Rough team treading under the radar

YPSILANTI, Mich.-Eastern Michigan University's women's water polo team just wrapped up their season on April 9. But who knew there was a water polo club?

The club was founded in 2002, by former EMU swimmers, students--including coach Lindsay Barber--and friends. Now they are under the leadership of president Amy Johnson and vice-president Ashley Grady.

The club mainly flies under the campus radar, but the players spend the majority of the school year training for their season, which runs from January to April. Starting in September, the team was at the Michael H. Jones Natatorium twice a week training for the spring.

Once the season started, and the women adjusted to their first female coach, they shifted their focus to their upcoming tournaments.

"Our first tournament was at Grand Valley (State University)," Johnson said. "We did well, but that was more of a learning experience for the team."

Rough team treading under the radar

More girls are getting down and dirty

YPSILANTI, Mich.- Dirty fingernails and scrapped knees are no longer reserved for boys' sports. More girls are donning cleats and getting rough, rugby style.

Rugby, once thought to be a man's sport, is gaining popularity among girls at the high school, college and recreational level.

According to a recent article by Sapna Pathak of boston.com, more girls are learning the finer points of tackling and rushing the field, without the use of protective gear.

Girls are signing up for more and more full- contact sports, such as lacrosse, wresting, ice hockey and rugby, Pathak said.

The article said rugby's popularity in high schools has grown 1,000 percent since 2002 and there are 347 clubs on college campuses, nationwide.

More girls are getting down and dirty

Zombies invade University Park

YPSILANTI, Mich.- Humans beware- zombies have taken over Eastern Michigan University's University Park. But they came in peace.

Eastern Michigan University hosted it's annual Relay for Life 24 hour cancer walk last Saturday. Members of Greek Life and many other student organizations set up tents, fun events and collection plates to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

EMU's zombie nerf squad was no different. They rolled up their bloody sleeves to help the cause as well. But many walkers wondered who these boys wearing fake blood were.

While they may look creepy, these zombies' hearts (do zombies even have hearts?) were in the right place. Cries of "Save a life, shoot a zombie!" and "Come take a shot at the undead" could be heard coming from their tables.

Zombies invade University Park

Watch out boys- Villa named water polo player of the decade

YPSILANTI, Mich.- Brenda Villa, three-time Olympic water polo player, was recently named water polo player of the decade by FINA Aquatics World Magazine.

Villa adds this new title to an extensive resume of awards and accolades. The Team USA captain has already won two Olympic silver medals- in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2008 Beijing games- and a bronze medal during the 2004 Athens games.

Watch out boys- Villa named water polo player of the decade

EMU's water polo girls are tough as nails

By Hannah Schwab

YPSILANTI, Mich.- Eastern Michigan University's women's water polo team just wrapped up their season on April 9. But who knew we even had a water polo club?

EMU students and Ypsilanti residents are missing out on watching a great sport and a great group of girls on this virtually unknown team.

The club was founded in 2002, by former EMU swimmers, students-- including new coach Lindsay Barber-- and friends. Now they are under the leadership of president Amy Johnson and vice-president Ashley Grady.

EMU's water polo girls are tough as nails

Welcome bloggers

YPSILANTI, Mich.-

Greetings blogger world and welcome to my new blog. This is a class-related blog where I hope to profile some of the "lesser-known" sports on Eastern Michigan University's campus and surrounding towns.

My mission is to bring these virtually unknown sports into the light and let people know they exist. Until recently, I didn't know Ann Arbor had a women's rugby team and I've been living out here for almost two years. I just learned today that EMU has a Quidditch team and I forgot that they also had a zombie nerf gun team. If I didn't know, I bet others didn't either.

Over the next few weeks, I will be publishing a profile story on EMU's women's water polo team and blogging for a week about Ann Arbor's rugby team. I would also like to cover the zombie nerf team's game during EMU's Relay for Life event April 9.

Welcome bloggers