If you like hockey, UNH is most definitely your place. The University is home to the Wildcats, a perennial powerhouse in Division I hockey for a long time. Unfortunately, hockey tends to overshadow many other varsity sports that the University has to offer. UNH is competitive in football, soccer, track and field, volleyball, basketball, and alpine skiing, and also boasts one of the best intramural programs in New England. Hockey draws the most students to its games, but ultimately, no matter which sport you choose to play, you will always have students cheering you on.
Intramural sports are a big deal to the students of UNH. While those who win don’t get any endorsements or signing bonuses, they do get a T-shirt and just about all the respect you could ever need. Many dorms, fraternities, sororities, student organizations, and good friends go for the glory each year. The Department of Residential Life hosts a contest, called the Cat Cup, between all the dorms on the campus. The basic premise is to see who can do the best in the most intramural sports. Points are awarded for the number of intramural sports you play, and more points are awarded if you do well in those sports. Programs like this seem to boost student participation tremendously. Although varsity athletes are not allowed to participate, the competition tends to be very fierce. Overall, the students at UNH aren’t about big national titles—it’s about getting their chance to show off some skills. Despite their participation, students still save time to cheer the Wildcats hockey team to the national championship each year.