Beyond the Varsity Spotlight: It's time to elevate club sports on Colorado's campus
- Hannah Howell
- May 2
- 3 min read
Is the University of Colorado Boulder too football-obsessed?
Absolutely, and for good reason. But why are club teams and other varsity sports overshadowed by that fact? The CU Alpine club, the only outdoor climbing club on campus, fosters a sense of community and supports charity with a yearly fundraiser. Here is why clubs need more of the spotlight, specifically, the Alpine Club.
Four years ago, the Alpine Club started a fundraiser called the 24-hour "climbathon." The name pretty much explains it all. These climbers start early in the morning and climb for 24 hours straight.
Thankfully, according to the president of the club, Kelsey Beyerly, that isn’t literal.
“They do get breaks,” Beyerly said. “We don’t make them climb the whole time.”
The goal is for the participants to climb as many routes as possible throughout the canyon within that span. The grade of the climb, also known as the difficulty, accounts for the number of points one earns. For example, if the climb is graded 5.11, you’ll earn 5.11 points, and so on. The club gets sponsors from local businesses to donate money to the teams, and they genuinely seem to enjoy the time together.
While clubs tend to have less pressure on them for success, such as winning a Heisman Trophy or an Alamo Bowl, that doesn’t mean what they’re doing isn’t important. The proceeds of this yearly climbathon go to a charity called Climbing For Change, founded by an incredible climber, Kai Lightner. Its mission is to make the climbing world more inclusive for groups who tend to be underprivileged.
This year, it got a donation from the club of just over $1,600.
Personally, climbing is a big interest of mine. Since the film “Free Solo” came out, climbing has gotten increased media attention, and it’s highly deserved. Climbers are some of the strongest and patient athletes, and the climbing community is fun and loving.
Not only were these climbers competing for a good cause, but they were enjoying themselves and loved being with their club members. Frank Shea, a club member, said he was happy with his number of climbs, which was 26, until his competitive spirit took over.
“That’s good for me, the winners of last year had 65 or something, each,” Shea said. “So I’m doing good, but I’m not beating them.”
Club teams and other varsity sports deserve more spotlight on campus than what they’re given currently. Football will always hold a place in everyone's heart, given that it’s a large sport and coached by one of its icons, Deion Sanders. There is a balance to be found between this support and the energy put into all sports.
All sports deserve media coverage, stories and to have their voices heard. Students are more powerful than some may think, able to support not only the CU Alpine Club, but all clubs and teams on campus.
Club teams on campus represent an underappreciated part of student life that deserves more recognition and support. Unlike varsity teams, which are typically limited to a small number of elite athletes, club teams are student-run, more inclusive and easily accessible. Teams like these foster leadership, teamwork and a sense of community that students search for, especially when coming to the university for the first time.
Even if you aren’t a part of a club team, that doesn’t mean you can’t support them. Club games are typically free and sometimes more fun than the varsity. Student engagement and interest in these teams help make CU a great place to be involved.
Students have the power to elevate club sports. By actively engaging with club teams, not only does that strengthen their presence on campus, but it also cultivates a more connected student body.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can support Climbing For Change, visit www.Climbing4Change.org/.
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