Skip to main content

Optometry Students Win Four Intramural Championships


The College of Optometry students have always been very active in the UMSL campus intramural program.   Every class has, at minimum, two intramural Co-Chairs who help to coordinate teams and times for their class. In fact, the first year students, in the fall participated in wiffle ball, flag football, kickball, sand volleyball, three-on-three basketball, soccer, and indoor four-on-four volleyball.   They not only participated, but they won the campus championships in co-ed wiffle ball (“strike 1 or 2”), flag football (“Inferior Rectus”), and kickball.



Class of 2020’s intramural co-chair Quinn Gallen comments on the activeness of his classmates, “The first year class is a competitive class that likes to alleviate the stresses of class by competing in intramurals,” commented Gallen.  Quinn’s  Co-chair Trisha Smith (’20) also likes the opportunity to fill a void from her college days, “Our class intramurals is a way for us to get away from the stress of school and relax around some great friends,” said Smith.  Trisha is a former collegiate softball player and so intramurals is a way of working through stress she had during the day and gives her the ability to relax by being around her teammates while doing something she loves.  Smith reflects on what playing intramurals means to her, “Intramurals for me has kind of been my replacement for that part of my life and has really allowed me to get to know my optometry classmates too!”



Matt McCoy who is also a Co-Chair for the Class of 2020 says, “it is simply an opportunity to enjoy life away from school…to see a side of our classmates that we don't see while we are listening to lectures, or studying in lab. We have a lot of fun playing as a team, and the success that we had last semester was a nice side-effect!”



The success in intramural sports is not limited to the Class of 2020.  In fact, the classes of 2018 and 2019 have also been very active and successful ever since their first semester in the optometry program.  Both classes had several teams competing in the fall with success behind them in the competition.  It’s not uncommon for the campus championship game to come down to two College of Optometry teams, as was the case in co-ed wiffle ball, won by the Class of 2020, but well represented in second and third place by members of the Class of 2019.



 The Class of 2019 also won the campus championship in co-ed dodgeball (“Baby Nick & Moerdick”).  The third year students, Class of 2018 were also very active in a number of campus intramural events and won the men’s wiffle ball championship (“Team Fighting Iris”).  



Class of 2020 co-ed wiffleball champions (“strike 1 or 2?”).  Left to right:  Trisha Smith, Kailey Utley, Elizabeth Ditch, Olivia Hoylman, Erik Peyton, Quinn Gallen with sign), Justin Groennert, Justine Adriaansen(’19), Matt McCoy, Luke Armstrong


Class of 2020 co-ed flag football champions (“inferior rectus”).  Left to right:  Justin Kendall, George Dowdy, Matt McCoy, Elizabeth Ditch, Erik Peyton, Aric Waltz


Class of 2019 co-ed dodgeball champions (“baby Nick & Moerdick”).  Front Row:  Heather Jackson, Matt Moerdick, and Kyle Sherwood.  Back Row:  Maggie Scott, Nick Fortell, Bre Scott, and Ben Wehner.


Class of 2019 runner-up in co-ed wiffleball. Left to right:  Brittney Schieber, Ben Wehner, Maggie Scott, Nick Portell, Matt Moerdick, and Dena Colentino.


Class of 2019/2020 3rd place in co-ed wiffleball. Left to right:  George Dowdy, Blair Gerratt, Ashley Gerratt, Heather Jackson, Bailey Peterson, and Ben DeVibiss


Class of 2018 Men’s wiffleball champions(“Team Fighting Iris”. Left to right: Connor Peters, Jesse Willingham, Kevin Dittlinger, Keller Hopkins, Cord Linville, and Andy Ibisch.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Heart of America: A Great Annual UMSL Tradition

The 56th Annual Contact Lens & Primary Care Congress presented by the Heart of America Contact Lens Society was, once again, a great success and represented a great opportunity for College of Optometry students and residents to network, present posters, receive high quality continuing education, and help as monitors and graduates to have the opportunity to see their classmates and enjoy, not only the expansive exhibit hall but also customize their education based upon the five tracks of courses given simultaneously.  The faculty included two UMSL graduates, Drs. Rebecca Wartman(‘87) and Shane Kannarr(‘00) and Assistant Dean, Dr. Ed Bennett.  Likewise, the Heart of America Board of Directors had a significant UMSL presence with Drs. Sean Mulqueeny(‘91), Wes DeRosier(‘96) and President Craig Brawley(‘01).  Dr. Delaram “Deli” Shirazian(’16), currently completing the Kansas City Veteran’s Administration Medical Center residency program, was a recipient of a $2,000 grant from

Student Completes PhD in Vision Science

PhD Student in Vision Science Leaves Mark at UMSL-College of Optometry   Dr. Christopher Putnam Our vision for our future is only as bright as our dedication to achieving our goals and experiences.  On the fourth floor Marillac hall is an office; it’s not a faculty office, but a graduate office, a room for the last three years that has been occupied day and night and even on the weekends by one man, Dr. Christopher Putnam.   Dr. Putnam is not only an optometrist, but also a major with the United States Air Force. Major Christopher Putnam, OD, FAAO began his journey at UMSL-College of Optometry in August 2011 as a member of the PhD Vision Science program under the direction of Research Professor, Dr. Carl Bassi.  His journey to UMSL has taken him all across the country and now he is beginning the end of his PhD in Vision Science and he will be the last student at UMSL to take part in this program. The road to UMSL began in September 1996 at South Dakota University where h

McBee Named March Student Spotlight Winner

McBee Demonstrates Faith and Positive Attitude at UMSL Optometry   Every month the Office of Student Services with the College of Optometry seeks nomination from the faculty, staff, and students of the college in an effort to recognize one student who exemplifies our student body.  This month's recipient is a true reflection on what we look for in a student at UMSL College of Optometry.   The Student Spotlight for March 2016 is: Kanesha McBee   (Class of 2017)   K.McBee ('17)   Photo by:  Janice White 2015   Kanesha was chosen as March 2016 Student Spotlight winner because she exhibits a positive attitude with a strong faith in conviction that anything is possible. She and her class are currently preparing for Part I of boards, yet she still  maintains a positive attitude and smile on her face.  Kanesha is always has a positive attitude and s he is willing to offer encouragement when needed and doesn't hesitate to offer words of encouragement