Adam Ziobrowski, Staff Writer

Although they do not play on an organized sports team at Utica College, many students still find ways to stay active or play their favorite sports in their free time.

Whether they are shooting hoops at the gym or dome, riding their bikes or lifting weights, students are finding find ways to have fun while being active.

Sophomore Emmanuel Ajisafe has always enjoyed playing basketball and football whenever he gets a chance to.

“I play basketball and football anywhere I can with my friends or random people at the park or field,” Ajisafe said. “I love playing because it has been normal for me since I was a kid. I’ve played pickup basketball games for as long as I can remember, and the love for playing football just came after.”

Other students, such as sophomore Nate Crespo, enjoy sticking with the sports they played in high school.

“In my free time, I really enjoy playing football outside or in the dome as well as basketball in the dome or at local courts,” Crespo said. “I like playing these sports because these are the sports I played in high school, and I just grew a love for them over the years. I’ve played football for as long as I can remember, my mom has pictures of me throwing a football when I was 2 feet tall.”

For Crespo, it doesn’t matter if he plays with friends or total strangers — he just wants to compete against others who share the same love he does for his favorite sports. However, he would rather play with his longtime friends if he had to choose.

“It makes it more fun and interesting playing with my friends,” Crespo said.

Not every student turns to sports in their free time to stay active. Others, such as sophomore Shannon O’Hare, spend whatever free time they have in the gym working out.

“My favorite thing to do in my free time is go to the gym with my friends,” O’Hare said. “Working out is fun because I get to free my mind from school work while also staying active, and going with my friends helps make it more fun. I’ve been going to the gym for the past couple of years and there is no other activity I would rather do in my free time.”

Sophomore John Burrows also enjoys going to the weight room in his free time. However, with warmer weather approaching, Burrows is most excited to take his motorcycle out in his free time, something that he has been doing for the past two years.

“During this time of year my favorite thing to do in my free time is ride my motorcycle with my friends,” Burrows said. “It helps me relax when I am overwhelmed in work, and it is a great way to see and explore the area. Sometimes, my friends and I like to venture off and hike if we pass a new trail or something that looks cool.”

Burrows and his friends didn’t always ride their motorcycles in their free time. They once had to pedal their way around before they could ride their way around.

“My friends and I have always gone out and explored since we were younger,” Burrows said. “We started off by riding bikes around to go hiking or fishing or whatever it was we were doing that day. From there, motorcycles were sort of just a progression because we still do the same things now as we did then, only now we ride our motorcycles around to do whatever in our free time.”