Since the club sport program was officially created at Central in 2000, nearly 20 teams have been added to the program for a total of 24 different club sports students can participate in.

Some of the sports offered include lacrosse, soccer, ultimate disk, equestrian, rodeo, climbing, wrestling, wake sports and tennis.

Most of the clubs have formed over the last 15 years. However, the oldest club, rodeo, dates back to the ‘50s.

These clubs are offered to give students a chance to compete in sports that aren’t offered at a varsity level at Central or varsity sports that have a high demand and not all students can participate in.

Men’s soccer, lacrosse, wake sports, wrestling and ultimate disk are some of the more popular clubs on campus that aren’t offered as varsity sports.

Women’s soccer is offered as a varsity sport, but a club sport team answers the demand for students that want to compete, but don’t play on the varsity team.

“Every one of our clubs have started because there was a student that is passionate about a certain activity,” said Corey Sinclair, coordinator of competitive club sports and camps.

Sinclair has been at Central since his position was created in 2005. Before arriving at Central, Sinclair helped set up after-school sports programs at elementary and middle schools.

At Central, he helps teams fundraise, travel and join leagues, in addition to organizing the sports camps Central offers in the summer.

While Sinclair doesn’t see more clubs being added soon, he doesn’t rule it out either.

Sinclair said the quality and organization of the current teams has been getting stronger every year.

The clubs receive some financial support from Central, but are also funded by the participants themselves. The members pay some of that money out-of-pocket, and  the rest is paid for by fundraising for the clubs.

Central’s club sport teams have a contract with Nike, which allows them to set up flash stores online to sell merchandise for fundraising.

Nike flash stores are designed to be short-term sites—they generally stay up for one to two weeks—where teams can design and sell apparel.

Profits from the stores go to the clubs, and gives teams the opportunity to reach out to friends, family and alumni for support.

Other teams have raised funds from letter drives, working security at The Gorge and selling homemade goods.

The equestrian team makes horse flowerpots to sell every year at Back Country Horseman Rendezvous in March. They are also planning to sell them at Spirit of the West for the first time in February.

Both events are gatherings to celebrate “cowboy” culture. They feature competitive events, activities for visitors and arts and crafts sales.

Events like these provide valuable opportunities for clubs to fundraise and gain exposure within that community.

Club costs vary by sport. Clubs like lacrosse and hockey are more expensive due to equipment costs. Lacrosse’s league fee is nearly $4,000 and membership dues can run upwards of $500.

Other sports, like climbing, have relatively low membership dues that are below $50.

Club sports generates over $100,000 through member dues, donations and fundraising.

The equestrian club has to make rent on their team barn, which allows competitors to bring their horses to Ellensburg.

The equestrian club president, senior business major Ashley Johnson, has been with the team since her freshman year. She also credits the equestrian club for being her deciding factor in attending Central.

“I’ve been doing it all my life,” Johnson said. “So it was a good avenue to go into college and have that opportunity as well.”

While some clubs have been able to find adequate facilities in Ellensburg, others have to make do with what they can.

Just a year after their first national qualification, Central’s bowling club took a huge blow when Rodeo City Bowl shut down, leaving their nearest practice facility 45 minutes away in Yakima.

Hockey is another club that faces commuting issues. The nearest ice rinks are in Yakima and Wenatchee, adding more personal travel costs to an already expensive sport.

Club expenses do not stop at equipment and facilities though. Travel expenses can be costly.

In 2013, Central’s Services and Activities allocated $60,000 a year to club sports for travel costs. A council of senior club officers appointed by Sinclair divides those costs among the clubs.

Travel can range from a regional match-up against nearby schools to trips to places like New Orleans or California for national events.

Sports can gain varsity status through success at a club level. Men and women’s rugby did that two years ago.

According to Thomas “TJ” Burford, men’s club soccer president, the rugby team became a school sport by winning.

Burford, senior double major in law and justice and sociology, would like to see men’s soccer recognized as a varsity sport, but realizes the team needs to first build a winning tradition and strong relationship with the school and community.

According to Sinclair, clubs being picked up as a varsity sport is contrary to the normal trend.

In 2004, Central cut its men’s wrestling and men’s and women’s swimming programs in order to cut down on athletic expenses. Those sports became recognized as clubs and are still competing today.

Talent levels on teams vary by sport, and even within a team. Men’s soccer had over 50 players try out for this year’s squad, which made building the squad tougher than before.

Other clubs have seen higher turn-outs in recent years as well. The equestrian club had 19 members last year and 17 horses in their barn.

The continued building of the club sport program led to over 40 home events and 100 away events last year.

Some sports even mention on their team pages, located in Central’s recreation page, that the team varies from beginners to seasoned players. The biggest thing they are looking for is the opportunity to compete and build a relationship with their teammates.

“It really creates an opportunity for students to connect and kind of build a community,” Sinclair said.