Macalester College - AthleticsCollege Prowler3.08

Athletics:

B-

(explain this grade)

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Athletics Grades:

Quick Stats

Athletic Division

NCAA Division III

Conference

Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)

School Mascot

The Piper

Men Playing Varsity Sports

184 - 23 %

Women Playing Varsity Sports

142 - 18 %

College Prowler Take

Both varsity and intramural sports are there if you want them, but sports are so minor on campus that self-designated “not sports people” can spend the rest of their Macalester careers without ever learning what “IM” stands for. By no means are you going to experience the big crowds and the massive sports pride that you would at a big university. You’ll need to go to a Gophers game at the University of Minnesota, or cross the border into Wisconsin for that.

If you’re looking for an oppurtunity to play on a dedicated team or cheer on at a game without having to pay a ticket price, however, Macalester is the right place for you. Soccer games are particularly popular sporting events at Macalester. The energetic and larger-than-normal crowds—often including many Mac alumni—that draw in the bleachers for soccer games make the fall season one of the most exciting for sports fans and students just looking for a fun night. Men’s basketball is also fairly popular on campus. Football fans may find themselves disappointed, however. Because Macalester is so low-key about sports, many students take the opportunity to play on intramural teams, or join a club sport that they may have no experience with. Diehard sports fans will have no trouble finding other students who share their passion, though. Athletes often form strong bonds and friendships with people on their teams.

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

Anonymous says:

Overall, people don’t pay much...

Overall, people don’t pay much attention to the sports teams, but if you’re into a sport, you can definitely have a good time doing it. The teams seem close, and each team has its group of friends/followers. Soccer has the biggest following. It’s fun to get drunk and go to basketball or tennis games. A good number of people do IM sports, as well.

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Anonymous says:

Sports aren’t a huge strength at...

Sports aren’t a huge strength at Mac, but members of sports teams form strong communities with one another.

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Anonymous says:

Varsity soccer draws spectators,...

Varsity soccer draws spectators, but other than that, this is more of a participate-in-IM sports than a watch-varsity-sports type of campus. It’s pretty easy to get a team together, and some people take the competition seriously, while others are more chill.

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Anonymous says:

Both varsity and IM sports are...

Both varsity and IM sports are fun. The competition in the MIAC isn’t that stiff, so even varsity sports are fun rather than intensely competitive.

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Anonymous says:

Varsity sports are much like club...

Varsity sports are much like club sports because nobody takes them too seriously. However, both are worth getting involved in.

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Interested in
Macalester College?

Facts

Men's Varsity Sports

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field (indoor and outdoor)

Women's Varsity Sports

  • Basketball
  • Cross country
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field (indoor and outdoor)
  • Volleyball
  • Water polo

Intramurals

  • 3-on-3 Basketball
  • 5-on-5 Basketball
  • Basketball
  • Dodgeball
  • Flag Football
  • Kickball
  • Racquetball
  • Soccer (Indoor & Outdoor)
  • Softball
  • Table Tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee (Indoor & Outdoor)
  • Volleyball

Club Sports

  • Climbing
  • Crew
  • Ice Hockey
  • Lacrosse (Women's)
  • Nordic Skiing
  • Rugby
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball (Coed)
  • Water Polo (Men's)

Athletic Fields

  • Macalester’s gymnasium
  • Outdoor Facilities
  • The DeWolfe Boathouse
  • The Gymnasium, Field House, and Leonard Natatorium
  • Walter A. Brown Area Memorial Skating Pavilion

School Spirit

For a small college that’s so low-key about sports, there’s a surprisingly large amount of students wearing Mac shirts, sweatshirts, and sweatpants on campus. There definitely seems to be a sense of school pride at Mac. It’s not the traditional kind of school spirit that brings to mind cheerleaders, rallies, and bursting stadiums at sporting events; rather, it’s a subtle form of spirit where you rarely hear a student say anything negative about Macalester.

Getting Tickets

No need to get tickets; just show up and take a seat in the bleachers. There is always room, even during the popular soccer games, which draw both current students and alumni to the stands.

Most Popular Sports

Soccer is the most popular and most successful team on campus, and the soccer games draw the most fans by far. Otherwise, basketball is fairly popular as well. Most athletes at Mac play for the sake of the game, not because they’re waiting to hear their name chanted by an adoring crowd.

Most Overlooked Teams

Besides soccer and basketball, all of the sports teams are overlooked by potential fans.

Best Place to Take a Walk

Down by the Mississippi River or the Minnehaha Falls area. There are countless other parks and lakes to visit in the Twin Cities.

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