Women’s club soccer, lacrosse and basketball faced challenges with low participation as the 2023-2024 school year progressed. Due to students’ busy schedules, the teams were unable to compete at the level they would have liked.
Trinity’s club sports scene is characterized by over 25 teams, but these teams have shared struggles with maintaining numbers throughout the semester as there is no official commitment to the team. Participation dwindles as students are busy and cannot always commit to the club. Clubs for women’s soccer, lacrosse and basketball all struggled to maintain a full roster last semester. These respective teams are aiming to increase engagement this year.
Women’s club soccer is led by Caia Marcee, sophomore political science major, and Gaby Nieraeth, sophomore marketing and communication double-major. Last year, the team started the semester with a full roster, but numbers dropped to seven girls by October. In games later in the year, facing schools traveling from College Station and Lubbock, they had to play with seven girls per team instead of the standard 11. This year the captains are hoping this will not be an issue.
“As an out-of-state student I knew nobody,” Nieraeth said. “I needed to do something I was comfortable with.”
On the team, Nieraeth met her now roommate and co-captain, Caia Marcee. The team’s leaders would like other girls who join to share a similar positive experience. The captains welcome any skill level and believe it’s a great way to meet people and make new friends.
“We’re trying this year, make the team more of a community, more of a team who stays together and does more than just show up, play a game and leave,” Marcee said.
One of the big issues with club sports is committing time and effort into the sport. This leads many who are doubtful about joining to potentially back out. When asked about how big of a commitment trying the team was, Nieraeth explained there was no one answer, and it is up to each girl.
“The experience is what you make of it,” Nieraeth said. “Whatever you put into it is what you get back.” Due to the acceptance of all skill levels, the team’s competitiveness is not absolute.
Women’s club lacrosse has also struggled with low numbers throughout their season. Captain Sonja Postma, junior math finance and economics double-major, also led the team through the previous season. When asked about why she thought they had issues with recruitment last year, she was able to attribute it to a few reasons.
“I think most people have preconceived notions that it’s kind of an elitist sort of sport, and it requires a lot of equipment,” Postma said. “I think some people are a little scared of trying something so completely new, which I totally understand. … A lot of people are learning for the first time now, and it is a little scary at first, but everyone is so nice and so chill.”
Last semester, women’s club basketball could not form a full team after the first practice. One of the captains, Sophie Preston, sophomore neuroscience major, described issues with maintaining the initial interest. The team was never able to compete against other schools.
“We don’t have a coach. We’re self-run. It’s not gonna be anything like you’ve seen before. We’re just having fun,” Preston said.
Preston explained that the team is very flexible with schedules, but they hope to be able to compete in their conference this year. The team hopes the rise in popularity of women’s basketball in the media will reflect in the club’s numbers.
“Basketball is great, and women in basketball is becoming a bigger thing,” Preston said.”You know? Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, so we should all want to emulate that.”
Even though soccer, lacrosse and basketball are popular and established sports, leaders of all three clubs shared that they are welcome to new players.
