By: Matthew S. Taylor
Southern Adventist University’s intramural program is in full swing, with both softball games and doubles tennis matches beginning over the past two weeks. Students and employees are taking advantage of the chance to enjoy a wide variety of sports while building friendships and demonstrating good sportsmanship through a Christian attitude.
Students appreciate the chance to play sports with like-minded peers. “Intramurals have been an amazing experience for me,” said junior film major Jayden Cushing. “It has taught me what Christian competition looks like as well as shown me how to work together and overcome challenges as a team.”
Faculty and staff also can enjoy the chance to play alongside students and coworkers. Professor Pablo Fernandez of the School of Journalism and Communication shares, “My experience as a faculty member involved in intramurals at Southern summarizes the concept of bonding”.
Fernandez, who plays on a futsal team each year with other faculty and students, explained that competing with students helps professors and staff build stronger connections. “It gives us a chance to connect deeper with the students you are involved with. That could lead into fuller and deeper conversations, whether that’s in a professional setting, a spiritual setting or a mentorship setting at Southern.”
Alumni also look back at intramurals fondly. Leilani Darnell, a 2025 alum said, “I didn’t play intramurals until softball my senior year. It was a fun and low-stress study break, and I could also meet new friends and catch up with old ones. Looking back, I wish I had participated in intramurals more!”
Even community members and students from nearby schools have noticed Southern’s program. Blake Shelley, a student at Chattanooga State Community College, said, “Southern’s intramurals stand out because they’re well-organized and always have a good showing.”
The Fall 2025 semester features not only softball and doubles tennis, but also futsal, flag football and floor hockey. Futsal team and flag football signups have already opened, with the season starting Sept.15 and Sept. 24, respectively.
During the second half of the semester, floor hockey signups will begin Oct.13, with the season starting Nov. 3. Basketball will not begin until the winter semester, but students will be able to register their teams Nov. 23.
Students and employees will also get the chance to participate in a variety of tournaments. The annual “For Love of the Game” softball tournament will run through the night of Sept. 27. The Evangelistic Resource Center (ERC) will host its futsal tournament Oct. 4. Later in the semester, there will also be a 3-v-3 basketball tournament Nov. 8, with signups opening Oct. 19.
