Category: Announcements

Mason Club Sports

Post competition

March 13-19

Baseball: The Baseball team traveled to Plant City, FL to compete in the NCBA Spring Training Showcase Tournament. GMU went 3-2 on the week, beating Carnegie Mellon University (15-6), University of Kentucky (17-7), and Northern Illinois University (11-0). Their only losses came against Edinboro University (7-8) and Cleveland St. University (3-7). Throughout the week, everyone performed at a high level. Patrick Charney had a .538 batting average with 7 hits and 6 RBI in 5 games. Kyle King had a .500 batting average with 6 hits and 5 RBI in 4 games. As a team, GMU scored 53 runs during the competition. On the mound, Adam Easter pitched 5.1 shutout innings and struck out 16 of the 18 batters he faced, picking up the win against Carnegie Mellon.

The Baseball team’s week continued as they traveled to Fruitland, MD to compete in a conference doubleheader against Salisbury University. After such a long week, the Patriots struggled against the tough competition, just barely losing the first game 1-2 and the second 5-11.

Equestrian: The Equestrian club traveled to Goucher College to compete in the UMBC IHSA Show against teams including American University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Goucher College, and Johns Hopkins. George Mason finished third overall in the event. Individual results were as follows:

Kaitlin Hurley- 4th novice flat; 3rd novice fences

Amanda Malloy- 5th novice flat

Codie Gibson- 3rd walk, trot

Katherine Velle- 2nd Intermediate flat

Megan Hagarty- 2nd open flat; 6th open fences

Theresa Litzinger- 3rd Advanced walk, trot, canter

Kirsten Van Nortwick- 1st Intermediate flat

Nicole Ochsenknecht- 5th Advanced walk, trot, canter

Elizabeth Dorrian- 6th open flat

Sarah White- 4th walk, trot

Men’s Rugby: The Men’s Rugby team traveled to Miami, FL to participate in official practices and scrimmages against the Miami Rugby team. GMU received instruction and practice for drill techniques, individual roles, and plays for the whole team. The two teams scrimmaged, unscored, to help Mason work on defense techniques and game play scenarios.

Ski & Snowboard: The Ski & Snowboard club competed in their first Nationals event at the USCSA Nationals in Mt. Bachelor, OR. The team fought hard through the conditions with over three feet of snow in the first two days, high winds, and bad visibility. John Friedersdorf finished 22nd overall in GS (Giant Slalom) and 55th in Boardercross. Nicholas Miller finished 39th overall in GS, 44th in Slopestyle, qualified 19th in Boardercross, and finished 30th in men’s snowboard. Jackson Robic, riding with two hurt ankles, finished 77th in Boardercross and GS on an extremely rough and tough course. Lydia Bartnick finished 19th overall in GS, qualified 20th in Boardercross, and finished 20th in women’s snowboard. Kirsten Hahn finished 26th overall in GS women’s snowboard. Caroline Fudala faced her fears of the terrain park, competing in the women’s freeski finals.

Trap & Skeet: The Trap and Skeet team competed in the Snow Goose Classic at Schrader’s Outdoors in Henderson, MD against Washington College and Naval Academy. In the Sporting Clays event, Derek Vacco placed first, Sam Hoskinson placed second, Alex DiLorenzo placed third, and Stephanie Treme placed fourth.

Men’s Ultimate: The Men’s Ultimate team also traveled to Tallahassee, FL to compete in the men’s side of the Tally Classic tournament. GMU held seed getting 18th place with close games against high seed teams. Jacob Shade was named MVP for great defense, generating good turnovers and a few layout blocks while being a strong cutter to get the flow going. Mason’s wins came against North Florida (11-6), ECU (12-6), and Georgia Gwinnett (15-4). They fell to University of Tennessee Chattanooga (9-11), Alabama Huntsville (9-11), UCF (7-11), Georgia Tech (6-11), and Emory (9-14).

Women’s Ultimate: The Women’s Ultimate team traveled to Tallahassee, FL to compete in the Tally Classic tournament. GMU went 5-2 for the weekend, only barely getting beaten by two nationally ranked teams. They dominated in each of their wins, beating University of Florida B (13-0), Georgia St. (13-5), North Georgia (13-4), Tennessee (15-2), and LSU (11-2). Florida State and Kennesaw State (1st seed) won 10-13 and 11-15, respectively; however, Kennesaw State’s coach recognized Mason as having the best Spirit of the Game of any team that they had played that weekend. The team is slowly moving up in the national rankings and are excited for their next tournament in April.

Underwater Hockey: Underwater Hockey traveled to Orlando, FL to compete in the Atlantic Coast Championships. Although they did not have any wins during the competition, two of Mason’s players received MVP awards. The team as a whole received participation awards. Their results were as follows: Orlando (1-9), UF (2-6), Team Sexy (0-9), Orlando (0-5), Toronto (1-9).

Facility Spring Break Hours

The University will be on Spring Break from March 11-19 and during this time all Recreation Facilities will have adjusted hours. Please see below:

AFC:

Monday-Friday – 6a-9p

Saturday – 8a-7p

Sunday – 9a-9p

RAC:

Saturday, March 11^th-Saturday, March 18^th – 12p-8p daily

Sunday, March 19^th – 9a-11p

Skyline:

Friday, March 10^th – 9a-9p

Saturday, March 11^th-Saturday, March 18^th – CLOSED

Sunday, March 19^th – 3p-midnight

10 of the BEST FITNESS APPS RIGHT NOW

We are always on our phones. I mean, think about it, we are ALWAYS on our phones. You’re probably even on your phone right now. Whether that is scrolling through Instagram, or trying to catch up on sports news, something is always grabbing our attention on our phones. If nearly everything is integrated into the World Wide Web these days, it’s only certain that there are millions of ways that your phone can lead you to a healthier lifestyle (as weird as that may sound.) Here are 10 GREAT apps that can help you stay fit.

1. Nike Training Club

This is my holy grail. This app has customizable fitness programs and workouts that are designed by professional trainers and athletes. My friends and I will hook my phone up to speakers and will play music and the Nike Training Club app will come in and out of the music to guide us through our workout (The interface is really aesthetically pleasing too.)

2. Couch to 5K

I am always amazed in the gym at people who seem to run so effortlessly. I am talking about the people who run for 45 minutes straight and still can bounce off of the treadmill with energy. C25K (“Couch to 5K”) is for those who want to run but really do not know where to start. The app is an eight-week program designed to ease you into becoming a runner. After eight-weeks of completing the program, you should be ready to hit a 5k race.

3. Strava Running and Cycling

This app is really valuable because it caters to runners as well as cyclists. It tracks calories, elevation, distance, and more in an easy-to-navigate interface.

4. Spotify Running

Spotify Running is definitely for those like me who need music will exercising and have to have the right songs on my playlist to stay motivated. What makes this app cool is that it picks songs for you to listen to, based on your pace, and chooses a song that will match it.

5. Yoga Wake Up

This app is for all of the yoga-lovers out there. It’s different and unique in the sense that it has 10-minute yoga sessions designed to be done right after you wake up. They offer different sequences, and the sequences offer different objectives to help you start your day off right.

6. Daily Yoga

Daily Yoga is another yoga app, but it’s not for your wake-up needs. This app offers over 50 classes through different videos. Additionally, the app offers a library of over 500 different yoga poses.

7. Yonder

This is not of much use to me (not an outdoorsy person), but could be beneficial to someone who enjoys outdoor adventures. By putting in your location, you are able see suggestions for your outdoor fitness needs, such as, hiking, biking, and kayaking.

8. StrongerLifts 5×5

This is a great app for the lifters out there. This app will manage your reps, and rest time. No need to try to keep up with your exercise in your head, or lugging around a pencil and paper in the gym.

9. Zombies, RUN

This is one of the most interesting and exciting apps on the list. Zombies, RUN is a very popular app that integrates a zombie apocalypse into your workout. The more you run, the closer you are to carrying out your missions and keeping humans safe. The app is free to download and will make running a lot more interesting than your usual routine.

10. Blogilates

As someone who reads blogs A LOT, I find Blogilates to be very interesting. So, for my fellow bloggers out there, this app follows Cassey Ho and her YouTube videos, as well as a forum and online workout calendar. Apps like this make me feel like my fitness journey is a shared experience and I have a personal connection with someone who can guide me.

Why Does Everyone Listen to Music at the Gym?

When I go to the gym, I have to have my headphones with me. Even if it is brutally cold outside, I will make the walk to get my headphones from my dorm. Without my music, I just don’t feel as motivated. I have tried to watch YouTube videos, or catch up on Grey’s Anatomy or Scandal, but NOTHING seems to motivate me to run a little further like having my favorite songs blaring (at a volume way too high) out of my headphones. Well, it turns out music has a much larger impact on our workouts than I anticipated.

While research has consistently supported the idea that music acts as a distraction to physical exertion, a 2009 study found that when the tempo increases in a song, you are more likely to push yourself and work out harder. As one could assume, and studies have found, music with higher tempos are the way to go during your workout. However, too fast of a tempo is not good. For those who do not prefer to fluctuate their energy during their workout (if you like interval training this probably will not apply to you), music can help you stay on pace.

Additionally, there are songs or genres of music that help us “get our minds right”, that meaning they help us focus on the task we are doing and put us in the mind frame of working out. Often times these songs have memories tied to them, and sometimes these memories can generate motivational power for us to thrive off of during our workout.

Most importantly, music makes us happy. We often listen to songs that will make us feel the way we would like to feel. It can help us feel happy, motivated, or self-aware. It can serve as a means of reflection or an escape from what is currently going on in our lives. Thus, when we listen to music during our workout, it is easier to remove any negative emotions from our minds and power through our workout. You combine the mood effects of music and the inevitable good vibes we get from exercising, and you will leave your workout feeling great!

Finally, music makes us want to move! Researchers have found that music with “high-groove” qualities help our brains get excited and induces movement. So no matter how much you hated going to the gym that day, those tunes will help you get it done.

So, why does everyone listen to music at the gym? Because it helps. Music can help us in many areas of our life, but it is very valuable when we are at the gym and trying to get through a workout we have spent all day avoiding. The next time you go to the gym, make a playlist of your favorite songs and turn it all the way up! I surely will.

By: Destany Martin

Leaders Aren’t Born, They Are Forged

Often times it takes a certain level of finesse and foresight to inspire the minds of people around one’s self. It takes even more to build the wills of others to both see and meet the goals and needs of an organization. Xavier Savannah exceeds those expectations for the George Mason University Club Football Organization. Xavier is a sophomore, the President of the GMU Club Football, and has been selected as the National Club Football Association (NCFA) President of the Year. Whether on or off the field, Xavier is true to himself and never waivers towards executing his goals.

“X is a great leader for the football team. He has a lot to juggle and does a great job making sure the team has everything it needs. He is one of the best players on the team and leads by example. The way he supports his teammates, the amount of effort he invests to help the team grow, and his competitiveness both on and off the field really resonates with both the players and coaching staff. Whether you need paperwork or need to know the next location for the fundraiser; he’s your guy for it all. -Mike Girdy JR”

“Xavier’s reliability, relatability, and adaptability to situations are what make him a great leader. He exemplifies these traits during game time when situations mandate him to play different positions and off the field circumstances that require resolutions to accommodate 30+ student-athletes. I rally behind him because I know he’s always focused and shows passion without losing his head. – Traemar Pringle”

“Before games and after he’s vocal; you’ll hear him cracking jokes. Then when on the field, he’s a silent leader/player that’s tamed, cool, collected. He’s talented and knows it, but won’t gloat about it in your face, he lets his actions speak for himself. Off the field, he is a go-getter and sees his tasks done to the tea. He is quite headstrong. Which is what the club football team needs; without him and a lot of the stuff he deals with in the background there wouldn’t be club football team period. – Alex Powell”

When reflecting on the club football team’s recent history, they have been on a slow decline; however, since in his freshman year, Xavier has seen areas in which the team can grow. Because of his leadership and proactive attitude, he was appointed as the President for 2016-2017. I asked Xavier what it took to turn the club around and get it back on track. He told me a lot of hard work. He realized he had to stretch himself quite thin and appoint an entirely new E-board, revamp social media pages with modernized flyers that shared similarities to modern sports styles, and have promotional items. He recognized the importance of making sure the team was seen more on campus as well as the importance of budgeting seasonal funds properly from year to year. By properly monitoring the team’s funds, he was able to revitalize their look. Yes, you guessed it! NEW JERSEYS! By implementing these methods or marketing, financing and communicating, Xavier raised the level of support and interest for the GMU Club Football team to new heights. Xavier was driven by a desire to make the university and those who love football proud and to not let them down.

During our conversation, Xavier expressed how the Club Sports Office really helped them market their team throughout the fall. According to Xavier, one event that really helped launch the success of Club Football was Rockin’ With Rec. It gave them the opportunity to speak with all the interested freshman and individuals that wanted to play. Club Sports also supported and promoted games, concepts for flyers, and fundraisers to help them reach their maximum potential.

I asked Xavier if he had anything he recommends for other leaders of student organizations, and here is what he had to say:

“I would recommend setting goals for yourself to meet. It’s stressful at times when things don’t go the way you planned, but it’s better to try than not to try at all. Sometimes you will take a L or two, but for every L, you will bounce back and accomplish something. Failures can teach a lot as well. Failing allowed me to see what kind of person I was and how to fix it so it wouldn’t happen again next time. Having a good support system is also good. Doing things on your own can burn you out fast and also take the enjoyment out of anything you do. Having others that can help out goes a long way. It’s also good to not be the ‘leader’ all the time too. That way you can sit back and observe things from a different angle and acknowledge/trust others. It helps build a better bond between you and your teammates. So if anything I recommend three things 1) good communication, 2) perseverance and 3) knowing when to support while being the leader.”

When wrapping up our conversation, I asked Xavier what he has planned next, and he calmly told me that he is just trying to finish this semester strong and fully map out the fall football season ahead of time to lessen things on his plate. Truly a young man with a bright and promising future. Always looking beyond the game night lights and focusing on the next step.

Support them on Instagram and Twitter at GMUClubFootball and on Facebook at George Mason University Football.

By: Rashid White

Mason Club Sports: Post Competition Report Feb.10-12

Mason Club Sports

Post competition

Feb.10-12

Fencing: Fencing Club took their talents to Millersville University this past weekend. At the tournament, they competed in 3 rounds. In the first round Mason came out strong and defeated 6 out of the 7 schools. In the second round they defeated 3 out of the 7 schools, and in their third and final round they had zero wins. This was the first college tournament for three of Mason’s fencers.

Ice Hockey: The Ice Hockey team had three competitions this weekend. On Friday, they faced off against George Washington and scored an outstanding number of goals to beat them 7-4. Saturday pitted them against Delaware University in a close matchup, yet GMU persevered to win 3-2. Sunday brought another game against Delaware, but GMU’s confidence held up and carried them to a 4-2 win.

Men’s Club Lacrosse: The Men’s lacrosse team played George Washington University in a scrimmage on Sunday. Despite being vastly outnumbered by the GW roster, GMU kept the game close losing 5-7. Senior captain, Miles Herbst, opened up the scoring for the Patriots, battling through a triple team and sneaking it in stick side high, after going down 4-0. At the end of the first half, GMU was down 1-5. Miles scored again off an assist from Chris Kablonski, from zero angle hitting the far upper 90 side making it 2-5. Freshman Kablonski and sophomore Brandon Landers netted their first goals as Patriots. Miles would tally a hat trick before the end of regulation. Freshman Justin Lee, GMU’s only goalie, was recorded as having between 18-25 saves.

Running: The Running Club traveled to Penn State for the Happy Valley Invitational on Saturday. The highlight from the event was Jordan Shimer setting a personal record for the mile, completing it in 4:37:50.

Swimming: Mason Swim Club had 12 swimmers attend a meet at the University of Maryland. The women’s team placed 6^th and the men’s team placed 5^th. In addition, a few of the swimmers placed top five in their individual events. Swim Club will look forward to their next meet at JMU on February 25^th.

Ski & Snowboard: Did not submit results.

Men’s Ultimate B: The Men’s Ultimate B team traveled to Towson, MD for the Towson Crouching Tiger Hidden Developmental Tournament. Mason Meltdown went 5-1 and placed second overall. A highlight for them was beating out Shenandoah University on universe point.

Men’s Club Volleyball: Men’s Club Volleyball competed at Liberty University this past weekend. The team had a tough weekend as they played ECU (1-2), James Madison (1-2), ECU (2-0), and Longwood (1-2). Going 1-3 on the weekend, the team hopes to bounce back for their next competition on February 25^th at University of Virginia.

Valentine’s Day / Partner Exercise

Valentine’s Day is here again. Winter is in full force. You are faced with a problem and feeling conflicted. On one hand, you want to spend time with your significant other. On the other hand, you want to continue exercising through the cold winter month. You would love to go hiking with him/her or run around outside together, but the weather simply is not allowing that. What do you do?

I’LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU DO! You try out these 11 partner exercises! Get the best of both worlds. Exercising AND spending time with one of your favorite people!

Nothing quite shows love and/or friendship like pushing your partner’s legs to the floor repeatedly. This is a great abdominal exercise for the person on the floor and a great trust exercise for both people. Just make sure you keep your legs straight as the person laying down.
Playing catch and working out! Do situps with your partner while throwing a medicine ball back and forth to one another. This exercise increases coordination, arm strength, and, of course, one’s core strength.
Speed, speed, speed. That is the name of the game with this exercise. How many times can you and your partner move a medicine ball around each other in 30 seconds? In a minute? How long can you go at a consistent speed before stopping? Challenge each other to keep pushing and break your personal records.
“I pick things up and put them down.” This time, you are the thing! Grasp each other’s hand and alternate one person falling to the ground and one person picking the other up. It may seem silly, but this is a simple exercise that can be a lot of fun with the right person. Picking up another person uses a range of muscles and falling to the ground in a controlled manner without bringing the other person down is great for your core, balance, and trust.
“I wanna dance with somebody! I wanna feel the heat with somebody!” Whether it is with one person or a whole group of people, dancing is one of the best and most fun exercises out there. It does not matter how you dance as long as you are moving, grooving, and having fun. Turn on your favorite music, grab your partner, and dance the night away! Your heart and lungs will thank you later for the cardio workout.
The human wheelbarrow is another silly yet fun way to exercise with your partner. As seen in the picture, one person places both hands on the floor while the other holds their legs by the ankles and you walk. When you can make it a race with another couple, it becomes a great and competitive game. The ‘wheelbarrow’ strengthens their shoulders and arms while the person holding the wheelbarrow will be working their back, legs, arms and shoulders. Not bad for an exercise used primarily as a game!
This exercise is very similar to the third exercise on this list. Instead of going East and West with the medicine ball, you pass the ball North and South over your head and through your legs. See how fast you can work the ball around your bodies. This exercise is a little more difficult and may tire you out quicker, but it is a fun and beneficial exercise do to with your partner.
Another variation of the classic squat. Stand back-to-back with your partner, link your arms, and squat! This variation focuses even more on balance, your core, and proper form. If you lean back too far, you will push your partner down. If you don’t push back at all, you will get knocked down. Try going up and down for multiple reps, or use each other as a wall and challenge yourself to perform a wall squat for as long as possible.
Ooommmmm! Take a deep breath and meditate with your partner. Exercising the mind is just as important as exercising the body. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there are plenty of moves and positions for you. Some of the positions pictured will challenge your physical abilities. Yoga is sometimes inaccurately seen as easy and boring, but it can be a great workout as well.
Ribbit ribbit! The classic childhood game is being brought back just for you! Grab another couple and see who can leapfrog fastest, or just play with your partner and have some fun. It’s a simple game but sometimes simple is better.
Challenge each other! Take some common exercises and add a little twist. Have one person do pushups while holding the feet of the person doing situps. Alternate reps where one person doesn’t go until the other person is finished. Mix it up! You like being around each other, so have fun with these exercises!

Practice makes perfect with these exercises. You may even get a chance to put some of these exercises into practice and learn new ones at this year’s Be My Fit Valentine on February 11^th! Be sure to register for the event by clicking on the link below so that you and your partner in crime can continue exercising together!

If you’re still unsure, check out the highlight video from one of our Be My Fit Valentine events here:

Hope to see you at the RAC!!

https://recreation.gmu.edu/fitness/v/