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Grinnell College
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Grinnell College - Athletics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Athletics

C+
Where does this grade come from?View all Athletics rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Athletics Grades:

Quick Stats

Athletic Association
  • NAA
  • NCAA
Athletic Division NCAA Division III (with football)
Athletic Conferences Football: Midwest Conference
Basketball: Midwest Conference
School Colors Scarlet and black
School Nickname Pioneers
Men Playing Varsity Sports 256 - 34%
Women Playing Varsity Sports 175 - 20%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Aside from basketball, tennis, swimming, and cross country, athletics isn’t a big deal at Grinnell. Few students show up to games unless you're friends with someone on the team—given that so many Grinnellians are on a sports team, everyone has a friend on a squad. Teams try to advertise sporting events as much as possible. The fact that Grinnell is lacking in the stadium department doesn’t help. But the administration just unloaded a huge investment in a brand-new swimming center and athletics facility. The gym is state-of-the-art, and much of campus is becoming sports aficionados. However, even with the athletic policy that anyone can play anything without getting cut, most of the teams are great. They practice hard and play hard.

The big exception to the lax athletic program at Grinnell is the men’s basketball team. The coach has successfully implemented aggressive playing strategies that have led to high-scoring games and consistent victories for the Pioneers. "The system," as it is called, involves a constant full-court press, and any shot taken that isn't a three-pointer is frowned upon. Students love going to games, most commonly with a liberal dose of alcohol in their system. The atmosphere is totally insane! Suddenly, mild-mannered economics majors become a part of a belligerent, jeering crowd. Grinnell students heckle the opposing team to the point that other schools shudder at the thought of having an away game. If you decide to go to the games, here are a few words of advice: be sure to wear red. Be a Pioneer!

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Grinnell Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Athletics at Grinnell College

mendozaj

'15

Pre-Medicine Studies

1.9
C-

No Spirit

The teams are always together, but the games are not that great. The teams lack spirit and the only good team is the basketball team.

Jan 22, 2012

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Athletics at Grinnell College

grinnellian

'15

Chemistry

4.2
A-

Present but Not Overwhelming

Sports are present at Grinnell, and they can become your world; however, the sports do not overwhelm the school or take preference. Coaches know that academics come first and it does not become something where your grades will slip if you join sports. Our athletic facility, the BEAR, is new and wonderful! Anyone can play on most of the teams and there are also IM's and club sports.

Jan 10, 2012

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Athletics at Grinnell College

nguyentu

'14

Mathematics & Statistics

4.6
A

Cool Swimming Pool

Not very many students on campus, so the pool is quiet.

May 21, 2011

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Page 1 of 6

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How popular are varsity sports on campus?

How popular are intramurals and club sports?

How would you describe the athletic facilities?

Facts

Men's Varsity Sports
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
Women's Varsity Sports
  • Basketball
  • Cross country
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball
Intramurals
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Billiards
  • Croquet
  • Dodgeball
  • Flag football
  • Foosball
  • Inner tube water polo
  • Racquetball
  • Rowing (indoor)
  • Soccer
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Tetherball
  • Volleyball (sand)
Club Sports
  • Aikido
  • Archery
  • Baseball
  • Biking
  • Billiards
  • Board games
  • Chess
  • Cricket
  • Cycling
  • Dahorhir swordfighting
  • Dance
  • Darts
  • Diving
  • Equestrian
  • Fencing
  • Four square
  • Gamers
  • Pom squad
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Table tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Water polo
  • Yoga
Athletic Fields & Facilities
  • Baseball diamond
  • Charles Benson Bear '39 Recreation and Athletic Center
  • Darby Gymnasium
  • Fieldhouse
  • Fitness center
  • Les Duke Track
  • Natatorium
  • Rosenbloom Field
  • Softball complex
  • Springer Field
  • Tennis courts

Most Popular Sports

Men’s basketball and ultimate Frisbee

Most Overlooked Teams

Men’s and women’s track and field

School Spirit

School spirit at Grinnell isn’t a very visible phenomenon. You won’t find any cheerleading or pep squads here. There are no Grinnell College parades, and the sports teams are a peripheral anomaly regarding campus life. If you ask a Grinnellian about some aspects of the College, such as dining or diversity, they’re liable to give you a pretty negative response, and sometimes all that complaining can give people the wrong idea. But, if you ask a Grinnellian whether or not they like it here, almost all of them will tell you how much they adore their school. Make no mistake about it: the students who go here are Grinnellians for life, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Getting Tickets

All sports events are free and open to everyone.

Best Place to Take a Walk

Railroad tracks, downtown, and the Grinnell Area Recreation Trail

Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Grinnell

Name: Akshay Bajaj

Hometown: Mumbai, India

Major: Economics

see all student author bios >

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