last year.”

The winners of the men’s softball tournament were the members of Slob, who defeated Angels in the Outfield 6-1.

Many of the players on Slob said they have been waiting four years to finally earn an intramural championship.

“We lost in the championship game freshman and sophomore years and lost last year in the first round,” senior team member Matt Foor said.

After coming close to securing an intramural title twice, Foor said he and his teammates were worthy of this year’s championship.

“The guys played hard and worked hard,” Foor said. “They deserved it.”

Softball was not the only intramural event still going on last week.

The four surviving teams of the men’s dodgeball tournament were ultimately cut down to one Thursday night at the Health and Recreation Center.

Average Joe’s defeated Fly Spy in the first semifinal match, and Great Balls of Fire advanced to the title game by outlasting Delt Seniors in the second match.

Photo by Reid Bruner

With the championship match set, the tournament concluded with a result reminiscent of the film “Dodgeball.”

Life imitated art as Average Joe’s defeated Great Balls of Fire to take the men’s dodgeball championship.

In the finale of the co-recreational dodgeball tournament Thursday night, The Rookies were victorious over Heavyweights.

The intramural fields buzzed this weekend as the annual intramural softball tournaments began Sunday.

The men’s and co-recreational tournaments were contested, and participating teams played until a pair of championship matchups were determined.

Eight teams participated in each of two concurrently running tournaments, which have been a staple of Butler’s intramural calendar for the past five years.

Teams were required to have a minimum of six players, and co-recreational teams had to have at least three female and three male players.

Junior intramural supervisor Adam Durm, who is in his second year of supervising softball tournaments, said the softball competitions have proven to be one of the most popular intramural sports each school year.

“I’d definitely say it’s up there because it’s a one-day tournament,” Durm said. “It’s hard to get a team in the tournament. Basketball and football are always going to be popular sports, but softball is definitely up there.”

Many participants cited the relaxed atmosphere of playing in an intramural tournament as the reason they decided to play.

“It’s fun and competitive playing with your friends,” freshman Chris Morano said. “It’s a good time because there’s not so much pressure, but it’s still competitive.”

Taking time away from classwork around the hectic end of the semester was another motive behind playing in Sunday’s tournaments.

“It’s a reason to take a break from homework, blow off some steam and just relax with some of your friends,” sophomore Nick Neulieb said.

Competitors who played softball or baseball in high school said they were also looking to rekindle the feelings of their old playing days.

“I’m probably not good enough to play intercollegiate sports, so it’s a way to go out there and compete,” freshman Alan Butler said. “I’ve played a lot of slow-pitch softball at home in the summer, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Some students said they have participated in other intramural sports both in the spring and fall months.

“I’ve played flag football, Frisbee, basketball, volleyball, and I ran in the 5k,” sophomore Ryne Brothers said.

A pure desire to compete and the chance to get to know your friends are reasons Durm said students enter intramural contests.

“[I think it’s] their love of sports and love of competition,” Durm said. “You get to meet people, and you get to know your opponents and your teammates a little better.”

Another reason for participation could be the thrill of victory. While some teams got to experience this feeling Sunday, neither tournament has an official winner yet.

The co-recreational bracket featured eight teams, and the men’s bracket had six competing teams.

Miracle on 38th Street and 633/Coliseum will face off for the co-recreational title while Angels in the Outfield and Slob will compete for the men’s title.

Both contests will take place tomorrow night.

With the school year winding down and final exams getting closer, intramural dodgeball and cornhole could not come at a better time for some students.

The two sports will wrap up a spring intramural season that also included basketball, soccer and two still-to-be-completed softball tournaments, among other competitions.

Dodgeball got under way yesterday, with first- and second-round matches being played for one of two tournaments. The results of these matches were unavailable at press time.

The men’s tournament, which started yesterday, saw 16 teams competing for the top spot while the co-recreational tournament featured eight teams.

Freshman Rebecca Pokrandt, the captain of the co-recreational team Kung Fu Pandas, said she has participated in a number of intramural sports this school year and “figured I’d sign up for dodgeball.”

“[Intramurals are] a good way to meet new friends, and it’s always nice to do new things with friends,” Pokrandt said.

Sophomore Michael Strauss is the captain of the men’s team ZOLTON and said he has liked playing dodgeball since middle school.

“I thought it would be a great way to bond with my friends,” Strauss said. “I have never participated in a tournament here, but I’m eager to see how they run it and how competitive it will be.”

Of the 16 teams in the men’s tournament, 12 competed in at least one game yesterday. The other four teams will begin play today.

The semifinals and finals for the tournament will be contested Thursday.

As for the co-recreational tournament, teams will play tomorrow until two squads remain. Those two groups will play for the championship Thursday as well.

All dodgeball games will take place at the Health and Recreation Complex.

Intramural cornhole was broken down into three tournaments—men’s, women’s and co-recreational—and will be the final event of the spring intramural season.

Cornhole, which is also known as bags, beanbags and bag toss, sees two teams of two attempt to score points by throwing small beanbags at wooden boards.

A centered hole is featured toward the top of each board, and players are typically awarded three points for sending a beanbag through the hole and a single point for landing a beanbag on the board.

Sophomore Alexis Merkley, who is part of duos in the women’s and co-recreational divisions, said she plays cornhole at home and participated in last year’s event.

Sophomore Katie Keirn is part of a team in the co-recreational tournament and said cornhole draws interest because it is a different sport than many others.

“Someone who might not be super athletic or super competitive in mainstream sports can come and play [cornhole],” Keirn said.

All three cornhole tournaments will be contested on April 24.

As of press time, eight teams are confirmed to compete in the co-recreational division, 16 teams are listed in the men’s competition and four teams are scheduled to compete in the women’s division.