By Linda Provost, Sports Writer
Junior Varsity sports give students an opportunity to play sports they enjoy, even when they are not on a varsity team.
OCU’s JV options include men and women’s basketball, men’s golf, volleyball, and men’s soccer teams. Several of those sports teams still are looking for student participants.
One of the sports looking for JV athletes is soccer. Coach Brian Harvey said JV is helpful to the soccer program in many ways.
“It helps with players who are on the varsity squad who have been injured get back up to up to game speed,” he said.
Men’s JV soccer already had a formal tryout, but Harvey said students interested in playing may contact him. For more information about JV soccer contact Harvey at bharvey@okcu.edu or 208-5165 or Ernesto Chavez at 208-5881.
There is no women’s JV soccer team.
“We haven’t had enough interest in a ladies JV team, but if we get enough girls, we’d be glad to start it up,” Harvey said.
JV teams also are a good way for varsity players who don’t see a lot of game time get the competition they need, Harvey said.
“The team is helpful with retention and helping the boys who are a very long way from home build friendships because of the common denominator of soccer,” he said.
Senior Keeper Fernie Rivera is excited for the JV soccer season to begin.
“I played in high school and knew I wanted to play, but I knew couldn’t make varsity,” he said. “JV allowed me the opportunity to continue what I love.”
Rivera said JV keeps him doing his cardio and helps control his asthma.
“I hope to take away many great memories, new skills and a brotherhood of other athletes,” he said.
Tryouts for men’s JV basketball will be near the end of the month, with games beginning in October.
Coach Quin Wooldridge will oversee Chase Gay, political science junior, and Austin Ennis, sport business senior, who will co-coach the team.
Gay said the coaches asked him if he would like to help coach the team.
“It’s a chance for students who normally wouldn’t get to play at the college level and a way to compete and still have fun,” he said.
For more information about JV basketball e-mail Gay at cgay.stu@my.okcu.
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