Club Sports

Emily Flückiger likes to combat gender stereotypes. That’s why she joined wrestling in high school.

“I was the only girl on the team, and it was tough at first,” said Flückiger, a third-year cybersecurity student from Hartford, Conn. “But once you throw people around a little bit, they give you some respect.”

When she got to RIT, she wanted to continue wrestling. For her, the exercise is a much-needed mind break from school. This year, she helped create the RIT Co-ed Wrestling Club. As co-president of RIT’s newest club sport, Flückiger is bringing together around 30 student-athletes who want to hone their skills and aspire to compete against other colleges.

Club sports are a big part of student life at the university. Every year, about 2,000 students are involved with the nearly 50 different club sports. For many, it scratches that competitive itch. For others, it’s a chance to try something new, find a community, and stay active.

Athletics at RIT come in several variations. The Tigers have 24 NCAA teams. Any member of the university community can also participate in friendly intramural sports. Sitting somewhere in the middle are club sports.

Many club sports are competitive, while some are geared toward recreational learning and teaching.

Competitive teams have tryouts, routine practices, and coaches. From alpine skiing to sailing, these athletes play against other collegiate teams and represent RIT on the national stage.

However, the time commitment for a club sport can be less than NCAA athletics—with fewer hours dedicated to practices and games. Club athletes don’t have to travel during the week for competitions, and they can have fewer off-season responsibilities.

Each club is largely student-run, with the formation of a constitution and annual leadership elections. Students have a vested interest because they organize team practices, schedules, travel, referees, and fundraisers. As student interests evolve each year, some clubs become defunct and new teams are added.

“We’re here for the students and we cater to their needs,” said Christopher Terwilliger, associate director of Club Sports and Intramurals. “Club sports are a big reason that a lot of students stay connected to the university. Plus, it’s a great source of experiential learning that they can bring with them to the workforce.”

To support the new Co-ed Wrestling Club and the rapid growth of women’s wrestling nationwide, RIT recently opened a specialized Mat Studio in the Hale-Andrews Student Life Center. The space is home base for the Wrestling Club, Taekwondo Club, and Judo Club.

Meet a few club sports athletes
—past and present.
Roller Hockey

Zachary Orcutt ’20 (packaging science)

Job: Packaging engineer at Kraft Heinz in Pittsburgh

Zachary Orcutt skated before he could walk. He played ice hockey most of his life and continued with intramurals at RIT. When a co-worker at the hockey rink said they needed a goalie for the Roller Hockey Club, Orcutt made the switch and hopped right onto the tile. The team had a good history, with RIT winning the Division I collegiate national championship in 2001. In 2018, Orcutt’s team followed suit with a magical run in the Division II national tournament. RIT beat Sam Houston State University, Yeshiva University, and Northern Arizona University in the elimination rounds—and Northeastern University in the finals.
Women’s Soccer

Kiera Osier

Fifth-year mechanical engineering student from Greece, N.Y.

Kiera Osier was initially recruited for the RIT Division III women’s soccer team but found that club soccer had the right balance for her. The club has fewer practices during the week and games are only on the weekends. Still, Osier stays competitive. While playing against University of Rochester, University at Buffalo, and other local colleges, RIT’s club didn’t lose a single league game in the last four years. The team stays in top shape by reserving RIT’s specialized strength training rooms for team workouts and gets together for social events in the off season.
Historical European Martial Arts

Dylan Levine

Third-year mechatronics student from Pleasantville, N.Y.

Veran Stanek

Fourth-year physics and materials science and engineering master’s student from Hermitage, Pa.

Shiny longswords and daggers were enough to entice Dylan Levine and Veran Stanek at the RIT Club Fair. In the sport of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), athletes study historical manuals and learn medieval and Renaissance-era combat techniques. Members practice sparring two days a week, all equipped with dull period weapons and protective equipment. Stanek likes HEMA because it’s more interesting than exercising with traditional weights and cardio. Levine has fallen in love with the welcoming community of people from all backgrounds. The club hosts tournaments and is part of a growing intercollegiate league in the northeast.
Roundnet

Alex Newton ’25 (chemical engineering and finance)

Job: Manager of financial planning and analysis at Aerosafe Global in Rochester

Alex Newton brought his roundnet set to RIT freshman year and it’s how he met his best college friends. In the sport, which is also known as Spikeball, teams of two compete to bounce a ball off a small circular net. When Newton found out about the RIT Roundnet Club, he committed and started to play competitively. With practice, pickup games, and traveling to tournaments throughout the year, he created a strong bond with people around the net. Newton’s team placed 11^th at the 2025 Spikeball College Roundnet Championships, playing against teams from University of Connecticut, UCLA, and University of Richmond.
Archery

Ashley Jablonski ’25 (cybersecurity)

Job: Cyber analyst at Illinois Tool Works (ITW) in Chicago

Ashley Jablonski first tried archery as a Girl Scout but took a break from the sport during high school. When she found RIT’s recreational archery club, she took aim again. Many members have never touched a bow before, but the club provides coaching for students of all levels. As club president, Jablonski helped form a competitive RIT club team that travels to tournaments every month in the spring semester—competing in Olympic recurve, barebow, and compound bow divisions. Last year, the club hosted Alfred State and Pennsylvania College of Technology for RIT’s first Stripes and Strings tournament.
Men’s Rugby

Godfrey Pollydore ’23 (mechanical engineering technology)

Job: Mechanical engineer at WSP in Manhattan

As a high school football and track star, Godfrey Pollydore was bummed to find out that RIT doesn’t have a football team. However, a few guys from the RIT Rugby Club told him to try out. Even though he had never played rugby before, he immediately fell in love with the sport and the club community. Today, he continues to play for the Old Blue Rugby Football Club of New York City, a premier USA Rugby team. He was also recruited for the Guyana national rugby union team and hopes to represent his country at the 2028 Summer Olympics.