Every Tuesday for the past four years, a specialized club has gathered with one goal: to play dodge ball.
The K-State Dodge Ball club is in its fourth year and shows no signs of leaving. The club has an average attendance of 30 to 50 students and set a record last semester for the amount of participants.
"Last fall we had 147 people show up to play," Luke Stramel, junior in theater and marketing and vice president of the club said. "It was hectic, but it was one of the most fun nights we've had."
To take part in the club, there are only three requirements. Prospective club members are required to sign a waiver, show up willing to participate and pay $5 per semester. Stramel said the money offsets the cost of replacing the equipment, most notably the playground balls used by the team.
"We break about one and a hlaf balls a night," Stramel said. "We have people throwing them and kicking them and hitting sharp corners."
At the start of every meeting, the club divides into two teams and the sides spend the rest of the evening playing the game. There are, however, times when the team gets to play against outside talent.
The University of Kansas and the University of Nebraska have had teams in the past and have challenged the K-State club to games.
"We've played them and destroyed them both times," Stramel said. "So we like to jokingly refer to ourselves as the Big 12 champions of dodge ball."
When traveling out of the city to play, the club does not take all of its members, Stramel said, just the "hardcore" students who make it out every week. A quick team is assembled and the trip to the neighboring town is made.
In addition to playing other colleges, the team has played in organized tournaments around the nation.
The club uses traditional rules with one exception.
"In normal dodge ball, you can hold the ball and block with it," Stramel said. "We play that you can't hold it and block. You either catch or dodge. That's it."
Stramel said the reason for the rule was to speed up the game to allow for the maximum amount of games played.
One reason the club keeps growing is word of mouth. Ryan Rush, junior in marketing, heard about the club while he was still in high school and has been playing ever since.
"I really love the intensity," Rush said. "I'm really athletic, and with work, it makes it hard to work out. I mean, who can't make 9 to 11 on Tuesdays?"
The active aspect is also a main draw for other club members who have a hard time finding time to make it out to the gym.
Lauren Johanns, sophomore in interior architecture, said she enjoys playing dodge ball because it keeps her in shape.
Johanns, who is a new member, said she looks to do more than just get exercise when she plays the game.
"I come so I can meet new people," Johanns said.
