Hoop Dreams Basketball Team Sparks New School Sports Revolution
The New School has a basketball team. This is not a joke.
The team is off to a 2-1 start in its inaugural season, winning its last game 48-45 against the New York Institute of Technology Bears. Formed in February after try-outs for the eight-person squad, the team is composed of undergraduates from Eugene Lang College, The New School for General Studies, Mannes College, and New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.
Basketball may be new to The New School but it’s the real deal for the captain, Alex Knapp, a Lang junior, who hails from Portland, Oregon and was a forward for his high school team. I’m confident that we can go undefeated for the rest of the season and then head to the playoffs.,
Michael McQuarrie, director of Recreational and Intramural Sports in Student Services, is also enthusiastic and sees this as the beginning of something new at The New School. We’re looking into playing some scrimmages with smaller schools that are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. You know we had 33 people try out, that’s impressive, so there’s a need for this here, and I’m happy that we are moving in the right direction.,
As participants in the McBurney YMCA Competitive Basketball League, these students are part of the first competitive athletic team in the history of The New School. Organized by the Office of Recreation and Intramural Sports, the team is self-managed; practices are held and games are played without the direction of a coach. The office hopes this team will be the first of many competitive athletic teams at The New School.
Games are played every Tuesday at 7:30, 8:30, or 9:30 p.m. All New School students are encouraged to come watch the games and cheer on the team at the McBurney YMCA at 125 West 14th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. New School ID is necessary for entry. For more information, email recreation@newschool.edu or call 212.229.5900 x3801.