Fall Sports take center stage in Fredericton
As students return to campus and varsity teams get back into competition, Fredericton’s sports scene is shifting into fall.
While soccer, volleyball and cross-country athletes settle into their schedules, outdoor recreation like golf is beginning to wind down for the season.
At the Fredericton Golf Club, the changing weather is already affecting when golfers hit the course. With shorter days and winter approaching, players are making the most of the remaining time before the course closes.
Olivia Battiste, the club’s front-of-house manager, said September was a strong month for business, with good weather bringing golfers out to play. More recently, afternoon tee times have become quieter.
“September was nice, business was good and the weather was great,” said Battiste. “The tee shift has started to die off after 2 P.M. Golfers are eager to get their golfing done as the course prepares to shut down for winter.”
For local golfers, the end of the season means squeezing in another round whenever the weather cooperates. Unlike indoor sports, golf depends on favorable conditions and daylight, leaving players with a limited window before winter arrives.
While golfers look toward the end of their season, university athletics is picking up pace.
At St. Thomas University, the return to campus brings another fall season for the Tommies.
Soccer, volleyball and cross-country are among the sports keeping student-athletes busy as teams work through their schedules and compete against other universities.
For soccer players and cross-country runners, the fall schedule means continuing to compete outdoors as temperatures drop.
The fall season also marks the beginning of a new routine for student-athletes, who must balance practices, games and coursework as the academic year gets the ball rolling. As the semester progresses, attention will also turn to winter sports, including basketball and indoor track and field.
Beyond ACAA competition, Fredericton residents are finding their own ways to stay active. The city trails remain a popular option for recreational runners and walkers, even as cooler weather begins to set in.
Fourth-year student Emily Pearl-Keats
said she has continued running and walking throughout the fall.
“It is really refreshing and mind clearing,” she said.
As the outdoor recreation season winds down, the return of university sports gives Fredericton plenty to follow. Golfers are making the most of their final tee times, while the Tommies get into the rhythm of another varsity season.
The seasons may be changing, but for local athletes, there is still plenty of competition ahead.
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