Club sports provide students with new opportunities to discover friendships teamwork and a sense of belonging

Rochester, New York – For many students stepping onto a new campus, finding a place where they feel they belong can be almost as important as their academic goals. At RIT, a surprising number of students are finding that sense of connection through club sports—programs that sit between the high-intensity world of NCAA competition and the laid-back atmosphere of intramurals. With nearly 50 options and about 2,000 participants every year, club sports have become one of the university’s most active and self-sustaining communities.

For Emily Flückiger, a third-year cybersecurity student from Hartford, Conn., joining a club sport wasn’t just about staying active. It was about challenging expectations—something she has been doing for years. She started wrestling in high school, undeterred by the idea that she would be the only girl on the team.

“I was the only girl on the team, and it was tough at first,” said Flückiger. “But once you throw people around a little bit, they give you some respect.”

When she arrived at RIT, she knew she didn’t want to leave the sport behind. Wrestling had become more than a physical workout; it was her escape from stress, a moment to reset between classes and deadlines. This year, she helped launch the RIT Co-ed Wrestling Club, stepping into the role of co-president and helping assemble a growing roster of about 30 student-athletes who share her passion.

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The new club joins a long list of student-driven teams that give the campus its distinctive athletic energy. While the university hosts 24 NCAA teams and a wide range of intramural leagues for casual play, club sports fill the large, flexible middle ground. Some teams practice several nights a week, travel to collegiate competitions, and work with coaches. Others focus more on skill-building and learning. Across the board, the environment is competitive but balanced, giving students a chance to push themselves without the full time commitment of varsity sports.

Competitive club teams—from alpine skiing to sailing—often face opponents from across the region and sometimes the nation. Yet compared with NCAA athletes, club athletes generally have lighter practice schedules, fewer mandatory commitments, and no weekday travel requirements. For many students, that balance creates the perfect athletic setting: serious enough to stay motivated, but manageable alongside demanding academic programs.

The structure of club sports is one of the reasons they feel so personal. Every club is built and run by students themselves. Team members write constitutions, hold elections, arrange practices, book travel, coordinate referees, and run fundraisers. With leadership turning over each year, clubs shift and evolve depending on student interest. Some long-standing teams grow stronger, while new groups emerge—just like the Co-ed Wrestling Club—when students see an opportunity.

“We’re here for the students and we cater to their needs,” said Christopher Terwilliger, associate director of Club Sports and Intramurals. “Club sports are a big reason that a lot of students stay connected to the university. Plus, it’s a great source of experiential learning that they can bring with them to the workforce.”

Support from the university continues to keep pace with this growth. As women’s wrestling gains momentum nationwide, RIT has expanded its facilities to welcome new athletes and new programs. A recently opened Mat Studio inside the Hale-Andrews Student Life Center now serves as the training home for the Wrestling Club, Taekwondo Club, and Judo Club. The dedicated space signals that club sports are not only popular—they are becoming central to student life.

For Flückiger and her co-president, the Mat Studio represents more than just a place to practice. It reflects how quickly RIT responds when students take the initiative to create something meaningful. What began as a personal goal for her—simply finding somewhere to wrestle—has grown into a community where dozens of students can learn, compete, and discover their own confidence.

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Across campus, similar stories play out in club after club: students meeting new friends, learning leadership skills, traveling to competitions, or simply staying active during stressful semesters. While every team has its own rhythm and identity, the common thread is that students find a sense of belonging by building these communities together.

In a college environment where schedules shift, majors change, and new responsibilities constantly appear, club sports give students a steady place to return to—a team, a routine, a group of people who share their interests. And for many, that connection becomes one of the most memorable and defining parts of their college experience.