Sports Commentary
As a Division I institution, much of the conversation around sports at Drake comes from the programs that bring the most students to the stands or the amount of ticket sales generated by season ticket holders and fans traveling to the campus on the weekends as a fun family activity. What isn’t normally brought up is the impact of club sports on the collegiate level, and how they can positively impact not only the student body, but the University as a whole.
In an article by Welch Suggs, a sportscaster with experience in the college field, the importance of club sports is highlighted as the person playing the sport can make you.
“Club sports are kind of the intermediate step on campuses between intramurals and school-sponsored intercollegiate teams,” Suggs said. “They are entirely student-run, although those students might decide to hire coaches. They compete against other college clubs, often traveling across the country. And club sports provide a venue for those who love their sports and want to continue playing them in an environment that gives them space to play and grow on their own terms, even if they don’t get the perks and notoriety of varsity sports.”
Drake benefits from its selection of premier and non-premier club sports by the students it brings to the school. Because club teams can be serious and get university funding, programs like Drake Club Hockey are able to play teams from bigger schools, such as the University of Kansas and the University of Nebraska. This gives the smaller Drake program the ability to build by recruiting a roster, and is a double win for the University because it adds to the admissions that Drake has seen on the rise for the 2025-26 first-year class, which saw a 14 player recruitment to try out alone. The team has gotten so popular among the student body that the Drake Bulldog Shop has started carrying club hockey merchandise in stores and online.
Other benefits of club sports, such as travel and experiences around the country, can be seen in the men’s volleyball club team at Drake. The team is currently ranked 11th in the nation’s Division II rankings according to the National Club Volleyball Federation, sitting up towards the top with the University of San Diego, Gonzaga University and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The Bulldogs got to travel to Phoenix, Arizona, for the National Tournament as well, which furthers the stretch that club sports have solidified nationally in 2024. It gives students the chance to play sports that might not be offered varsity-wise at Drake, and is a way to still make a positive impact on the sports community the University holds close to its heart.
In fact, the Drake club sports department is continuing to grow. There are plans in place to welcome men’s club lacrosse and women’s club flag football in the upcoming year to bring more students with specific interests to the greater Des Moines area. This is made in efforts of bringing new recruits and talents to Drake that could become just as established as the hockey club.
Club sports don’t have to be scary, overwhelming or even taxing on the students enjoying them, but instead empowering, exciting and, most importantly, played with Bulldog pride. Students can learn about all of the opportunities on campus on Drake’s Sports Clubs website, as deadlines to sign up are approaching for fall and winter sports.
