NSU Club Sports provide healthy outlet, learning and leadership opportunities

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Northeastern State University’s Club Sports allow students to participate in their favorite activities that would normally not be considered a collegiate sport. Current NSU Club Teams consist of the NSU Disc Golf Team, RiverHawk eSports and the NSU Fishing Team.

In order to be considered a Club Sport, teams must meet several requirements; a minimum of five participants, a faculty or staff advisor, submit a club sport constitution & bylaws and establish and maintain Club Sport officers of president, vice president, treasurer and secretary.

Dr. Jerrid Freeman, Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at NSU, said they want Club Sports to register as a student organization to ensure they have oversight, an advisor and enough participants.

“Club Sports cannot become successful without student interest and leadership,” Freeman said. “We want to ensure that Club Sport maintains an appropriate connection with NSU and represents the institution well. We can then help connect the student leaders with the necessary support to be successful. Not only can these students be involved in the sport they love, but also continue to compete regionally and nationally while obtaining leadership experience.”

NSU’s newest club team, NSU Disc Golf, is finishing its first full year of competition after being formed in the fall of 2023. In its first year, the team has already competed in several College Disc Golf events including the 2024 Collegiate National Championships.

Freeman, who serves as the faculty advisor for the team, said that Club Sports can provide experience outside of the sport including budget experience, organizational, planning and communication skills. Freeman said he got involved with Club Sports because he wants to strengthen students’ relationship with NSU.

“I got involved because I love helping students to be involved in any student organization or Club Sport that helps them feel connected and a part of NSU,” Freeman said. “Ultimately, I want every student to become connected to NSU in some way that ties to their own personal interests.”

The NSU eSports team was established in 2020 and competes virtually against other college teams in competitive video games like Valorant, Overwatch, Smash Bros and The Finals. Korbin Malloy, eSports Team President, said that running the eSports program has been an awesome opportunity to do the life-long career he has always wanted.

“It has taught me many organizational skills running four teams at once, whether it is getting them to finals, finding coaches or running events, it has all grown over the years I have been in charge,” Malloy said. “These players are simply students at our school, but we would not have anything without them. Thanks to their skills we can continue to grow our scholarship and opportunities each year. We are preparing to compete at Comicon in Kansas City in front of thousands of people and it is thanks to these players we have that opportunity. If you are on the fence about Esports, all I can say is do not hesitate, prove you are better than everyone else and win.”

NSU’s Fishing team has been competing in various tournaments since 2016. The team mainly competes in the southeastern states, from Oklahoma to South Carolina and occasionally ventures to Wisconsin and New York. They are currently the second highest-ranking collegiate fishing team in Oklahoma  and are ranked No. 33 nationally according to the Association of Collegiate Anglers Bass Pro Shops School of the Year rankings list.

For more info about the Club Sports available at NSU or the steps required to form a new team, visit nsuok.edu/clubsports.

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