Click through the slideshow above to see photos from the past 100 years of RecSports at UT
It doesn’t sound like much, but one handball court, an old-school weight room and a single basement office were the foundation for what are now world-class athletics facilities and one of the most popular aspects of student life on the Forty Acres.
In 1916, UT launched what was then one of the first organized intramural programs in the country. During the past 100 years, RecSports has grown to include 500,000 square feet of indoor recreation space, and students can now compete in 47 club sports including everything from ice hockey and water skiing to lacrosse, rugby, wrestling and more (yes, that still include handball).
That growth has helped RecSports give many Longhorns a place to play, connect and learn. Today, more than 90 percent of undergraduate students participate in RecSports, whether it’s competing in intramurals, working in fitness and wellness programs, going on outdoor adventures or learning new skills.
#UTAustin students helped save a life on @UTRecSports spring break trip to the #GrandCanyon: https://t.co/fhreGYylXE pic.twitter.com/j2wxg6stpd
— UT Austin (@UTAustin) March 27, 2016
These students say RecSports not only helps them make healthy lifestyle choices and increases their quality of life but also contributes to UT’s core values and create a sense of community.
To celebrate a century of rich history in the books, RecSports hosted its inaugural Hall of Honor induction ceremony and re-opened an upgraded facility.
On April 21, President Gregory L. Fenves and other university officials welcomed students to the new Wright-Whitaker Sports Complex — an upgraded facility with 35 lighted tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, soccer fields and more.
From basketball and tennis to volleyball & more, students will make incredible memories at new @UTRecSports complex https://t.co/KqTeIASduG pic.twitter.com/HT0fzb1gYe
— Greg Fenves (@gregfenves) April 21, 2017
“This renovation goes much deeper than the type of grass we used on the fields, or the flat-screen TVs we installed, or the design of our tennis courts,” Fenves said during the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. “This complex has been revitalized, with community-building first and foremost in mind. This is not simply a place for students to play sports and go home. It’s a place to congregate. To make friends. To get to know one another. And to find common ground.”
To learn more about the history of intramural sports on the Forty Acres, check out this interactive timeline of the first 100 years of UT RecSports.
Famous faces are hidden among the student athletes pictured on the RecSports Wall of Fame See which former UT president — and which Hollywood star — is on the wall.
