RuthieBarrett

Marian is known for its Class A athletics, but for many girls, the stress of trying out and committing for the whole season can be intimidating. 

There is an alternative, however: intramural sports.

Marian girls have the opportunity to participate in two school sanctioned intramural leagues. 

One is just for Marian girls and Creighton Prep boys, and the other is run by the Five United Neighbors (FUN) committee which includes Creighton Prep, Mount Michael, Duchesne, Marian and Mercy. 

Intramurals at Marian had been around since 2013 and were hosted on Sundays, but ended shortly after due to lack of participation.

 Last year, Mrs. Kris Hennings, the Dean of Students and Coordinator for Intramurals, decided to start it back up again. “We wanted to find something that empowered kids and made them enjoy high school,” said Hennings. Last year, Hennings and a group of girls organized two events, one in each semester. Volleyball was held during the fall and dodgeball was held during the spring. The positive feedback from both Marian and Prep students motivated Hennings to plan more for this year. 

The next event is a volleyball tournament on Nov. 7 from 5-8 p.m. The cost for a team of 10 is $30. Prizes will be given to the best team name, uniform and the winning team.

The FUN committee was created last year to form a greater bond between all the single sex schools. “I think there was a unanimous feeling from students that there should be more interaction between students at the Catholic schools,” Duchesne senior Ivy Welch, who helps run the committee, said. The FUN committee does not just host intramurals but they also have trivia nights and volunteer opportunities. Welch said that the committee hopes to “impact students in a positive way. Maybe that is helping a student feel a little less alone. I hope we can generate a sense of community and make an impact on the Omaha community at large.” The next event is a volunteer opportunity at the Heart Ministry Center in December, with dates to come.

Both of these leagues provide a way to move your body, meet others and create lifelong friendships.