Success Marks the Start of Club Basketball

Student interest in club sports is growing on St. John Fisher University’s campus and students are working to increase the number of club sports available. Three undergraduates—Jenna Hoffman, Brendan Evans, and Adam Jones—worked hard last year to bring club basketball to campus.

“Club sports can be beneficial for students who choose not to play a varsity sport,” said Dr. Zach Murphy, who serves as the advisor for both clubs. He added that club basketball is heavily student-driven, which added to their early impact at Fisher. “Clubs run best when invested students do the driving.”

The success of both teams—on the court and on campus—proves his point.

During the 2024 Cardinal Awards, held this past spring, club basketball received New Club of the Year, and Murphy received Advisor of the Year.

“It is rewarding to watch students do their own thing,” Murphy said.

As with any new venture, the road to success included a dose of hard work for the trio.

Hoffman, who serves as president of the women’s team, described starting up the club as challenging yet worth it. “I had a mission after my first year at Fisher, which was to create more opportunities on campus for women in club sports,” she said.

Hoffman then connected with graduating senior Brendan Evans and junior Adam Jones, who were both interested in starting a men’s team. Evans served as the men’s club basketball president before graduating in May. Jones served as vice president and continues to be a leader for the team.

Next came the process of gaining recognition by Fisher’s Student Government Association. “The next step for both club teams was to work together to complete the club application to present to the club review board,” said Hoffman, adding that the process also included creating and drafting a constitution and bylaws for club basketball. “We then had to find a league and be in contact with the organization to be voted into that conference. Once we were welcomed into the league, we made a presentation to the club review board at Fisher as the final step for affiliation with the school and student government to receive student funding for our teams!” Hoffman explained.

Hoffman serves as a student ambassador with the Office of Admissions and used the opportunity to promote club basketball to prospective students when giving campus tours and speaking on student panels. Several students she met on tours or at admission events last year decided to join the team this year.

The new men’s club basketball president, Jack Beauchamp, mentioned that “nearly every student who played last year decided to play again.” Beauchamp enjoys reaching out and recruiting first-year students at events such as the Involvement Fest. The interest in club basketball was high, as there were around 30 students at tryouts for an 18-man roster, said Beauchamp. The men’s team had a strong showing in their debut season as they finished as conference champions. Beauchamp said they look to do the same again this year and return to regionals.

Hoffman said it can be challenging for students who have played a sport for most of their lives and decide not to play a sport affiliated with a university. To have a club sport that a university or college offers for students who want to continue playing their sport can be important in their decision process. Hoffman said, “I am so thankful that I was able to help pioneer club basketball for the future of our Fisher community.”