Intramural Sports Program Lets Johnnies Get In the Game

You do not have to be a Division I recruit to enjoy competitive athletics at St. John’s University. 

Campus Recreation’s intramural sports program offers students, faculty, administration, and staff the opportunity to field teams in basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, and volleyball. All that is required is a valid StormCard, according to Dorothy Longworth, Director of Campus Recreation. 

“No one is turned away, we don’t leave out anyone who wants to play,” Ms. Longworth said. “It is cost-free to students, and we are proud of that. If you want to play softball and need a glove, we will provide you with one, the same with flag football belts and flags.”

The intramural program on the Queens, NY campus dates back decades and seems to grow in popularity each year, according to Hector Blaise ’17CPS, Assistant Director of Campus Recreation. More than 900 students are on rosters in the Fall 2024 semester with games taking place outdoors at Belson Stadium (soccer), DaSilva Memorial Field (flag football, currently undergoing renovations), and Jack Kaiser Stadium (softball); and indoors at Taffner Field House (basketball and volleyball).       

All sports are open to male and female athletes, and soccer, softball, and volleyball require mixed-gender rosters. Basketball teams compete in competitive and recreational divisions, while the other sports are competitive only.

Building Friendships Through Intramural Sports at St. John’s University 

Seasons begin at the start of each semester and conclude with playoffs before final exams start. Teams compete for the prized “intramural champion” T-shirts.

“The most important thing has been the friendships I have built,” said first-year Criminal Justice student Erika Seymore, a former high school varsity soccer and basketball player in Hershey, PA, who competes in both sports in St. John’s intramural program. “If I did not play these sports, I would not know as many people as I do.”

Competitive motivations differ from student to student, particularly in basketball, players said. Some players prefer to test themselves in a highly competitive environment; others prefer a less intense, more social atmosphere. Regardless, Campus Recreation has a fit for any athlete who wants to participate.

“The attitude of my team is, we want to have fun more than anything else,” said Aston Bonitto, a sophomore Biology major, who is the captain of a basketball team that plays in the recreational division. “It gives us as students an escape from the stress of assignments and exams.”

Teams can register and view schedules and standings online. Campus Recreation will find a team for any student who registers as a solo “free agent,” Mr. Blaise said.

“Some players—maybe they played in high school—want a higher level of competition,” Mr. Blaise said. “Others want to have fun, score a few baskets, and stay in shape.” 

“They are probably not going to walk on to the Red Storm Men’s or Women’s Basketball teams,” Mr. Blaise continued. “But it is fun and a chance to compete. It is also a release for students from classes and a chance to associate with other students.” 

In addition to its five intramural sports, Campus Recreation offers dodgeball tournaments and open gym nights. Among those participating in Fall 2024, intramurals is University Chaplain Rev. Hugo Medellin, C.M. ’05C, who plays on a volleyball team named “Tutis” and a soccer team named “Los Pollos Hermanos,” Spanish for “The Chicken Brothers.” 

“It is great for the students to see me in a less formal setting,” Fr. Medellin said. “I also think it is an integral part of student development. Students enjoy healthy stress relief, develop friendships, and gain what they need to perform better at school. It is such a good feeling to be part of that process.” 

Making Intramural Sports Fun at St. John’s University, Queens Campus

Intramural games are typically played on weekday evenings when campus venues are most available. Outdoor events begin at 8 p.m. except Friday softball games, which can start as early as 4 p.m. Scheduling tends to favor students who live in the Residence Village or off-campus housing, but commuter students are well represented. “We have no problem attracting students,” Ms. Longworth said.

Student workers serve as game officials, taught in the nuances of the rules by Mr. Blaise, who serves as head women’s basketball coach at Queensborough Community College. Mr. Blaise occasionally brings experienced officials to campus to share pointers with the student referees.

Among the teams in intramural basketball is a collection of Red Storm basketball managers who are lightly coached by Red Storm players Brady Dunlap and Simeon Wilcher. Members of the Red Storm Men’s Basketball team competed in dodgeball during the Spring 2024 semester. Red Storm Men’s Soccer team members fielded an intramural basketball team in Spring 2024.  

Mr. Blaise is always conjuring up ways to enhance the spirit of the intramural program. For students searching for a team, he conducts a semi-serious “free-agent combine” similar to the National Football League Scouting Combine, in which students demonstrate their abilities to teams needing extra players. Challenges can include three-on-three basketball games, skills demonstrations, and more. 

Teams then select from among available players, with the top selection earning bragging rights as St. John’s “No. 1 pick.” 

Mr. Blaise also encourages teams to come up with creative names for themselves. Some of his favorites include the “Papa Johnnies” basketball team—a reference to the University and the Papa John’s pizza chain—“Aaron Boone’s Barnyard” softball team—named after the New York Yankees manager—and the “Torta Pounders” soccer team, a tribute to the celebrated McDonald’s hamburger.

Selecting the perfect name for your team can be half the fun, Erika said. Erika plays on a soccer team called “Island Freakz,” where most players share Caribbean heritage.

Aston, meanwhile, plays for an intramural team whose name references a chicken restaurant not far from his New Jersey hometown. 

“Naming your team is like naming your fantasy football team,” Erika said. “It makes us smile when people say it’s a cool name.”